Glaze Test Tiles or Christmas in July

Two dedicated volunteers have prepared the test tiles for the current studio glazes.

BMCA fortunately has a great selection of 12 glazes.  Test each one against the other, either over or under, and that makes 144 test tiles.

Pat used the extruder above to make the tiles, using 50 pounds of clay.  She then cut them into exact lengths, impressed them with both lines and dotted indentations, and labeled each one.

I got the honor of dipping each into at least two glazes.

We have at least 4 new glazes since the last time we made test tiles.

Each row should have 12 tiles with the same base color

So for the last year we've had to tell new students we no longer have Mexico or Persimon.  Our new Matt Black and Plum, or Glossy Green and the newest version of Celadon - nobody knows how they look with the other glazes.  We're waiting for a new batch of Raspberry that's not got the "purple tinge" that the current batch has, so that we can have tests done with a pure Raspberry glaze.  Of course lots of us have loved the purple-berry, and yet it's not a shop standard glaze.

The kiln is currently loaded, and as soon as it's fired and cooled, we can see how things work out together.

Each set of 12 was dipped first into one color, say Eggshell.  Then a second dip would be at just the top third of the test tile...and the label would say "Black over Eggshell" abbreviated of course to "Black o Egg."  The next tile would be "Floating Blue over Eggshell" or "Float o Egg."

When they do come out of the kiln, it will be like Christmas morning!

Results will be posted asap!

Today's quote:

Try pausing right before and right after undertaking a new action, even something simple like putting a key in a lock to open a door. Such pauses take a brief moment, yet they have the effect of decompressing time and centering you.

A life practice from Br. David Steindl-Rast