Practical Glaze Course

Raw Material Testing

Aim:
• To explore how the various chemicals and minerals used in glazes melt.
• To examine the materials various raw characteristics.
• To learn the names of each material.
• To learn the health risks associated with raw minerals and chemicals.
• Basic labelling rules.
• To understand how pyrometric cones work.

Method:
1. Make test tiles that are small dishes, large enough to hold a teaspoon of material, these need
to be bisque fired.
2. Each tile needs to be labelled with the material it will contain. If there is insufficient room on
the tile then use an abbreviation. The mixture we use for labelling is a teaspoon of iron oxide,
1/2 teaspoon of manganese dioxide, a pinch each of clay, talc and flux all mixed together with
enough water to make it to a consistency you can easily paint on.
3. Take one level teaspoon of each raw material and place in the appropriate test tile.
4. Fire the test tiles in your kiln to the same temperature as your normal glaze firing. Use the
cone chart below to select the appropriate cone for your firing.

Analysis:
The following characteristics should be noted for each tile:
1. Type of clay used
2. Temperature fired to (use cones where possible)
3. Name of material
4. Characteristics of the raw material (feel, colour and weight)
5. Degree of melt (is it still powder or semi fused or fully melted)
6. Colour of fired sample
7. Opacity of fired sample
8. Reaction of surrounding bare clay (has the material coloured the surrounding clay)

Summary:
The purpose of this testing was to further your understanding of the various materials used,
examining both their raw and fired properties. Cones are composed of the same raw ingredients
as just tested. These glaze ingredients are formulated to melt after a certain amount of heat work.
This means that it is not just how hot the kiln is, but also how long the firing took. The longer the
firing the lower the temperature the cone will bend at (up to a point), see the table below. Cones
are regraded as a more accurate indication of the temperature of the kiln than a pyrometre.

Orton Cones
Cone 600 p/h 1500 p/h Cone 600 p/h 1500 p/h Cone 600 p/h 1500 p/h
010 880 890 03 1086 1101 5 1177 1196
09 915 923 02 1101 1120 6 1201 1222
08 945 955 01 1117 1137 7 1215 1240
07 973 984 1 1136 1154 8 1236 1263
06 991 999 2 1142 1162 9 1260 1280
05 1031 1046 3 1152 1168 10 1285 1305
04 1050 1060 4 1168 1186 11 1294 1315

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Glaze Mixing
Aim:
To understand the process of making up a glaze
Make up the following test glaze:
Potash Feldspar 40g
China Clay 10g
Whiting 20g
Silica 30g
Fire to Cone 8

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.

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Colour Line Blends
Aim:
• To introduce you to the testing method known as Line Blending.
• To use line blends as a tool for discovering glaze colour.
• To examine the following glaze's colour response to Iron Oxide, Copper Carbonate, Manganese
Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide, Nickle Oxide, Chrome Oxide and Cobalt Carbonate.

Glaze A Glaze B Glaze C

Potash Feldspar 80g Soda Feldspar 100g Potash Feldspar 60g
China Clay 20g China Clay 20g Soda Feldspar 60g
Whiting 40g Whiting 40g China Clay 10g
Silica 60g Silica 40g Dolomite 30g
Silica 40g
Fire to Cone 8

Method:
1. Make up the above glazes as outlined in 'Glaze Mixing', note that the quantities have doubled
to 200g.
2. Use the schedule below to add an amount of colouring oxide as listed above:

Test Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Colour Percentage 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5%
Amount to Add 0 2g 2g 2g 2g 2g

3. Each time you add a colouring oxide the glaze needs to be re-sieved from one container to
the other.
4. Dip a test tile into the glaze in the same manner as we did in 'Glaze Mixing'.
5. Label the test tile with the letters CLB, then the glaze A, B or C, and finally the number of the
test.

Analysis:
Use the 'Test Glaze Sheet' to summarise each test series. In particular note the following:
• The way the colour varies across the series.
• Any difference in the melt characteristics across the series.
• The amounts of colouring oxides that were either too much or too little as this gives you the
range of possibilities.
• The way the different base glazes affects the colour.

Summary:
Line blends are a powerful method of finding out the correct proportion of colouring oxide that is
needed to colour a glaze. However, they do suffer from an accumulating error problem and so
keeping the series of tests short improves their accuracy.

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Material Line Blends
Aim:
• To use the line blend method to vary 2 glaze materials in a base glaze.
• Understand the maths for ascertaining the proportions in various mixes.
• To discover the limits of materials in a glaze using the glazes on the attached sheet.

Method:
1. Make up both glazes using the same amount of water so that their volumes are identical. Start
with the glaze that has the most clay in it and once that glaze is mixed to the usual cream
consistency then make the other glaze equal in volume.
2. The glazes need constant stirring throughout testing as they can settle very quickly.
3. Using either a syringe or a measuring spoon remove some of glaze A as per the schedule
below and empty it to an empty cup. Add the balance of glaze B as per the schedule and mix
the two together. Sieving is not necessary.

Test Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Ratio A:B 100:0 80:20 60:40 40:60 20:80 0:100
Amount of A 80ml 60ml 40ml 20ml
Amount of B 20ml 40ml 60ml 80ml

4. Dip the test tile into this mixture and label according to the schedule. Then move onto the next
test. For tests No 1 and 6 just dip the test tile into the large batch of glaze A and B
respectively.
5. Label all the tests with MLB, then the glaze combinations (eg. A.B), then the number of the
test.

Analysis:
Use the 'Test Glaze Sheet' to summarise each test series. In particular note the following:
• The way the texture of the surface changes across the series, note which end feels rough, which
end feels smooth.
• Note the way crazing can vary across the series.

Summary:
This version of the line blend is a very useful tool for varying one or two ingredients in a glaze to
discover the function of those ingredients, or to fine tune a glaze. The number of steps may be as
large as you like, but practically speaking 5 steps would be the minimum and around 15 would be
as fine as ever needed. The maths needed to derive a glaze in the series appears daunting at first
but with practice is very logical.

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Glaze A % Batch = 300g Glaze B % Batch = 300g

Soda Feldspar 37 111 Soda Feldspar 37 111

China Clay 27 81 China Clay 9 27

Whiting 9 27 Whiting 27 81

Silica 27 81 Silica 27 81

Tile A ml B ml Soda Feldspar China Clay Whiting Silica

1 100 0 37 27 9 27

2 80 20 37 23.4 12.6 27

3 60 40 37 19.8 16.2 27

4 40 60 37 16.2 19.8 27

5 20 80 37 12.6 23.4 27

6 0 100 37 9 27 27

MIX 50 50 37 18 18 27

Glaze C % Batch = 300g Glaze D % Batch = 300g

Soda Feldspar 30 90 Soda Feldspar 60 180

China Clay 5 15 China Clay 5 15

Whiting 30 90 Whiting 5 15

Zinc 5 15 Zinc 5 15

Silica 30 90 Silica 25 75

Tile C ml D ml Soda Feldspar China Clay Whiting Zinc Silica

1 100 0 30 5 30 5 30

2 80 20 36 5 25 5 29

3 60 40 42 5 20 5 28

4 40 60 48 5 15 5 27

5 20 80 54 5 10 5 26

6 0 100 60 5 5 5 25

MIX 50 50 45 5 17.5 5 27.5

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Glaze E % Batch = 300g Glaze F % Batch = 300g

Potash Feldspar 40 120 Potash Feldspar 48 144

China Clay 10 30 China Clay 10 30

Whiting 25 75 Whiting 10 30

Talc 5 15 Talc 20 60

Silica 20 60 Silica 12 36

Tile E ml F ml Potash Feldspar China Clay Whiting Talc Silica

1 100 0 40 10 25 5 20

2 80 20 41.6 10 22 8 18.4

3 60 40 43.2 10 19 11 16.8

4 40 60 44.8 10 16 14 15.2

5 20 80 46.4 10 13 17 13.6

6 0 100 48 10 10 20 12

MIX 50 50 44 10 17.5 12.5 16

To determine what a particular glaze recipe is from anywhere in the series follow this procedure:
1. Note the ratio of whichever test you are interested in.
e.g. test no. 2 is C=80, D=20
2. Multiple all the ingredients in glaze C by its' ratio number.
e.g. glaze C for test no. 2 is: Soda Feldspar 30 X 80 = 2400
China Clay 5 X 80 = 400
Whiting 30 X 80 = 2400
Zinc Oxide 5 X 80 = 400
Silica 30 X 80 = 2400
3. Multiple all the ingredients in glaze D by its' ratio number.
e.g. glaze D for test no. 2 is: Soda Feldspar 60 X 20 = 1200
China Clay 5 X 20 = 100
Whiting 5 X 20 = 100
Zinc Oxide 5 X 20 = 100
Silica 25 X 20 = 500
4. Now add together the 2 glazes, matching up the same ingredients where possible.
e.g. glaze C + glaze D for test no. 2 is:
Soda Feldspar 2400 + 1200 = 3600
China Clay 400 + 100 = 500
Whiting 2400 + 100 = 2500
Zinc Oxide 400 +100 = 500
Silica 2400 + 500 = 2900
Total = 10000
5. Now we simplify the numbers so that the Total will equal 100. We do this by dividing each
number by 100.
e.g.. normalising test no. 2 Soda Feldspar 3600 ÷ 100 = 36
China Clay 500 ÷ 100 = 5
Whiting 2500 ÷ 100 = 25
Zinc Oxide 500 ÷ 100 = 5
Silica 2900 ÷ 100 = 29
Total = 100

Whenever possible it is good practice to make all your glaze recipes total to 100 as this makes
comparison between glazes that much easier.

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Material Triaxial Testing
Aim:
• To explore the use of a three way mix for discovering new glazes.
• Understand the maths of three way ratios.
• To better understand the ratios of the major glaze constituents: fluxes, stabilisers, glass formers.

Method:
1. The 2 attached sheets detail how the triaxial graph is laid out and how to mix the various
glazes together.
2. Make up the 3 glazes as per the schedule using the batch amounts. The percentage recipe is
needed to understand the various ratios of materials. They must all be made up to identical
volumes of glaze.
3. You will need to have 18 separate pots that the main 3 glazes will be divided into.
4. Lay out your glazes and mixing pots according to the graph, label each pot with MTT, then the
glazes used, then its number and also label each of the test tiles with the same reference
number.
5. Using either a syringe or measuring spoons divide up glaze A into all the cups using the
schedule to determine amounts. It is important to always stir the glaze before removing any to
insure an even consistency.
6. Now divide up glaze B and C in the same manner. Each mixing pot should have the same
volume of glaze in it.
7. Stir each cup just before you dip a test tile into the mixture.

Analysis:
• Lay out the test tiles into the same triangle pattern as the graph. The same sheet that you used
to make up the tests also has a breakdown of what the recipe is for each tile. Use this in
conjunction with the 'Test Glaze Sheet' to note the following:
• The trends across the group, for instance, changes in opacity and colour response.
• Note the qualities each corner exhibits and the way it is modifies as it progressively mixes with
the other glazes.
• The maths used to derive the glazes for each number of the graph are very similar to the maths
used in Material Line Blends but this time you need to use the proportions of all three glazes
added together.

Summary:
Triaxial testing can quickly pinpoint areas of interest and to see the effects of each material, both
in isolation and in various combinations. Triaxial testing can be used to trial various flux
combinations with great accuracy, or test a substitute material.

© Duncan Shearer 2018

 Glaze G % Batch = 600g Glaze H % Batch = 600g Glaze I % Batch = 600g
Potash Feld 40 240 Potash Feld 40 240 Potash Feld 40 240
China Clay 5 30 China Clay 25 150 China Clay 3 18
Whiting 40 240 Whiting 13 78 Whiting 17 102
Silica 15 90 Silica 22 132 Silica 40 240

Tile G ml H ml I ml Potash Feld China Clay Whiting Silica

1 100 40 5 40 15
2 80 20 40 9 34.6 16.4
3 80 20 40 4.6 35.4 20
4 60 40 40 13 29.2 17.8
5 60 20 20 40 8.6 30 21.4
6 60 40 40 4.2 30.8 25
7 40 60 40 17 23.8 19.2
8 40 40 20 40 12.6 24.6 22.8
9 40 20 40 40 8.2 25.4 26.4
10 40 60 40 3.8 26.2 30
11 20 80 40 21 18.4 20.6
12 20 60 20 40 16.6 19.2 24.2
13 20 40 40 40 12.2 20 27.8
14 20 20 60 40 7.8 20.8 31.4
15 20 80 40 3.4 21.6 35
16 100 40 25 13 22
17 80 20 40 20.6 13.8 25.6
18 60 40 40 16.2 14.6 29.2
19 40 60 40 11.8 15.4 32.8
20 20 80 40 7.4 16.2 36.4
21 100 40 3 17 40
MIX 0.33 0.33 0.33 39.96 10.99 23.31 25.64

© Duncan Shearer 2018

 Glaze J % Batch = 600g Glaze K % Batch = 600g Glaze L % Batch = 600g
Potash Feld 45 270 Potash Feld 45 270 Potash Feld 40 240
China Clay 10 60 China Clay 12 72 China Clay 10 60
Dolomite 10 60 Talc 18 108 Barium Carb 20 120
Whiting 10 60 Whiting 7 42 Whiting 10 60
Silica 25 150 Silica 18 108 Silica 25 150
Iron oxide 1 6 Iron oxide 1 6 Iron oxide 1 6

Tile J ml K ml L ml Potash Feld China Clay Whiting Dolomite Talc Barium Silica
1 100 45 10 10 10 0 0 25
2 80 20 45 10.4 9.4 8 3.6 0 23.6
3 80 20 44 10 10 8 0 4 25
4 60 40 45 10.8 8.8 6 7.2 0 22.2
5 60 20 20 44 10.4 9.4 6 3.6 4 23.6
6 60 40 43 10 10 6 0 8 25
7 40 60 45 11.2 8.2 4 10.8 0 20.8
8 40 40 20 44 10.8 8.8 4 7.2 4 22.2
9 40 20 40 43 10.4 9.4 4 3.6 8 23.6
10 40 60 42 10 10 4 0 12 25
11 20 80 45 11.6 7.6 2 14.4 0 19.4
12 20 60 20 44 11.2 8.2 2 10.8 4 20.8
13 20 40 40 43 10.8 8.8 2 7.2 8 22.2
14 20 20 60 42 10.4 9.4 2 3.6 12 23.6
15 20 80 41 10 10 2 0 16 25
16 100 45 12 7 0 18 0 18
17 80 20 44 11.6 7.6 0 14.4 4 19.4
18 60 40 43 11.2 8.2 0 10.8 8 20.8
19 40 60 42 10.8 8.8 0 7.2 12 22.2
20 20 80 41 10.4 9.4 0 3.6 16 23.6
21 100 40 10 10 0 0 20 25
MIX 0.33 0.33 0.33 43.29 10.66 8.99 3.33 5.99 6.66 22.64

© Duncan Shearer 2018

 Glaze M % Batch = 600g Glaze N % Batch = 600g Glaze O % Batch = 600g
Soda Feldspar 60 360 Soda Feldspar 30 180 Soda Feldspar 35 210
China Clay 10 60 China Clay 15 90 China Clay 12 72
Talc 15 90 Zinc Oxide 13 78
Whiting 10 60 Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90
Silica 20 120 Silica 25 150 Silica 25 150
Copper Carb 2 12 Copper Carb 2 12 Copper Carb 2 12

Tile M ml N ml O ml Soda Feldspar China Clay Whiting Zinc Oxide Talc Silica
1 100 60 10 10 0 0 20
2 80 20 54 11 11 0 3 21
3 80 20 55 10.4 11 2.6 0 21
4 60 40 48 12 12 0 6 22
5 60 20 20 49 11.4 12 2.6 3 22
6 60 40 50 10.8 12 5.2 0 22
7 40 60 42 13 13 0 9 23
8 40 40 20 43 12.4 13 2.6 6 23
9 40 20 40 44 11.8 13 5.2 3 23
10 40 60 45 11.2 13 7.8 0 23
11 20 80 36 14 14 0 12 24
12 20 60 20 37 13.4 14 2.6 9 24
13 20 40 40 38 12.8 14 5.2 6 24
14 20 20 60 39 12.2 14 7.8 3 24
15 20 80 40 11.6 14 10.4 0 24
16 100 30 15 15 0 15 25
17 80 20 31 14.4 15 2.6 12 25
18 60 40 32 13.8 15 5.2 9 25
19 40 60 33 13.2 15 7.8 6 25
20 20 80 34 12.6 15 10.4 3 25
21 100 35 12 15 13 0 25
MIX 0.33 0.33 0.33 41.63 12.32 13.32 4.33 5.00 23.31

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Colour Triaxial Testing
Aim:
• To use triaxial testing to examine the effects of various colouring oxides in combinations.

Method:
1. Use the 2 sheets provided, one is the triaxial graph and the other details the glazes that need
to be made up and the various percentages of each to mix together. Use the same method as
for Material Triaxial Testing to mix the glazes and dip the test tiles.

Analysis:
• Layout the test tiles in the same order as the triaxial graph and note the variation of colours
across the tiles. Also note if any of the colouring combinations made the glaze more or less
fluid.

Summary:
Triaxial blends are a fast and effective way to explore a multitude of colour effects and to quickly
refine a colour pallet that works.

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Glaze P % Batch = 600g Glaze Q % Batch = 600g Glaze R % Batch = 600g
Soda Feldspar 45 270 Soda Feldspar 45 270 Soda Feldspar 45 270
China Clay 10 60 China Clay 10 60 China Clay 10 60
Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90
Calcium Borate 10 60 Calcium Borate 10 60 Calcium Borate 10 60
Silica 20 120 Silica 20 120 Silica 20 120
Copper Carb 5 30 Iron Oxide 5 30

Tile P ml Q ml R ml Copper Carb Iron Oxide

1 100 0 0
2 80 20 1 0
3 80 20 0 1
4 60 40 2 0
5 60 20 20 1 1
6 60 40 0 2
7 40 60 3 0
8 40 40 20 2 1
9 40 20 40 1 2
10 40 60 0 3
11 20 80 4 0
12 20 60 20 3 1
13 20 40 40 2 2
14 20 20 60 1 3
15 20 80 0 4
16 100 5 0
17 80 20 4 1
18 60 40 3 2
19 40 60 2 3
20 20 80 1 4
21 100 0 5
MIX 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.67 1.67

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Glaze S % Batch = 600g Glaze T % Batch = 600g Glaze U % Batch = 600g
Soda Feldspar 45 270 Soda Feldspar 45 270 Soda Feldspar 45 270
China Clay 10 60 China Clay 10 60 China Clay 10 60
Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90
Calcium Borate 10 60 Calcium Borate 10 60 Calcium Borate 10 60
Silica 20 120 Silica 20 120 Silica 20 120
Manganese Diox 5 30 Titanium Diox 5 30

Tile S ml T ml U ml Manganese Diox Titanium Diox

1 100 0 0
2 80 20 1 0
3 80 20 0 1
4 60 40 2 0
5 60 20 20 1 1
6 60 40 0 2
7 40 60 3 0
8 40 40 20 2 1
9 40 20 40 1 2
10 40 60 0 3
11 20 80 4 0
12 20 60 20 3 1
13 20 40 40 2 2
14 20 20 60 1 3
15 20 80 0 4
16 100 5 0
17 80 20 4 1
18 60 40 3 2
19 40 60 2 3
20 20 80 1 4
21 100 0 5
MIX 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.67 1.67

© Duncan Shearer 2018

Glaze V % Batch = 600g Glaze W % Batch = 600g Glaze X % Batch = 600g
Soda Feldspar 45 270 Soda Feldspar 45 270 Soda Feldspar 45 270
China Clay 10 60 China Clay 10 60 China Clay 10 60
Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90 Whiting 15 90
Calcium Borate 10 60 Calcium Borate 10 60 Calcium Borate 10 60
Silica 20 120 Silica 20 120 Silica 20 120
Cobalt Carb 1 6 Chrome Ox 1 6

Tile V ml W ml X ml Cobalt Carb Chrome Ox

1 100 0 0
2 80 20 0.2 0
3 80 20 0 0.2
4 60 40 0.4 0
5 60 20 20 0.2 0.2
6 60 40 0 0.4
7 40 60 0.6 0
8 40 40 20 0.4 0.2
9 40 20 40 0.2 0.4
10 40 60 0 0.6
11 20 80 0.8 0
12 20 60 20 0.6 0.2
13 20 40 40 0.4 0.4
14 20 20 60 0.2 0.6
15 20 80 0 0.8
16 100 1 0
17 80 20 0.8 0.2
18 60 40 0.6 0.4
19 40 60 0.4 0.6
20 20 80 0.2 0.8
21 100 0 1
MIX 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33

© Duncan Shearer 2018

© Duncan Shearer 2018
Test Glaze Sheet
Name of glaze: Recipe:
Date:
Source of recipe:
Temperature fired to:
Cone number:
Test tile number:

Shine:
(how shiny or matt is the surface of the glaze?)

Tactile quality:
(how smooth does the surface of the glaze feel?)

Opacity:
(how transparent is the glaze?)

Thickness:
(how does the glaze vary with thickness?)

Melt:
(how melted does the glaze look?, is it running off the test tile?)

Colour:
(how well does the glaze show off the various colouring oxides?)

Crazing:
(does the glaze show any cracking?, how much?)

Shivering:
(is the glaze flaking off the tile?, check the rims and edges.)

Crawling:
(has the glaze pulled back on itself and formed droplets of glaze?)

Pin holing:
(does the glaze display small holes that reach to the clay underneath?)

Summary:

Any further testing needed?

Very Good Good Average Poor Very Poor

© Duncan Shearer 2018