Making Test Blends for Glazes and Clay Bodies

Welcome to The Potter’s Round Table, in this episode we discuss Making Test Blends for Glazes and Clay Bodies.
How can you design a clay body or glaze of your own? And how can you get the proportions of the ingredients just right? In this episode Phil explains the process of line blends, triaxial blends and quadraxial blends. We will also cover some good uses for the different blending processes. If you want to develop your own clay or glaze recipes, or if have an existing glaze that doesn’t seem quite right, this presentation may give you the insight and tools you need.
Handouts: wix.to/E0CPB7E Filename: Making Test Blends Handout.pdf
The Potters’ Round Table is a production of Washington Street Studios. As a result of the pandemic the Round Table is hosted as a TH-cam livestream event and then edited to be added to our video library.
The Potters’ Round Table is brought to you by Washington Street Studios, a community pottery studio, gallery, and pottery school located in Harpers Ferry / Bolivar, WV. We exist to provide ceramic artists an affordable, fully equipped studio space for aspiring, emerging and established artists to share their creative energy and knowledge in an environment designed to support the ceramic artist. If you want to learn more about Washington Street Studios, visit our website at www.hfclay.com/.
At Washington Street Studios, we believe the sharing of creative energy and knowledge will improve the quality of our art and increase the appreciation of art within our community. We are striving to create an environment where the arts are shared and appreciated. We want to grow as a family of artists and contribute to our community.
TH-cam
This video is one of our steps to share our passion for the ceramic arts, creative energy and knowledge with other artists and art lovers. We also created an audio version to expand our audience. If you are looking for the podcast of our show search for the ‘The Potters Round Table’ on your podcast platform of choice or go to anchor.fm/thepottersroundtable.

[@bobhackney3870]

Thank you, Phil, for everything. Very missed.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Hey Bob, Phil is missed, that is certain.

[@ben614]

What's that, Phil mixing up a fresh batch of useful tips & tricks of the trade for potters? Yes please, much needed =)

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks Ben! And if you have any ideas for future presentations, let us know!

[@ingenieurmechanical]

Excellent teaching skills. Wonderfully explained. ❤ From 🇵🇰

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thanks, Phil was great.

[@peterhills9832]

Thank you for this wonderfully clear description, especially of the quadraxial blend.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Glad you found the presentation useful, please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters.

[@Ro-ex2wn]

Thank you Phil, so helpful so clearly explained!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Ro Ro, It's great that you found this useful, be sure to share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community!

[@ataulaceramicacontemporane4436]

Thanks!! Super clear and very well explained!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Thank you and please share the channel with your friends and fellow potters to help us grow our community.

[@MsZzzipper]

This is very helpful! Thank you!

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

You are most welcome!

[@mosseyw]

Thanks for the interesting lecture , I’ve done a trial of the Ian currie method and found it gave me some very interesting potential glazes. My next step is to zero in on certain parts of the test tile and test further to hopefully develop a couple of different glazes , Matt / gloss/ satin

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Can you send some pictures? [e-mail]

[@talicohen-flantz4099]

Thank you so much,that was so useful!!! Can you recommend 1200c glaze that is good /reliable /functional for line bland with colour/ oxide?...

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Tali, I have forwarded this question on to Phil for consideration. I will post his response.

[@WashingtonStreetStudios]

Hello Tali,
If you are using commercial glazes, probably any good clear glaze will work. However, avoid any that contain zinc oxide because it can react with certain colorants, especially those containing chromium. Most manufacturers will tell you if their glaze is zinc-free.
If you are making up your own glazes, here are a few recipes for 1200 degrees C (approximately Orton cone 6):
5 x 20 Base Glaze: wollastonite 20%, Ferro frit #3134 20, potash feldspar 20, kaolin 20, silica 20
(apply thinly)
SG-4 Clear base: Gerstley borate (try Ferro frit # 3134 if not available) 4.8%, wollastonite 26.6, Ferro frit #3195 22.0, nepheline syenite 4.0, kaolin 26.6, silica 16.0
Moving Clear: Ferro frit #3134 21%, spodumene 9, sodium feldspar 7, talc 3, wollastonite 22, kaolin 20, silica 18
Cone 6 base: Ferro frit # 3134 20%, dolomite 20, spodumene 20, ball clay 20, silica 20
Clear base G19: wollastonite 30%, Ferro frit #3195 30, kaolin 20, silica 20
Good luck,
Phil