For Flux Sake

By Kathy King, Rose Katz, Matt Katz

What's For Flux Sake about?

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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LAST EPISODE

The Pregnancy Episode

06.29.2022

Today on For Flux Sake we have a special episode focused on studio safety and pregnancy. Host Rose Katz talks with Bill Katz, a retired OBGYN with over 40 years of experience, about the potential effects of ceramic materials on ...

For Flux Sake episodes:

06.29.2022 The Pregnancy Episode Today on For Flux Sake we have a special episode focused on studio safety and pregnancy. Host Rose Katz talks with Bill Katz, a retired OBGYN with over 40 years of experience, about the potential effects of ceramic materials on ...
06.15.2022 Does the coefficient of expansion really matter for a glaze? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about the coefficient of expansion and its relevance for practical use when planning glazes for your studio. Hint, hint…It’s not as helpful of a measurement as you might think. They ...
06.02.2022 Slippy, Slip, Slip On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about the definition and dynamics of slip. They also discuss a few helpful tips for once firing. For supplemental info, visit the blog at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com/cmw-blog. Today’s episode is brought to ...
05.18.2022 Should I be afraid of silicosis? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about studio cleanliness and the presence of silica in our community studios. Matt shares a CDC paper on the topic and settles a few misconceptions about the prevalence of silicosis ...
05.05.2022 For Flux Sake Live! Vol. 1 This week we feature the first ever live taping of For Flux Sake. Our hosts answer listener questions from their Zoom audience about clay for outdoor sculpture, the characteristics of common Frits, and why it’s so hard to make a ...
04.20.2022 The Four Horsemen of Pinholing On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts give us the good and bad news about pinholing. Turns out this tricky defect can be caused by four separate problems wrapped into one. Tune in to hear their solutions and ...
04.06.2022 The gang tackles slip casting On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about the ins and outs of slip casting. They discuss the dynamics of plaster and why some slip recipes are harder to cast with. For supplemental info, visit the blog ...
03.23.2022 What do I do if my kiln loses power? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts have a grab bag of listener questions. They talk about dealing with freezing bags of clay, what to do if your kiln loses power mid-firing, and the pros and cons of ...
03.09.2022 Is my moldy bag of clay really more plastic? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about the effect of mold growth on plasticity. They also answer a question about slaking clay and a listener writes in to challenge the gang on bisque temperatures. For supplemental ...
02.24.2022 How hot is too hot to open my kiln? One of the hardest things in ceramics is waiting for your kiln to cool. On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about the threshold for unloading a hot kiln. They also answer a few questions about crazing ...
02.09.2022 How does layering affect the chemical composition of glazes? Have you ever wondered why your glazes change so much when you layer them? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about combining glazes and they also discuss the carbon foot print of pottery making. For supplemental ...
01.26.2022 Help! Why is my colemanite spitting? There’s nothing like the disappointment of opening a kiln full of glazes that spit all over the shelves. On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about how you can fix that issue and they also answer a ...
01.12.2022 What should I do with this mystery material? Have you ever found a bucket of material and not known what it is? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about how you might test that mystery material so that you can put it to good ...
12.21.2021 Toxicology 101 with Sarah Urfer On today’s episode of For Flux Sake, Matt sits down with toxicologist Sarah Urfer to talk about the relative toxicity of ceramic materials. They discuss methods of absorption and the old adage “the dose makes the poison”. For supplemental info, ...
12.09.2021 How much water should I put in my glaze? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts talk about the relationship between specific gravity and glaze thickness, both before and after a glaze has been fired. They also answer a listener question about how you might change a ...
11.24.2021 What is the difference between a slip and underglaze? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts answer a handful of questions about slip, underglaze, and stains. If you’ve been wondering what the similarities and differences are, tune in for this lighthearted talk on the topic. For supplemental ...
11.12.2021 The gang tackles porosity and clay body issues On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts answer two listener questions about porosity in clay bodies. They also discuss whether or not you need a degree to be a ceramic artist. For supplemental info, visit the blog at ...
10.27.2021 Should I bisque higher or lower to stop pinholing? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts answer two listener questions about pinholing. Matt also reports back on a conversation about COVID and clay with an epidemiologist. For supplemental info, visit the blog at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com/cmw-blog. Skutt is a ...
10.13.2021 Should I be testing the new materials I got from the ceramic supply? On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts answer two listener questions about best practices for testing both new and old glaze materials. They also discuss rising kiln prices and the slowdown in the international supply chain. For supplemental ...
09.29.2021 The Gang talks about why glazes “ping” On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts answer listener questions about earthenware vs. stoneware, once-firing ceramics, and the most musical of glaze phenomenons, “pinging”. For supplemental info, visit the blog at www.ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com/cmw-blog. Skutt is a proud sponsor of ...
09.15.2021 The gang discusses easy glaze recipes for beginners On today’s episode of For Flux Sake our hosts give an update on shifts in the availability of materials that might effect studio ceramics over the next few years. They also answer a listener question about easy glaze recipes for ...
09.01.2021 Substituting feldspars, gloss vs. matte glazes for food service, and do I need to bisque On today’s episode of For Flux Sake the gang tackles the topics of substituting feldspars, suitability of gloss vs. matte glazes for food service, and that age old question, “Do I really need to bisque?” To see the supplemental info ...
08.18.2021 Food-safe glazes, kiln cooling, and sourcing test glazes On today’s episode of For Flux Sake we are introduced to our show hosts Kathy King, Matt Katz, and Rose Katz who talk about their friendship and how the show started. We also dive into our first batch of listener ...
08.13.2021 For Flux Sake Season 1 Trailer Matt and Rose Katz of the Ceramics Materials Workshop will answer your burning questions about clay and glaze. Each episode, co-host Kathy King will present listener submitted questions that will be answered in a comical, but also insightful way. This ...

For Flux Sake

What's For Flux Sake about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

For Flux Sake episodes:

The Pregnancy Episode

Does the coefficient of expansion really matter for a glaze?

Slippy, Slip, Slip

Should I be afraid of silicosis?

For Flux Sake Live! Vol. 1

The Four Horsemen of Pinholing

The gang tackles slip casting

What do I do if my kiln loses power?

Is my moldy bag of clay really more plastic?

How hot is too hot to open my kiln?

How does layering affect the chemical composition of glazes?

Help! Why is my colemanite spitting?

What should I do with this mystery material?

Toxicology 101 with Sarah Urfer

How much water should I put in my glaze?

What is the difference between a slip and underglaze?

The gang tackles porosity and clay body issues

Should I bisque higher or lower to stop pinholing?

Should I be testing the new materials I got from the ceramic supply?

The Gang talks about why glazes “ping”

The gang discusses easy glaze recipes for beginners

Substituting feldspars, gloss vs. matte glazes for food service, and do I need to bisque

Food-safe glazes, kiln cooling, and sourcing test glazes

For Flux Sake Season 1 Trailer