Compression of the base is the key to avoiding S-cracks? Wrong.

Friday 15th January 2016

This is an exchange I had on Facebook on this topic. Many people believe cracks are caused by high water content, high shrinkage clay, not compressing the base when throwing, throwing off the hump or stretching the clay excessively when throwing. But I break some or all of these rules every time I make mugs and have almost no cracks. Why? Because the reason pieces crack is unevenness in wall thickness and drying. And I make sure both are even.

Pages that reference this post in the Digitalfire Reference Library:

Drying Ceramics Without Cracks, Drying Crack

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