Glaze tiles that appear on our website are one variation of that particular glaze. Pottery is rarely perfect and not always predictable. Here are just some of the variables that may affect your glaze results.
Clay Body
Our sample glazes are displayed on gray clays, buff coloured when fired. The underlying clay can drastically change the final colour of all glazes except those that are opaque. The clay body can also affect glaze surface and physical properties such as crazing and shivering.
Glaze Mixing
To mix glazes properly, you must always mix the entire dry contents with water and sieve them until lumps are no longer present. It is also a good practice to allow the glaze to sit for a few hours after mixing as some chemicals dissolve in water and need sufficient time to do so. Water source may also affect a glaze, the lower the temperature of the glaze the more it may be affected by minerals in the water.
Glaze Application
Our sample glazes are dipped rather than brushed or sprayed. We often single dip the tiles relatively thick so they show maximum colour as well as whether there is a tendency for the glaze to run. Varying the amount of water and how long the bisqueware is held in the glaze may produce different and interesting results, but dipping will always produce the most consistent result.
Firing
Often, many glaze samples are fired in the same load. Gases given off each glaze can affect the colour of another glaze depending on their composition and temperature of the firing. There are many different brands of kilns on the market and no two are alike in all respects. Some kilns are well insulated and will cool slowly allowing time for glaze imperfections to heal or disappear. Kilns that are poorly insulated may produce glazes that don't appear as glossy as our sample. Kiln sitter adjustment or accuracy of kiln controller, temperature balance between top and bottom, and rate of temperature rise and fall all affect the final appearance of the glaze.