I finally kept my blown vase from slumping during the finish
For the longest time, my tall pieces would always droop to one side right when I thought they were set. I figured it was just bad luck or my cheap bench torch. Then, I noticed my buddy at the community studio always wet his newspaper pads before the final shaping. Tried that trick yesterday with my latest vase, and it made all the difference. The extra moisture let me smooth the base without the glass getting too hot and soft. It held its shape all the way into the kiln, and I just unloaded it. Seeing it stand up straight on my worktable is a real win after so many bent failures. It's a small thing, but it makes me feel like I'm actually getting better at this.