Matt and Rose Katz of the Ceramics Materials Workshop and Kathy King of the Ceramics Program at Harvard University discuss listener questions about clay and glaze. This show will have you laughing and learning about the chemistry behind ceramics in no time.
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Have you ever wondered why kilns have peep holes? Today Matt, Rose, and Kathy debate the function and necessity of peep holes, while also tackling a question about glazing only the interior of a pot. They also start the episode talking about the research Kathy is doing at Harvard Ceramics into the historic use of graphite as a ceramic sealer. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you chec...
Happy New Year! To start 2026 the gang answer listener questions about ash glazes, mixing brushing and dipping glazes, and how the particle size of colorants affects glaze outcomes. They also begin the episode sharing stories about the highs and lows of art center holiday sales. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to sho...
Have you wondered what makes a glaze food safe? Today we are happy to welcome Gabriel Kline and Bill Collins to the show to talk about the topic, and their new book Amazing Glaze: Food Safe Recipes . They discuss the definition of food safety, how to test glazes, and what they learned after testing dozens of popular cone 6 and cone 10 recipes. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra...
Do you fire your kiln fast or slow? And does it really matter? Today the gang answer a few listener questions about the relationship between temperature, glaze melt, and vitrification. They also discuss a class of clays out of the UK that vitrify at low fire temperatures. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today. Today's episode is bro...
Commercial casting slips are great for their convenience, but what do you do when your recipe hard-pans in the bucket? Today the gang talk about why hard-panning happens and how you can fix it. They also discuss making temp checks, the best bisque temp for commercial glazes, and the controversy around the sale of fake ceramic pigments. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episode...
Have you ever had small pieces of an unglazed foot ring stick to a kiln shelf? This bummer of a phenomenon is called plucking, and today the gang talk about how and why it happens. They also answer a listener's question about increasing plasticity in halloysite porcelains and take a trip to Materials Corner to discuss the rumors swirling around EPK production. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming s...
Halloween is our favorite holiday at For Flux Sake. We can't get enough of the costumes, candy, and science! Join the gang this week as they answer listener questions about using wild clays in a community studio, washing dirty clay laundry, and the proper way to open a bag of dry ceramic material. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is...
Joining a new community studio can be exciting, but also a little scary. Today the gang talk about how to be a good community member. They also answer listener questions about clay color changes, using tar paper in the studio, and where to start when you get your first potter's wheel. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way ...
Have you ever moved and had to convert your glazes to materials from a different continent? Today the gang talk about how you might do that along with why 'S' type thermocouples are the best for accurate firings. They also answer listener questions about upcycling large amounts of casting slip and solutions for handles that keep popping off. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you check...
Today's episode starts with a trip to Materials Corner where the gang talk about the likely end of a favorite Kaolin for soda firing. They also answer listener questions about the logic behind Orton cone's numbering system, the cause of scumming in clay, and the lowest temperature that it's ok to store clay. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patre...
To start the show Kathy shares about the research being conducted into vanishing historic lusters at the Harvard Art Museum. The gang also answer listener questions about material supply chains, the cleanliness of reclaimed clay, and why Matt and Rose went solar. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support a...
Have you ever wondered why some glazes have a wide firing range? Today the gang talk about this phenomenon, answer listener questions about adding stains to clay bodies, and discuss underglaze application. This episode also starts with a trip to Materials Corner along with a check in from a listener about the porosity of flower pots. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Have you checked out t...
We are back for season 5 of the show with a low-fire themed episode. Today the gang talk about a few parameters that define low-fire ceramics, as well as how de-airing pug mills work. They also start the show talking about the brand new For Flux Sake Patreon. This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gm...
Do you remember the joys of using a kiln sitter? Those mini cones were so cute until you dropped one in the bottom of a fully loaded kiln. Even though manufacturers have shifted to computer controlled models, sitters were a key part of electric kilns for decades. Today on the show the gang answer listener questions about firing a kiln with a kiln sitter and making your own decals. Rose also reads a hilarious story about a clay plasticity experiment gone wrong. Do you have questions or need advic...
Today your favorite glaze experts answer a listener's question about judging the melt of an ash glaze, methods for wet mixing bentonite, and whether or not it's safe to use industrial dinnerware made before lead was regulated. They also open the show talking about why you should never crush encapsulated stains. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey S...
Have you ever wondered what makes a bronze glaze work? This week on the show the gang answer a listener's question about metallic oxides in glazes, and discuss the finer points of what makes a pinhole a pinhole. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and Ceramic Materials Workshop Consulting. This week's episode features the following t...
Have you ever found the perfect glaze, but it is formulated for a different temperature? Today the gang talk about adjusting glazes from cone 6 up to cone 10, and how you might tell if your kiln can handle going to cone 10. They also start the episode checking in about their summer plans. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and Ceram...
Have you noticed how a tight kiln pack can slightly change your cones? In this week's episode the gang talk about why this happens, as well as answer a listener's question about firing a balloon inside of a ceramic sculpture. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This episode is made in memory of Megan Whetstine, a beloved member of the For Flux Sake and Ceramic Materials Workshop family. Her ...
Have you ever wondered why vinegar is added to joining slip? This week on the show the gang talk about the use of vinegar in the studio and the absorption rates of blending reclaimed clays. They also answer a listener's question about glazing terracotta flower pots. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week's episode features the following topics: Vinegar, Vitrification, reclaim, absorpt...
Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Steve Lee! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Steven shares about his path to harnessing failure to create his beautiful porcelain forms, as well as his time as director of the Archie Bray Foundation and his role in starting the Brickyard Network. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, an...
Today we return to the much loved topic of glaze durability on For Flux Sake. Kathy, Matt, and Rose start by talking about the long term durability of Bristol glazes. Then they delve into listener questions about ceramic sealers and substituting for Gerstley Borate in Raku glazes. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week's episode features the following topics: Glaze durability, Bristol...
Celebrating their 100th episode, Kathy, Matt, and Rose share insights from four years of podcasting, emphasizing the varied questions from potters and the value of reliable information. They tackle a listener's query on aging glazes, explaining how it impacts consistency, and address the nuances of drying glazed pieces. The episode also delves into single firing, discussing its industrial benefits, the critical role of thorough drying to prevent kiln explosions, and how to adjust glaze application for this process.
Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Susan Feagin! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Susan shares funny stories about working at the Penland School of Craft, as well as how she creates brightly colored slips for soda firing. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist....
Have you ever wondered when the magic happens during the firing? This week on the show the gang talk about the last 100 degrees C of the firing when glazes generally do their melting. They also answer a listener's question about thermocouples placement, and take a trip to Materials Corner to talk about Frit 3110. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week's episode features the following ...
This show has been going on for so long that the gang thought they should reintroduce themselves. Kathy, Matt, and Rose start the show talking about the experiences that lead them into a life of clay. They also answer a listener's question about calcining clay. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week's episode features the following topics: Kaolin, calcining, Alfred, Connecticut Colleg...
Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Meredith Host! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Meredith shares about working with decals and layered underglaze, as well as how she had to pivot away from her favorite glaze in the middle of a major commission. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the ...
Cristobalite and quartz inversion are the great boogie men of ceramics, often being used to explain cracking clay, glaze fit issues, and general ceramic mayhem. In this episode the gang sort fact from fiction and explain the changes that silica goes through during firing. They also start the episode talking about Matt's amazing new computer keyboard, which has beautiful celadon-glazed porcelain keys. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com a...
Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Paul Andrew Wandless! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Paul shares about making casting slips out of dark clay bodies, as well as how he builds with cast slabs for extra strength and durability. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic...
Have you ever tried to create budget-friendly glazes? It can be hard, especially when you want rich purples and blacks. This week the gang talk about ways to save money in your glaze lab, and how tariffs might affect the supply chain. They also start the episode commiserating on how cold it is this time of year in New England, and what to do if your clay freezes. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcomin...
Have you noticed thermal expansion measurements on your clay or glaze recipes? If so you might be wondering what those measurements mean, and how you use them to predict glaze fit on a clay body. This week the gang discuss thermal expansion and why those numeric values aren't always so helpful. They also answer a listener question about glazes with rare earth elements. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an u...
