Willow Lane
A working record kept beside the kiln. Updated when there is something worth writing down, which is not every week.
We have tried a dozen over the years and settled on two. Fewer bodies means fewer surprises when a glaze meets an unfamiliar surface.
The default. Iron speckles come through the pale glazes and give the oatmeal its character. Throws wet, holds a rim well, and tolerates being worked longer than it should be.
| Shrinkage | about 12% wet to fired |
|---|---|
| Best for | mugs, bowls, anything thrown thin |
| Watch for | S-cracks if the base is not compressed properly |
Used only for the tenmoku pieces. Stiffer on the wheel, less forgiving, and it stains everything it touches — hands, aprons, the other clay.
| Shrinkage | about 13.5% |
|---|---|
| Best for | slab work and the oval dishes |
| Watch for | do not wedge it on the same bench as the pale body |