|
|
Post by jack33001 on May 14, 2018 20:47:00 GMT -6
Hey everyone, I've done some test firings with my first try at a base glaze, and I'd love some feedback. There seem to be sections of the glaze that are completely matte, and sections that are glossy with and without crystals. I'm not completely sure, but it seems to me that the matte sections are completely enclosed by crystals, possibly meaning crystal overgrowth that's overpowering the other ingredients of the glaze. I'm thinking I'll need to decrease my zinc content by a percent and replace it with some silica, but please correct me if I'm wrong! drive.google.com/open?id=1BgrDFgXs9wQq0nPFq_VbsRHBxLXyxOOEdrive.google.com/open?id=1--oc3MNB-mXu43PVB7pj65jUE76j5KbL50% ferro frit 3110 26% zinc oxide 20% Silica 325m 3.9% Lithium Carbonate .1% Titanium Dioxide I fire this to a high cone 5 with no holds (I fire at my school, so I can't really do much better than this) Also, I want to add something to make the glaze a little more brushable, and my teacher has some brushing media that he will let me use. Anything to be careful of with this stuff? |
|
|
|
Post by mohawkpiper on May 15, 2018 0:09:38 GMT -6
i dont fire to that cone, but it looks like to me for the vertical ones you need more glaze loading. for the flat ones it looks like u need more melt (lithium?) which might then lead to more zinc. maybe tileman will chime in he fires to cones closer to you more regularly. for brushability add v-gum-t or bentonite at roughly 1.5%
|
|
|
|
Post by jfox on May 15, 2018 7:13:23 GMT -6
you need those holds to grow crystals , it looks like that glaze is ready to pop .time to start watching craigslist for a cheap or free kiln
|
|
|
|
Post by jack33001 on May 15, 2018 16:32:50 GMT -6
you need those holds to grow crystals , it looks like that glaze is ready to pop .time to start watching craigslist for a cheap or free kiln I've been looking around for quite a while now, issue is that I'm 17 so I still live with my parents. Can you reccoment a decent 120v or 115v kiln? |
|
|
|
Post by tileman2 on May 15, 2018 17:24:38 GMT -6
Jack:
I think you are doing well for 17; crystals take time to master regardless of your age.
Zinc variety is very important in cone 5/6 firings. I frequently fire to 2220F, and grow 3-4" crystals. I mentioned in your other thread that XL 500 white zinc melts much better at lower cone fires as compared to yellow zinc. You can contact Krueger Pottery in St. Louis; they are the only supplier who stocks it. If they are out, tell Ryan to email me, and I will send him over a few pounds for you. XL500 only requires 3% lithium! and is plenty fluid. Secondly, lower your crystal ramp hold temperature by 10 degrees. The threads of the crystal will begin to close up, and form florets.
XL500 works best at 25% additions by the way. On flatter shapes, crystals tend to over-populate.
Tom
|
|
|
|
Post by mohawkpiper on May 16, 2018 1:20:03 GMT -6
you dont NEED the holds to grow em. i know ppl that grow em in their gas kilns with regular ceramics no holds. BUT adding holds will help drastically. without holds you will have a lot of work on your hands and will have to deal with small crystals, but it is still do-able.
ive gotta cress for sale... its a manual kiln tho... probably not the easiest to work with and also im in northern cali so unless yur local itd be difficult to aquire
|
|
|
|
Post by jack33001 on May 16, 2018 12:15:04 GMT -6
Thanks for the input everyone - I think the issue might actually have something to do with my application of the glaze - these are photos of the same test tile on each side, with 3.5% manganese. The bottom of one side has some crystal growth that I really love, and I think I put it on thicker. I’m going to try making a test tile with different thicknesses of the base glaze to test my theory. drive.google.com/open?id=1-3Zbj9sJhh70CdDr7e6K39KTr8Sa_3KdOn a different note, I have some ideas for programming an Arduino to control a manual kiln. Do you think there would be a market for that? It would probably cost $100-$150 and you would have to perform the conversion yourself. |
|
|
|
Post by jack33001 on May 26, 2018 17:01:05 GMT -6
Success(ish)! I tried all the suggestions I got in previous replies (except for tileman’s, I didn’t want to but new zinc unless absolutely necessary) and I Tried some test tile with them. I got nearly perfect by taking Mohawkpiper’s response, adding 1% lithium in place of some of the zinc. The was tile #2, and there’s just a very slight problem area around the perimeter of the glaze. I don’t think this will lead to any problems vertically, but I’ll soon make a test tile to be sure of it. Thanks for all the input! You guys are incredible! drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fLRONef2va6P0aAWuiD573XH-ezobGMx?usp=sharingAlso, I was finally able to talk my parents into letting me get a kiln! I’ll be combing Craigslist for the next few weeks, and soon I’ll actully be able to perform holds! |
|
