For Flux Sake

Speckled clay bodies have come roaring back in popularity and in this episode our intrepid clay experts talk about what you can add to your clay body to create this phenomenon. They also talk about plucking and why potassium fluxes are best for clay bodies. To start the show the gang introduce the mysterious case of the A.I. glaze book. 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.   As the end of the year approaches, we are asking you to donate to the Brickyard Network. You can help this show and our network of ceramic podcasts by supporting the Archie Bray Foundation with your tax-deductible donation. Thanks so much and happy holidays!   This week’s episode features the following topics: Plucking, ilmenite, clay body, sodium, potassium, glaze books, manganese   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.  

Today’s episode features a simple question. Do I have to glaze my pieces? The FFS gang talk about unglazed surfaces, and also discuss what triggers vitrification during firing. To start the episode, they also gab about Producer Ben’s new book on low-fire glazes for potters and sculptors. 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: Low fire, vitrification, underglaze, vitreous slip, terracotta, dunting, glaze tension

Have you ever wanted to bake bread in one of your pots? Today the gang answer a listener's question about the best way to make ceramic bakeware. They also discuss a new trend in environmental design and why using sodium fluxes in clay bodies can cause trouble when reclaiming 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: Bread, Sourdough, bakeware, spodumene, lithium, clay body, reclaim clay Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Osa Atoe! 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 Osa shares her experience with letting go of a favorite glaze combo, and how this encouraged her to explore wild clay terra sigs. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com   This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze troubleshooting, bisque temperature, Jen’s juicy fruit, terra sig, wild clay   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Do you have the hard pan blues when your glazes settle like a rock to the bottom of the bucket? The gang talk about how bentonite and Epsom Salts might solve hard panning, as well as when and how much you should use. They also talk about how to calcine a substance, and why you shouldn’t calcine egg shells as a calcium source.   This week’s episode features the following topics: Bentonite, Epsom Salts, calcine, calcium carbonate versus calcium oxide, glaze suspension, glaze settling For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.    

Have you ever mixed a glaze with the correct amount of water, but it still seems gloopy and thick? If you have then you might need to add a dispersant to help solve this issue. The gang talk about using dispersants, and they answer a listener’s question about the robustness of cone six versus cone ten. They also return to Materials Corner to talk about the discontinuation of a popular luster brand.   This week’s episode features the following topics: Gillespie Borate, Bentonite, Darvan, sodium silicate, vitrification, tin, cone six, cone ten For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.  

Have you ever noticed how some pots get really hot in the microwave? The gang talk about why this happens, and answer a listener question about coloring reclaimed slop glaze. They also talk about glow in the dark glazes and Rose’s recent video about them on the CMW YouTube channel. 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 colorants, glow in the dark, microwave, vitrification, Chrome For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.  

Welcome to a very spooky edition of Fluxed Up with Brett Kern. Today we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with funny stories, studio mishaps, and the quest for the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Brett shares his journey with slip casting inflatable dinosaurs, using commercial glazes, and dealing with dunting after material changes. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com   This week’s episode features the following topics: Slip casting, Dunting, Commercial glazes, layering glazes, spraying, luster   For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.

Have you wondered how you can help support artists affected by Hurricane Helene? This week’s show is dedicated to sharing information and resources to assist the North Carolina clay community in rebuilding. The gang talks about assessing damage after a natural disaster, what supply chain issues we expect, and organizations needing support. If you’d like to contribute to disaster relief, please donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund at www.cerfplus.org.    This week’s episode features the following topics: Asheville, Marshall, Penland, Highwater Clays, Mudtools, CERF   Today's episode is brought to you by Ceramic Materials Workshop.

Atmospheric firing is so much fun! What’s not to like about a process where you get to spray soda into a flaming hot kiln. This week the gang talk about the durability of cone 6 soda fired pots, and the process for identifying mystery materials. They also take us behind the scenes to talk about what goes into making videos for the CMW YouTube channel.   This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze troubleshooting, atmospheric firing, cone 6, soda firing, glaze, flashing slip Today's episode is brought to you by Ceramic Materials Workshop.

Have you heard of a Bristol glaze? This week on For Flux Sake the gang talk about the chemistry that makes these glazes work. They also discuss the crackle vs. crazing nomenclature, as well as the definition of porcelain. 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 troubleshooting, crazing, porcelain, Bristol Glaze, glaze   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Get ready for the wonderful and hilarious ceramic artist Lisa Orr! In this episode of our new For Flux Sake segment Fluxed Up, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Lisa shares her journey with making low fired white wares, the influence red iron oxide has on aventurine glazes, and her recent research into Persian luster firing. Also, the gang talk about Lisa’s development of the Rocket Kiln, a fast-firing smokeless wood kiln. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com   This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze Troubleshooting, Rocket Kiln, Studio Stories, Ceramics Confessions, Lisa Orr, Red Iron Oxide, Filter Press, Studio Anecdotes, Behind the scenes, Potter, Ceramic Artist   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Have you ever heard of an Oolite? Find out more about this rare and interesting glaze precipitate on this week’s episode. The gang also take a trip to materials corner to discuss new potassium feldspars that could replace Custer Feldspar, and answer a question about kiln venting. 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 troubleshooting, kilns, kiln vent, Oolite, Custer Feldspar, Potassium Feldspar   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.  

Join us as the For Flux Sake gang dive into layering glazes. Have you ever noticed some glazes look better below others, but not on top? Find out why the order you apply them matters and more on this week’s episode. We also have a surprise visit and a great question about Gillespie Borate from their #1 superfan Kookie Kane. 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 Troubleshooting, layering, Colemanite, Gerstley Borate, Gillespie Borate, Boron   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.  

Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Nick Sevigney! In this episode of our new For Flux Sake segment Fluxed Up, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Nick shares his journey from porcelain skepticism to newfound appreciation, the impact of the Custer Feldspar shortage, and reveals the trials of handling glaze disasters. Plus, we uncover the joys and frustrations of gallery life and laugh over some truly memorable teaching moments. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com   This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze Troubleshooting, DIY, Studio Stories, Ceramics Confessions, Nick Sevigney, Custer Feldspar, Studio Anecdotes, Behind the scenes, Potter, Ceramic Artist   Today's episode is brought to you by Immaterial: 5000 years of Art, One Material at a Time, a podcast from the Met Museum.  

We're kicking off Season 4 of For Flux Sake with a bang—or should we say a "ping"? Matt, Rose, and Kathy are joined by producer Ben to unveil some exciting surprises awaiting you in the new season. We're firing up a conversation about shivering, crazing, and all the unpredictable quirks that come with ceramics. Why is your glaze flaking off? Could your firing cycle or even hand sanitizer be the culprit? And what’s the deal with delayed crazing? We're here to get to the bottom of your ceramic problems! If you’d like to be featured on a future episode of the show please send your audio questions to forfluxsakepodcast@gmail.com.   This week’s episode features the following topics:Shivering, Crazing, Delayed Crazing, Paint your own pottery, Vitrification, Low-Fire Ceramics, Clay bodies, Thermal expansion   Today's episode is brought to you by Immaterial: 5000 years of Art, One Material at a Time, a podcast from the Met Museum.  

In Episode 72, the gang discuss using acrylic paints on pottery. You'll learn when it's safe to use acrylics and find out the effects of firing temperature on your cold-finished pieces. Also we'll get into pyrometric cones yet again and break down the difference between cones and temperature readings. Why are those last crucial 100 degrees Celsius so important? And finally, we're discussing the benefits of bisque-firing underglazes. Discover how this step can help prevent color bleeding and other potential glaze flaws. Glazing problems? Kiln meltdown? Send your questions to forfluxsakepodcast@gmail.com - you might hear the answer on the show!   This week’s episode features the following topics:             Acrylic paint, painted ceramics, ceramic sculpture, cold finish, pyrometric cones, kiln firing, heatwork, temperature, underglaze, glaze flaws   Today’s episode is brought to you by Immaterial: 5000 years of Art, One Material at a Time, a podcast from the Met Museum.

We start today’s episode learning why self-supporting cones are crucial for accurate firings, as well as everything you need to know about using cone plaques, from proper placement to reusability. We also delve deep into the world of firing temperatures talking about how to achieve vibrant colors at cone 10 while exploring the influence of alkaline earth fluxes on chemistry. Have you been thinking of substituting feldspars in your glazes recently? Make sure to listen and learn about the importance of finding the perfect feldspar match to balance your glaze chemistry.   Confused about glazes or facing a kiln crisis? Don't suffer in silence! Send the For Flux Sake crew a voice memo or message with your question to forfluxsakepodcast@gmail.com - your problem could be solved on-air!   Today’s episode is brought to you by the 28th Annual Bray Benefit Auction.   This week’s episode features the following topics: Pyrometric cones, cones, kiln, firing temperature, firing atmosphere, cone 6 vs cone 10, blue glaze, green glaze, copper carbonate  

Listen in as the gang visit Materials Corner to discuss the latest updates surrounding the loss of Custer. Matt also answers a question from a brewer about the source of water that you use in your glazes. The answer might surprise you! Also, Kathy and Rose share how they've both used CMC in glazes and Matt dives into the science behind it.   Today’s episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply.   This week’s episode features the following topics: Water, Custer Feldspar, Glaze troubleshooting, CMC, material substitution  

Listen to episode 69 where Matt, Rose, and Kathy discuss a listener's question about the use of ceramic bowls in the hair salon. Can ceramic be safely used for mixing hair dye? The team delves into the chemistry to determine if these bowls are a safe choice or a potential disaster.   Thinking about going green in the studio? The gang dives into listener concerns about sustainability in a large community ceramics space. Is lowering firing temperatures the answer?  What about the materials themselves? Join the discussion as they explore how to strike a balance between eco-friendly practices and keeping a community studio functional.   Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment.   This week’s episode features the following topics: Toxicity, leaching, glaze chemistry, glaze flaws, sustainability, eco-friendly, firing temperature, recycling clay, cone 10, cone 6