The Art of Crystalline Glazing: Basic Techniques
Table of Contents
LIST OF EXERCISES 10
PREFACE 11
INTRODUCTION 12
CHAPTER 1 CLAY BODIES 16
Suitable bodies 17
Clay bodies we use 19
Porcelain body recipes 20
Bisque firing 21
Body defects 21
Test shapes 21
Form 22
What others say 25
CHAPTER 2 THE GLAZE 26
Commercial glazes 27
Glazes you make 27
Glaze categories 29
Glaze ingredients 32
Which glaze to use? 35
Measurement accuracy 35
What others say 35
CHAPTER 3 GLAZE RECIPES 36
Topic for investigation: Creating your own glaze 41
CHAPTER 4 GLAZE MIXING AND APPLICATION 42
Glaze mixing 43
The liquid 43
Glaze suspension 44
How much liquid? 46
Glaze application 46
Glaze thickness 48
What others say 53
About glaze mixing 53
About glaze application 53
CHAPTER 5 FIRING SCHEDULES 54
Basic schedule 55
Topic for investigation: Higher crystal-growing temperatures 56
Norton's investigation 57
Determining a good schedule 58
Maximum temperature 59
Crystal-growing temperature 60
Creating halos 61
Firing test samples 62
Controlling the temperature 63
Suggested firing schedules 66
What others say 70
About rates of temperature changes 70
About getting halos on crystals 70
CHAPTER 6 PRE-FIRING PROCEDURES 71
High-temperature kiln wash 72
Pedestals and catch basins 72
CHAPTER 7 FIRING 80
The kiln 81
Loading the kiln 81
Monitoring crystal growth 81
What others say 81
CHAPTER 8 POST-FIRING PROCEDURES 84
Removing the pedestal 85
Smoothing the bottom 87
Rough grinding 87
Fine grinding 87
CHAPTER 9 COLORING THE GLAZE 89
Using commercial stains 91
Topic for investigation: Stains in low-temperature glazes 92
Using metallic oxides 95
Color recommendations 100
Adding the colorant 103
Layering glazes 104
CHAPTER 10 LOW-FIRE GLAZES 106
Lowering temperatures 107
Topic for investigation: Low-fire glaze study 107
Glaze recipes 108
Topic for investigation: Creating new low-fire glazes 110
Colorants 110
Firing schedules 111
CHAPTER 11 TAKING CONTROL 112
Altering the number of crystals 113
Recipe changes 113
Firing schedule changes 113
Altering the size of crystals 113
Recipe changes 115
Firing schedule changes 116
Modifying a fired pot 116
CHAPTER 12 TROUBLE SHOOTING 121
Common problems 122
Glaze crawls 123
No crystals 123
Rough crystals 124
Tiny crystals or matt surface 124
Excessive glaze flow 124
Glaze fit 125
Other problems 128
CHAPTER 13 ADVANCED TECHNIQUES 129
Reduction firing 130
Reduction techniques 133
Secondary crystals 135
Growing secondary crystals 136
CHAPTER 14 EQUIPMENT 138
The kiln 139
Acquiring a kiln 139
Ammeters 140
Pyrometer 141
Electronic kiln controller 142
High-limit controller 142
Scales 142
CHAPTER 15 HEALTH AND SAFETY 143
ABOUT THE AUTHORS 146
APPENDIX A: KEY TO PHOTOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTORS 147
APPENDIX B: COMPANION VIDEOTAPE 150
APPENDIX C: LIST OF SUPPLIERS 151
APPENDIX D: REFERENCES 152
INDEX 155