Lili Krakowski on fri 17 nov 06
Dear Gail:
You have not just opened a can of worm, but a barrel.
Mixing one's own glazes requires: a work space away from the living area, or
similar, which would be impacted by dust[s]; Some sort of sink and water
supply. Storage space for the materials. Storage space for the glazes you
mix up.
Money to buy materials. The price of a scale. TIME TO DO THE TESTING.
Different potters will give you a differing list of what materials to start
with. But I expect about $100 will cover the basics in 2 lbs lots.
Of some materials you will want more of, some only 1/2 (colorants) or 1
lbs
amounts. This is a ballpark guess.
I know it sounds immodest, but I suggest you read
"About recipes" in the ClayArt Archives for the 2nd week of May 2006.
It will give you an idea of what is involved in recipes,
and why just mixing recipes is not very useful.
I would suggest you get Harry Fraser's "Glazes for the Craft Potter".
(Available, reasonably, second hand.)
As far as I can see (I own both editions) the main differences between
the editions are in safety issues.
Which, like the sensible woman you are,
you do not need to concern yourself too much about here,
as the first "clay" book
you bought was Monona Rossol's
"The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide," latest edition.
You also should read books from the library --such as Rhodes's
"Clay and Glazes...". Robin Hopper "The Ceramic Spectrum"
for general information about what
materials do. There are lots and lots of books...
and each one will teach you something new...
The clay magazines will supply you with plenty of good recipes,
and, often, instructions for their use. You already know about
"Mastering C. 6 Glazes" which has a great section on buying and
storing materials. I also recommend Michael Bailey's "Glazes Cone 6"
a different but most useful approach. Neither one however delves into
the nature and contribution of individual materials. Fraser does.
Having said all that, it seems to me, you must be willing to
spend a fair amount of money, devote a fair amount of space,
and a good deal of time on this project. (I spend at least as much time
cleaning up after glaze testing and mixing as I do on the actual
work...)
Once you have settled all that, I would suggest you pick
yourself three recipes--a transparent, a white, and a colored one
and go to work "mastering" them.
Godspeed, and welcome to the club....
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Deborah Woods on sat 18 nov 06
I don't know what the original post was, but I definetely have to second
the idea of space. My glaze ingredients and mixed glazes take up, by far,
more room in my studio than anything else. Time-wise, once you get a
system down, I don't think it's much of an issue. And you don't do it
every day. I guess it depends on how much control you want over the
proccess and the result. I've definetely seen some beautiful pre-made
glazes, when they are used well, and by potters who I know must have
experimented like crazy to get those results. I myself just ordered a pre-
made black ash glaze, so you don't have to go 100% either way. But don't
not make your own thinking you are going to save money. I personnally
believe it is cheaper to make your own, although you can get some dry
glazes now, which save a lot of money over buying wet. I think the most
important thing is venting. You really must vent to the outdoors where you
mix. Powerful venting. Puff some baby powder or flour or something in
the air to test your vent, if it doesn't go bye-bye right away out the
vent, then you're going to be breathing in some bad air. And make sure
you wear a respirator.
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