Glaze Mixing

Aim:
1. To understand the process of making up a glaze
2. Make up the following test glaze:

Method:
1. Ensure that you have the listed ingredients and equipment on hand.
2. You need 2 clean containers of between 1 and 2 cups capacity, fine scales, 80 mesh sieve (fine), wide brush and test tiles.
3. Using the most accurate pair of scales you have, measure the ingredients one by one into one of the containers.
4. Mix the dry ingredients together.
5. Slowly add clean water as you continue stirring until the mixture resembles a cream consistency.
6. Pour the mixture through the sieve into the other container. Use a clean brush to work all the material through the mesh.
7. Add a little more water to make the glaze the consistency of milk.
8. Dip a test tile into the mixture and hold under for 3 seconds.
9. Once the glaze has dried then dip one corner of the tile in the glaze for 10 seconds.
10. Label the test tile.
11. Fire the glaze test to the specified cone.

Analysis:
Examine the test tile for the characteristics listed in the 'Test Glaze Sheet'. Fill out one of these sheets each time a test glaze is fired and it will improve your analysis of the test. Some characteristics of the glaze may not be desirable now, but later on may be just what you are after.

Summary:
The purpose of this testing was to familiarise yourself with the equipment and the method used to make a test glaze up. It also introduced you to the method of record keeping needed to analyse a glaze.