Dale Neese on mon 26 jun 06
Most pieces too big to dip all at once I glaze the inside first and let them
dry. This way I can achieve a good full coat of glaze on the outside if
moisture penetrates the wall of the ware. You can feel the moisture from the
inside glaze by the coolness of the outside compared with non glazed pieces.
Just place the backside of your hand against the outside of a freshly glazed
piece. Bottles, some mugs, large pieces I pour inside first. On smaller
bowls I dip the whole piece and pour the glaze out turning it as I pour.
Glaze tongs work nicely with small ware such as soup-salad bowls.
Planning how you will glaze a piece in advance will help the glazing move
along. Maybe you have a dozen mugs, glaze the insides of all of them with a
strong liner glaze and let them really dry before applying an outside glaze
of a different kind. If you are only using one glaze, dip the whole piece
quickly, pouring off the glaze as you turn to coat the piece evenly. Place
down on the table and avoid handling it until the glaze is dried enough.
Handling a freshly glazed piece even though somewhat dry can cause the
second coat of another glaze or oxide not to adhere where you have handled
it. The glaze becomes chalky and dusty. Something about surface tension.
Hold the piece by the bottom area or where you will not apply an overlapping
glaze. Finally, clean the waxed bottom carefully.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
San Antonio, Texas USA
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