Ellen Baker on wed 5 mar 97
From time to time, I high-fire (^8-10, depending on the clay) an
architectural or sculptural piece to vitrify it, then go back and use a
commercial ^06 glaze for predictable finish and color.
I haven't had any trouble getting commercial glazes to stick when I'm
applying them -- I think they're pretty well "gummed-up" with carriers to
begin with. I believe that adding "vee gum" CER or other commercial
treatments to studio recipe glazes will help in the same way. (I add dry
acacia (gum arabic))
A great tip I got from Don Dunifon, a prof at Whittenberg University in
Springfield, Ohio, last year was to dry-sponge KARO SYRUP onto a
non-absorbant surface -- providing a sticky film to help hold the glaze (it
burns off later -- no problem-o). This works really well for touching-up /
re-firing a bare spot OR adding additional re-fire coats for special
effects. I still owe that man a mug...
If there's a fixed relationship between firing shrinkage rate:glaze fit --
and I suspect there IS -- I'd like to learn more about THAT part of the
equation, myself. Otherwise, I think the term "overfired bisque" is maybe
a misnomer, but it all depends.
Best regards -- Ellen Baker, Glacier, WA
orion@telcomplus.com
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