Samantha Kifer on thu 18 mar 10
Hi All,
I am a self-taught potter with very little experience glazing/firing my
own stuff. (I always participated in workshops that had their own glazes=
=3D
and fired the kiln for me). I just got my own pottery studio and am
experimenting with glazes and firing myself. I just did my first firing
EVER and am SUPER disappointed in the results.
I have uploaded some images of some failed pots and am hoping to get the
thoughts/comments of those more experienced veteran potters out there who=
=3D
are willing to offer their wisdom.
The biggest problem are that the glazes appeared BLOTCHY and uneven (even=
=3D
leaving bald spots in some places). Some of the glazes also did not turn=
=3D
into the color they were supposed to (came out too dark/faded). The othe=
=3D
r
problem I noticed is that I somehow managed to pick the ugliest set of
colors that do NOT go well with each other! (Not sure how that happened =
=3D
-
they look awesome by themselves but when covering an entire pot, or blend=
=3D
ed
with another color, they look horrible! But that's a whole different issu=
=3D
e...)
Now for the details:
I am using a Skutt automatic electric kiln firing to Cone 5 on white
stoneware clay. I purchased a series of AMACO dinnerware safe glazes
(potter's choice cone 5/6) in small pint-size containers so I was only ab=
=3D
le
to brush/paint on the glaze (I did 3-4 coats on each pot).
Can anyone help me understand why the pots came out the way they did?
1) Is it because I brushed on the glaze? And even though I liberally coa=
=3D
ted
them several times, it still was not enough, or will be uneven no matter
what? Would dipping the glaze solve this issue? (which means I'll have t=
=3D
o
buy a gallon or more); How about pouring on?
2) Is it because I didn't fire to a high-enough temperature? The glazes a=
=3D
re
cone 5-6 and I fired to cone 5. Should I have gone to cone 6?
I would greatly appreciate any comments to help me understand how to avoi=
=3D
d
this issue in the future.=3D20=3D20
- Any helpful glazing techniques?=3D20=3D20
- Any pre-made glazes that people really like? (dinnerware safe is import=
=3D
ant)
- Oh, and on the topic of dinnerware safe, do people bother to get their
pots tested in a lab? The glaze companies always say that if you mix two=
=3D
dinnerware-safe glazes, they may no longer be dinnerware safe. How do
others handle this? What about mixing dinnerware safe glaze with a
dinnerware safe transparent glaze?
Thanks!!!!
- Sam
Randall Moody on fri 19 mar 10
It probably has to do with your glaze application. If you are brushing the
glaze on, use a water color mop and long, even strokes. Don't dab! I tell
my students, to get an even coat, brush the piece with vertical strokes,
wait for the piece to dry until it is chalky, then brush with horizontal
strokes, let the piece dry again, and brush with diagonal strokes. Also, i=
f
you don't do this already you probably should wipe the pieces down with a
slightly damp sponge prior to glazing. As to the color matching you need to
do tests to see which glaze works well with others. You are also firing to
^5 which is the low end of the temp for ^5-^6 glazes. You may want to fire
a little hotter or extend your hold time at ^5. Hope this helps.
--Randall in Atlanta--
On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 8:58 PM, Samantha Kifer wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> The biggest problem are that the glazes appeared BLOTCHY and uneven (even
> leaving bald spots in some places). Some of the glazes also did not turn
> into the color they were supposed to (came out too dark/faded). The othe=
r
> problem I noticed is that I somehow managed to pick the ugliest set of
> colors that do NOT go well with each other! (Not sure how that happened =
-
> they look awesome by themselves but when covering an entire pot, or blend=
ed
> with another color, they look horrible! But that's a whole different
> issue...)
>
> Now for the details:
>
> I am using a Skutt automatic electric kiln firing to Cone 5 on white
> stoneware clay. I purchased a series of AMACO dinnerware safe glazes
> (potter's choice cone 5/6) in small pint-size containers so I was only ab=
le
> to brush/paint on the glaze (I did 3-4 coats on each pot).
>
>
> - Sam
>
Lee Love on fri 19 mar 10
Sam, Got photos?
--=3D20
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
John Rodgers on fri 19 mar 10
Also check your kiln temperatures by sitting a 4,5, and 6 witness cone
on the shelf during the firing to see exactly what your kiln is doing.
For a cool 5 - the cone should bend to the 3 o'clock position. For a
full cone five - should bend so tip is down and the 6 cone is just
bending to 1or 2 o'clock.Using B-mix and my own glazes - I typically
fire to a cold cone 5 - ie the cone tip is about the 2 o'clock position.
While these numbers may not match what others are doing - it is what
works for me and I glaze and fire to those numbers. You will develop
your own system.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
Samantha Kifer wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am a self-taught potter with very little experience glazing/firing my
> own stuff. (I always participated in workshops that had their own glazes
> and fired the kiln for me). I just got my own pottery studio and am
> experimenting with glazes and firing myself. I just did my first firing
> EVER and am SUPER disappointed in the results.
>
> I have uploaded some images of some failed pots and am hoping to get the
> thoughts/comments of those more experienced veteran potters out there who
> are willing to offer their wisdom.
>
> The biggest problem are that the glazes appeared BLOTCHY and uneven (even
> leaving bald spots in some places). Some of the glazes also did not turn
> into the color they were supposed to (came out too dark/faded). The othe=
r
> problem I noticed is that I somehow managed to pick the ugliest set of
> colors that do NOT go well with each other! (Not sure how that happened =
-
> they look awesome by themselves but when covering an entire pot, or blend=
ed
> with another color, they look horrible! But that's a whole different issu=
e...)
>
> Now for the details:
>
> I am using a Skutt automatic electric kiln firing to Cone 5 on white
> stoneware clay. I purchased a series of AMACO dinnerware safe glazes
> (potter's choice cone 5/6) in small pint-size containers so I was only ab=
le
> to brush/paint on the glaze (I did 3-4 coats on each pot).
>
> Can anyone help me understand why the pots came out the way they did?
>
> 1) Is it because I brushed on the glaze? And even though I liberally coa=
ted
> them several times, it still was not enough, or will be uneven no matter
> what? Would dipping the glaze solve this issue? (which means I'll have t=
o
> buy a gallon or more); How about pouring on?
> 2) Is it because I didn't fire to a high-enough temperature? The glazes a=
re
> cone 5-6 and I fired to cone 5. Should I have gone to cone 6?
>
> I would greatly appreciate any comments to help me understand how to avoi=
d
> this issue in the future.
>
> - Any helpful glazing techniques?
> - Any pre-made glazes that people really like? (dinnerware safe is import=
ant)
> - Oh, and on the topic of dinnerware safe, do people bother to get their
> pots tested in a lab? The glaze companies always say that if you mix two
> dinnerware-safe glazes, they may no longer be dinnerware safe. How do
> others handle this? What about mixing dinnerware safe glaze with a
> dinnerware safe transparent glaze?
>
> Thanks!!!!
>
> - Sam
>
>
>
Samantha Kifer on mon 22 mar 10
I keep trying to post these pictures to the ListServ... lets hope it does=
=3D
n't
strip out these links. Copy and paste them into your browser:
Pot 1 - bald spot & blotchy glaze
http://www.earthwooddesigns.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3D3DNnr655RE41I%3=
=3D
d&tabid=3D3D127
Pot 2 - blotchy/uneven & wrong color - glaze is supposed to fire to t=3D
he
"light blue/green" but instead came out dark green in most places=3D20
http://www.earthwooddesigns.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3D3DrD9NQOZP4OI%3=
=3D
d&tabid=3D3D127
Pot 3 - Bad color & blotchy looking
http://www.earthwooddesigns.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3D3DHHQs8tBnBHk%3=
=3D
d&tabid=3D3D127
- Sam
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