Lets make Glaze : 01 “Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…”

[@BrenzerM]

This is when the best part of ceramics begins!!! Ok I've some tips! 1. I mix my water and raw materials in glass jugs, even through the sieving stage. Then I pour them into my plastic containers. The plastic containers will scratch and those scratches will hold onto some of the raw materials/glaze mix over time, so you will find a reduction in the materials making it into the finished test amount. When making small test amounts changes in the exact accurate percentages will be more noticeable, not so much in bigger batches. It helps with getting a consistant result. 2.When you are adding your raw materials into your water start with the bentonite and clay part of your receipe first. China clay, kaoilin, EPK etc. 3. Get in to the habit of testing and recording specific gravity. Sue McCloud has a great class on this. I can't think of anymore at the moment as I am ready for my bed!!!! Best of luck with it all!

[@FarForestCeramics]

So much information and help here! Thankyou so much! 1. This makes so much sense! I'm on a hunt in my cupboards for suitable glass jugs now! 2. About to have my first attempt at mixing tomorrow and will remember this and follow your advise 3. Not even got the slightest understanding how to do this and how to read this....need equipment possibly and better understanding...will add Sue McCloud research onto my list to do Really appreciate all this help, thanks so much!!!

[@____Ann____]

Don't put bentonite directly into the water, it will make a gel and you will have those blobs in your sieve. Mix bentonite with the powder you have the most of. Then it gets mixed with that and you won't have coagulated bentonite.

[@BrenzerM]

@____Ann____ really? I've never had any problem with it, no glumping or coagulation with any of my glazes

[@thesussexstitcher]

Brilliant, can’t wait to see you get underway with this. Don’t encourage me down this route!

[@FarForestCeramics]

Lol, I'm so excited to start. You need to come join me on this journey lol

[@neilahalter9663]

Took a glaze class and really enjoyed it. Learned alot.

[@FarForestCeramics]

I'm hunting down for a course on glazes that suits my starting point at the moment. Excited to start the journey of learning and in the meantime I'll be doing some home experimentation LOL

[@bmora5610]

Brilliant 👏 👏

[@FarForestCeramics]

Thankyou

[@barbarakrajewski4555]

Good video! I’m so pleased for you! I’m pretty obsessed with glaze chemistry but was completely mind boggled at the beginning, so would love to help if I can. Looks like you’re off to a great start with all those lovely containers. Maybe you could cut off the top part of a big plastic coke bottle, turn it upside down, take lid off and use it as a funnel to fill the gap between your sieve and your glaze container?

[@FarForestCeramics]

Thankyou Barbara, I'd love to reach out to you for help. Great idea with the coke bottle too! Some sort of funnel sounds better than a ring. I'm going on a hunt this weekend to see what will work. Thanks so much for encouragement and offer of help, so appreciated x

[@alexandraoud8721]

yay...lets get started, goodluck with making lotsssss of testtiles😂🤣😂

[@FarForestCeramics]

Thankyou, just wish they would dry out quicker in this cold weather we are having in the UK. I need more patience lol

[@Ellen.s.atelier]

I Will be following and Probably start soon myself making my own glazes

[@FarForestCeramics]

Oh fabulous! Hopefully we can help each other with tips and hints? There is so much to learn and understand isn't there! 😅

[@ceramicsbyjulia8552]

Hi Jeanette, I would love to go down this route too, so excited to be following your progress. I would love your list please when you have time 🙏 ❤

[@FarForestCeramics]

Be amazing if you are on the same journey too - we can share tips and hints! Can you drop me a private message with an email address please, and I'll send it over to you :)

[@dianalittler7969]

Hi Jeanette. I’ve just found your KZbin channel. I love it. I’m so keen to start making glazes & think your videos are fantastic. I’ve booked into a glazing course at WestDean College (near Chichester) at the end of Oct … it’s not cheap but I’ve been recommended this course. Hoping to get a kiln v soon & just can’t wait. I’ve been potting for a year now I really wish is started earlier. Great work … please keep it going 🥰

[@FarForestCeramics]

Hi, so pleased you've found it helpful. I'm thoroughly enjoying the glazing journey. Interested to her more about the course. Is that quite local to you? I'm guessing over a few weeks? Still trying to find something local for me to attend. Having your own kiln was a game changer for me, excited for you x

[@dianalittler7969]

The course is a 4 day course … it can be residential but I live only 25 mins away …. x

[@dianalittler7969]

Where are you based? I’m between Portsmouth & Chichester

[@EMarleene]

So exciting. Makes me want to start making glazes too.

[@FarForestCeramics]

Come join the journey with me, the more the merrier! We can all help each other. I've been recommended some other great people to follow for glaze making too, but my first approach is to stick with one tutor initially. Then watch and learn from more. Trying to track down a course I can attend too.

[@denalilly7831]

😂😂😂 I hated chemistry too! But now! I love it. 😂 let me know if you want a tried and true studio white liner glaze. Holds up to knives and silverware….

[@FarForestCeramics]

Ooh that sounds very interesting. I my take you up on the once I've got through this first round of tests! Suddenly chemistry is becoming very fascinating lol

[@shontal_ceramic2830]

Well done. Good luck with it all 😊

[@FarForestCeramics]

Thanks so much Shontal :)

[@shontal_ceramic2830]

@@FarForestCeramics you are very welcome 😃

[@marycarolyn1293]

You’re off to a great start! I’ve been making glazes for around 30 years and I love your spreadsheet. I live in the US and go through a lot of Jif peanut butter. The empty jars are the perfect size for storing my glazes and the sieve fits exactly inside the rim so I have free containers. Joe’s videos are awesome so you should have good results. (This is a really disjointed comment. Sorry!)

[@FarForestCeramics]

Wow 30 years! What a brilliant idea with the jars. I'll have to keep my eye on some UK jars for something suitable ;) Joe's a great start, but getting lots of other fab recommendations too. Going to be a fun fab journey for sure. Hope its OK to pick your brains now and again x

[@marycarolyn1293]

@@FarForestCeramics I’m happy to answer if it’s something I know. My favorite source for glaze recipes is John Britt’s book. (I fire at cone 6.) To me, he’s definitely the glaze whisperer!

[@janlewis9099]

Oh how exciting. Would a funnel work to rest the sieve on when you are adding your ingredients to the 400ml beaker. Any way....Good luck ❤

[@FarForestCeramics]

I've spent today naming my first batch of test glazed and that's exactly what I found was the best approach. I've recorded it but need to edit before I can upload. Was a fun but slightly nerve-racking day lol. Tomorrow I hope to dip the test tiles. Just hope I have some success , even if it's just one out of the 20 I made lol

[@dianalittler7969]

Also …. Your s/s (I love a s/s) ….. could you share it with me as I can use them but not great at setting them up 🤷‍♀️ … no worries if not

[@FarForestCeramics]

Of course! I'll just need to rewatch the video to remind me which s/s referring to lol. It was a while ago I posted this lol

[@dianalittler7969]

It was to do either the glaze recipes etc. I’ve just been taking photos & noting the glazes & clay used in a notebook x