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re-firing question

updated mon 18 may 98

 

The Slack-DeBrock Family on sat 16 may 98

Hello everyone...I have been asked to re-fire a large dinnerware set, with
serving pieces, for a customer. It was done in a very matte glaze that
annoys everyone eating from them, and scratches, so i tried glazing the
samples with a clear over it and it turned out fine. The problem is that I
don't know what to charge for them- time and kiln space and all, and
wondered if anyone out there has run into this and can offer an idea of how
to approach it. Also, some of the cups and such weren't cleaned off on the
bottoms, and were fired on stilts, which i never use, so ......it means
having to buy those to re-fire them, unless anyone has a cheap substitute
idea?? I want to quote the cost of this before venturing further, so any
help would be appreciated! thanks Joan riverrun@newnorth.net

ThePottery on sun 17 may 98

Joan....I can't help you on how to charge but I would point out that if you
reglaze these pots and load and fire them with out letting them dry completely
you may blow up some of the pieces. This has happned to me with high fire
stoneware mugs that were washed and towl dried just before loading them in the
kiln with new work. Needless to say we lost most of the other pots when
shards of the mugs scattered through out the kiln and then fused in the
glazes. I would make sure your refires, with the new glaze over them, are
very dry, say..... put them on top of an electric kiln to dry them out. Good
Luck Tracy Penland NC

PS...I personally would not charge for refireing. For me a satisfied customer
is more important than the money and I feel it is my fault if the dishes do
not function properly. I always do the "knife" test on any glaze that is to
be used on dinnerware......The test is to rub a dinner knife over the glaze to
see if it marks the surface.

DONPREY on sun 17 may 98


In a message dated 05/17/98 7:08:51 AM, you wrote:

<help would be appreciated! thanks Joan riverrun@newnorth.net

>>

Joan,
Two quick thoughts: 1. figure out the price of the set if you were to make
it start to finish yourself and then apply some percentage (less than 100)
based on the amount of work you intend to do. 2. don't forget that this
whole job will end up being a royal pain in the butt and will take two or
three times as long as you originally thought.
Don Prey in Oregon