Wednesday, August 26, 2009

How to make colored glaze?

The easiest way to get a glaze is buy a ready made one in your ceramic supply shop. For those who like to experiment a bit more, you can mix 'em yourself.
That's what I often do. It's a bit more work but it's cheaper and the surprise is bigger when you open the kiln! :)
I never tried to make a red glaze yet so I decided to try if it would work with red iron oxide.
Here is what you need:
Transparant glaze powder (also that you can make yourself but at the moment I use ready made), oxide/pigments/stains, a sieve with a very small mesh, water, containers with a tight lid, a protective mask, a brush, a spoon, some paper and a scale.I usually make small amounts so I can make a test tile first. Weigh 100gr of transparant glaze powder.
Then add pigments, body stains or oxides. All three have a different effect on the color. While the result of pigments or body stains are more obvious, the use of oxides is less predictable. So sample tiles are in order before making large amounts.
I usually take 3 or 5 grams to 100 grams of transparant glaze. For the red glaze I'm trying to make right now, I'm going to use red ironoxide and I take 10 grams to 100 grams of glaze because I'm afraid that I will get a pink result if I use less.
Put a piece of paper on your scale and weigh the pigment, body stain or oxide on the paper.
Then add the color to the glaze.
Add water & mix the glaze.
Then put the glaze through the sieve in a container. Using the sieve prevents lumps and makes sure that the color is mixed well with the glaze. I use my brush to push it through the sieve.
When you're done, write a label on your container so you know what you mixed.
Then make a sample tile and fire it. If it's too dark, add more glaze to it or a bit of tin oxide (which makes it lighter).
This is the result when it's fired... ouch, not quite what I had in mind! LOL
More experimenting is in order for sure! :)

21 comments:

  1. The mad scientist at work! I am so curious about your results...I would love to see you working in person...spend the day, learn some tricks...your creativity knows no bounds!

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  2. Very interesting. I would love to try but have no tools;) Thanks for sharing it with us. Looking forward to seeing what the final result looks like.

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  3. Mixing your own is great fun! Just make sure you do it out side and with a mask on it is very very important!!!

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  4. Looking forward how red it will be :) Would love to come along with Inger and K to your place!

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  5. I love mixing my own glazes. I like living chunks of pigments just for the surprise of finding what comes out when you open the kiln...aaaaah! I want my own kiln!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha

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  6. Hej! This one looks like mine! :P

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  7. pretty curious how it will come out of the kiln !

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  8. Wow - I thought it would be much more involved than that.. how fabulous! I'll really looking forward to seeing the finished product. How long do you have to have it in the kiln for? :) K

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  9. I can't wait to see the result Mitsy!:)

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  10. Wow, so much works goes into each of your pieces. I can't wait to see the fired up babushka!

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  11. Kylie, I will dry fire the kiln for 6 hours very slowly because lots of pieces still need to dry.
    I'll start it thursday before I go to bed and I will probably be able to open it on saturday in the afternoon. :)

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  12. love your tutorials, always so well explained and photographed! so much fun watching you at work!! :D

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  13. oh what a wonderful blog!!! I have become a stalker...lol

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  14. wow, very curious about the result!

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  15. another helpful tutorial, thanks :) looking forward to seeing the end colour

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  16. oops,well at least its a nice brown shade ;)

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  17. I wanna come over! i love the tutorials though!

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