Ceramic Glaze Test Tiles

I stamp the back of the tile with a code for the type of clay and there is ample space to write information about the test using an underglaze pencil.

Ceramic glaze test tiles.

Ashley keller hand carves her test tiles. Test tile in upright 60 degree position. This shows her whether the glaze will accentuate her designs. In today s post an excerpt from the may june 2019 issue of pottery making illustrated gabriel kline shares two tests that can help you determine if you re using food safe ceramic glazes in your practice.

This test tile clearly reveals how much and to what extent the ingredient influences the glaze. Thin the glaze with water to the appropriate consistency. My l shaped glaze test tile design is ideal for glaze testing for several reasons. And to improve your results it helps to have test tiles that mimic the kind of work you make.

How to test tweak and perfect your glazes john britt shows several different ways to make test tiles. It effectively tests the influence of adding an ingredient to a glaze in five consecutive increments 0 10 20 30 40 in my examples all on one test tile. Test tile in 30 degree position. The hole in the base allows the tile to be hung on a glaze bucket or on a display.

For single color application this is liable to be the thickness of heavy cream. If you work in several clay bodies it s good to make test tiles out of all of them. If you plan to use the glaze in a multiple layer glazing strategy the glaze or glazes should be thin and milky. Chances are you ll find one that makes sense with what you are making.

Glazes can look and behave vastly different on different clay bodies. Jennifer poellot harnetty editor. I do a lot of glaze testing and needed to find solutions to the problems of moving and handling large quantities of test tiles through the different stages of. Test tiles provide essential information for fired ceramic pieces but can be a hassle to keep organized in and out of the kiln.

In this video an excerpt from his dvd understanding glazes. The easiest way to make up your test glazes is to make a series of different ceramic tiles in the different types of clay you ll be working with. Most people use some form of. Once your ceramics have gone through their glaze firing they ll be vitrified and the process will be irreversible.

Glaze tests and test tiles there are many benefits to having test tiles for glazes. Prepare a test tile. Otherwise if you re like me you forget very quickly. The ceramic glaze testing process.

For more ways to test your glazes check out the may june 2019 issue of pottery making.