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 advice on glazes? Drop us a line at [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

This episode is the last of the season. We will take a summer break for the month of August and be back to start season five in September. 

Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program, and Cornell Studio Supply.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Kiln sitter, cones, electric kiln, decals, plasticity, clay formulation

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 [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program, and Cornell Studio Supply.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Ash glaze, glaze melt, bentonite, macaloid, lead test, encapsulated stain

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 [email protected] 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 topics:

Pin holing, metallic oxides, bronze glazes, cobalt crystalline glazes, crystalline glaze

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 [email protected] 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 topics:

Cone 6, Cone 10, Bristol glaze, kiln, elements

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 [email protected] 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 sense of humor and creativity will be deeply missed.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Mentorship, kiln packing, cones, balloon, carbon

Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and Ceramic Materials Workshop Consulting.

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 [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Vinegar, Vitrification, reclaim, absorption, terracotta flowerpots

Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and Ceramic Materials Workshop Consulting.

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, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. 

Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at [email protected]

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Porcelain, Archie Bray Foundation, Brickyard Network, gas firing

Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and Ceramic Materials Workshop Consulting.

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 [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Glaze durability, Bristol glaze, ceramic sealer, tile sealer, Gerstley Borate, Gillespie Borate

Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and the newly translated Spanish version of Ceramic Materials Workshop The Middle Glazes.

Today we are celebrating the 100th episode of For Flux Sake! We’d like to thank the listeners for their excellent questions and for following along as the show has evolved over the last four years. To start this episode Kathy, Matt, and Rose share a few things they have learned making the show. They also answer listener questions about aging your glazes and single firing. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Bisque Firing, single firing, aging glazes, glaze

Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and the newly translated Spanish version of Ceramic Materials Workshop The Middle Glazes.

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. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at [email protected]

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Soda Firing, Slip, Penland, glaze, cone 6

Today's episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply and the newly translated Spanish version of Ceramic Materials Workshop The Middle Glazes.