PITFALLS, cont.

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Glazing

 

A thousand things can go wrong in the glazing process. The glaze can come out the wrong color or “look”. If the glaze is applied too thickly, it can run off the pot during firing (sometimes destroying other pieces that get dripped on, or ruining the kiln shelves) or can crack and crystallize. If applied too thinly, it can look washed out, or not give a glaze effect at all.

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If it's applied too thickly or unevenly, the glaze can “crawl”—i.e., recede from certain spots on the pot. If the glaze is applied unevenly, the piece will end up looking streaky. Some glazes give off fumes in the firing that can actually adhere to the other pots in the kiln and cause those other pots to have an unintended finish.

 

If a pot is glazed on one side only, the pot is much more likely to break during or after the firing.

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If the firing is too fast, the glaze finish may have pinholes or crazing (cracking). Most kilns have some areas that are somewhat cooler than others, or have spots in the kiln where reduction or oxidation is higher. So, where a pot is placed in the kiln can effect how it turns out. In my kiln, a copper red glaze works best in the center of a kiln shelf, but can turn white if the piece is near the edge of a kiln shelf.

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Over-firing or under-firing (i.e., not shutting off the kiln when it's reached the planned temperature) can also result in failed pots.