Mugging for the camera

Glazing again, aiming for a May 31 firing; that way, the kiln is cooling on June 1, which is our 30th wedding anniversary. No particular plans, I'm afraid. Denise has an infusion appointment that morning, delayed from Monday because of Memorial Day, so we can't really do a day trip. Think we'll go for a walk by Delta Ponds in the afternoon, pick up some take-out for supper. Oh, and I promised her cake.

So I'm on something of a tight schedule. We glazed banks together on Sunday, and I started in earnest on the rest Monday morning. I typically begin with the hard stuff--big bowls, special orders, teapots--but none of those were out of the bisque yet, and really, my biggest commitment in this firing is mugs.


I'm running out of tall mugs, again, have been selling painted mugs at Market too, and have two different mug special orders. So I start with fifty-some tall mugs (another dozen still need their bisque), go on to twenty-four painted mugs, and then the special orders.

Doing that many at a time gets tricky. I get bored doing all the same patterns--five octopus or four hummingbirds just about does me in--but thinking of new patterns that won't take forever--fifty mugs, remember--is hard, too. Painted mugs are easier. I've a standard list of patterns to choose from, and as it happens, I've sold exactly 24 since Market started, so I just make replacements.

The special orders are also decision-free: City of Eugene 5-year mugs, a list of twelve names. Pour, dip the rim, dip again in Dragon Green. Wipe any drips, then dip the bottom half, outside, in B.P. White. Allow to dry, then take my lettering brush and the cobalt carbonate, and personalize.


The other mug order is a little different. One of my long-time patrons saw the Instagram post with Great Harvest Bakery mugs, liked the shape, and ordered ten (without the logo stamp). The hardest part of this order is in throwing the new form; she sent along a list of patterns for the glazing.

At the end of the day, I'd glazed 102 mugs. Not bad for a Monday.

ETA: Actually, I only did 80 mugs on Monday; glazed the remaining 22 Tuesday morning. Memory's getting foggy with age, I guess.

Axles of evil

The replacement axle assembly for my broken trike was scheduled to arrive on Thursday. In fact, it showed up two days early, on Tuesday. I tore into the box, got out the pretty blue pipe-thing, and discovered that it wouldn't fit.

Schwinn has changed their trike design since mine was built. The frame is in two pieces, which split into forks that bolt together around the gear and chain assembly. In my older bike, the rear fork fits inside the front fork, held by four bolts. Newer models, like Denise's, have a wider rear fork that fits around the front, and in fact, has two less bolts, as the front end is anchored by the nuts holding in the front gear axle.

I could fit the parts together this way, but the gear axle would be two inches too short, and finding a longer one would probably take me another week or two (if it could be found at all) and also require me to pull the gear and the rear disc brake, and then reinstall them properly afterwards.

I did not want to get into that.

Fortunately, I knew that the axle was available separate from the rear assembly (if only it was in stock), so I figured I should be able to pull it out and transplant it into the existing rear end. Hopefully, without catastrophic damage to the axle itself. Good thing I had the broken one to practice on. I removed the lock nuts on either end, loosened the set screws on the two bushings in the middle so they moved freely, then removed the set screws and square key holding the gear in place.

Then I took a rubber mallet and whacked at it. (This was by far the best part of the whole project.) The axle slowly shifted down the shaft. When the broken end was flush with the bearing, I got out a center punch, and kept hitting it. The gear didn't want to slide, but WD-40 and vise grips managed to persuade it to let go. Kept whacking until the center punch vanished, then got out a second punch to whack on the first. By the time the second punch disappeared into the shaft, the axle was free in the center, and I was able to remove the bushings and gear and pull it out the rest of the way.

With that experience, getting the new axle out was a breeze. Didn't even need the mallet. It slid neatly into place, through the bearings, shaft, bushings and gear (I used the new ones, why not?) and out the other end. Tightened down the lock nuts on the ends, positioned bushings and set them as well. Placing the gear was a little trickier. I know from experience that if it's not lined up properly, the chain will come off or break. I got Denise to hold a straight edge against the front gear, pressed the rear one up tight and turned the set screws into the key.

After that, it was just a matter of replacing the basket, which I'd removed for easier access, and putting on the wheels.

One of which has two broken spokes. Crumbs. Have to finish up tomorrow.