for the glaze gurus

This one is for all the glaze gurus and experts out there;

I acquired some glaze (in a bucket - premixed) from a woman who retired from
pottery. It is a beautiful creamy white BUT is very touchy. It cracks and
flakes off my bisque and if I don't carefully smooth all the hairline cracks
before firing it ends up with unglazed pot bits showing (I know there is a
technical name for it but I'm not a morning person and my brain ain't
workin' yet). I do not know the recipe for this glaze and though I contacted
the potter, she could not help me either.
Is there anything I can do to help this glaze stick to my pots better? Thin
it? Thicken it? Add something?
It is a lovely white and so soft to the touch when it comes out right but
that is only about 1/3 of the time.
Thanks in advance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penni Stoddart
of Penelope's Pots
Full Time Education Assistant,
Part Time Potter

You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
I'm not a complete idiot -- some parts are missing!

If you have some bentonite, blend some in a blender with water, and try adding
some of that--it shouldn't change the character of the glaze itself, but may
improve adherence. Can't say as to quantity--relates to the bucket size.
The other traditional cure for touchy glazes is called CMC gum (in Britain SCMC
gum) , and it makes it sticky. Hamers' Potter's dictionary says of it up to 3%
(dry weight percentage, which would be considerably lighter than wet weight) can
be added to the glaze. I think the same could be said of Bentonite.
Brad Sondahl.

Clayslinger wrote:

This one is for all the glaze gurus and experts out there;

I acquired some glaze (in a bucket - premixed) from a woman who retired from
pottery. It is a beautiful creamy white BUT is very touchy. It cracks and
flakes off my bisque and if I don't carefully smooth all the hairline cracks
before firing it ends up with unglazed pot bits showing (I know there is a
technical name for it but I'm not a morning person and my brain ain't
workin' yet). I do not know the recipe for this glaze and though I contacted
the potter, she could not help me either.
Is there anything I can do to help this glaze stick to my pots better? Thin
it? Thicken it? Add something?
It is a lovely white and so soft to the touch when it comes out right but
that is only about 1/3 of the time.
Thanks in advance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penni Stoddart
of Penelope's Pots
Full Time Education Assistant,
Part Time Potter

You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
I'm not a complete idiot -- some parts are missing!

--
For original art, music, pottery, and literature, visit my homepage
http://sondahl.com
Pottery sales page http://sondahl.freeyellow.com
My music site at mp3.com http://www.mp3.com/stations/sondahl

(ShambhalaPottery) wrote in
:

Just a bit of a warning. It's not a good idea to use a glaze without

You've got to ask the question. Why bother?

JW

I have a rule for my refrigerator contents that is probably just as good
for glazes to be used on functional wa When in doubt, throw it out!

Jan C.

"ShambhalaPottery" wrote in message
...
Just a bit of a warning. It's not a good idea to use a glaze without
knowing
what's in it, at least not on functional ware.
You don't say what temperature this glaze is maturing; but if it's a low
fire
glaze, it could have lead in it.

Fair warning but.......
The glaze I got is for cone 6 and was used on functional ware by the lady I
received it from. The only reason she is not sure of the exact recipe is
because she would regularly "tweak" her glazes and left a styrofoam piece
with a code of sorts floating in the glaze. I pitched the foam (not knowing
what it meant) and now can't retrieve the exact recipe. I know it does not
have lead though (I asked).
Thanks for the replies and help.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penni Stoddart
of Penelope's Pots
Full Time Education Assistant,
Part Time Potter

You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
I'm not a complete idiot -- some parts are missing!