Lesley
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The Difference Between Oxides and Stains in Pottery
The terms “oxide” and “ceramic stains” are often used interchangeably. But are they the same thing? And if not, what is the difference between oxides and stains in pottery? Raw or plain oxides are metal elements that are combined with oxygen. They are ground to a powder and one of their uses in pottery is…
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How to Attach a Burner Torch to a Propane Tank for Raku
There is quite a bit of information online about how to make raku pottery. However, I recently built my first raku kiln. And in the process of planning my first raku firing, I realized that there were practical things I didn’t know. For example, I’d never used a propane torch before. So, I found myself…
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Can You Leave a Kiln Unattended – Is it a Good Idea?
Biscuit and glaze firing both take a long time. Each firing takes around 8-10 hours and on top of that the cool down will take the same amount of time again. So, do you need to be there for the whole time that the kiln is firing, or can you leave a kiln unattended? Some…
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Is Pottery Glaze Toxic? Facts Versus Myths Explained
Learning to use glaze is an exciting and creative time. Glaze can create an unending number of effects and finishes. However, you may have come across alarming information that glaze can be toxic. You may be handling glaze in its powdered form or a liquid state. Either way, it’s important to ask the question, is…
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How to Clean Up Clay Dust – Keep Your Pottery Space Safe
Pottery clay starts to dry out as soon as it comes out of its plastic bag. As it dries, clay particles form clay dust. It is unavoidable that if you use clay you will be exposed to some amount of clay dust. As potters have become increasingly aware of environmental hazards, they have wanted to…
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Dry Hands from Pottery Clay – 10 Tips for Skin and Nails
My hands are in and out of clay all day, and if I don’t make an effort to look after them, they can become very dry. In this article, we’ll look at some of the things you can do to avoid getting dry hands from pottery clay. Disclaimer – Before we go on, I wanted…
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Can You Use Underglaze on Top of Glaze – Does it Work?
These days, underglaze is usually applied first and then a clear or semi-transparent glaze is applied on top. But what happens if you do the reverse? Can you put underglaze on top of glaze? Yes, you can put underglaze on top of glaze. However, it depends on what underglaze you use, and the combination of…
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Airbrushing Underglaze onto Pottery – Top Techniques
Airbrushing underglaze is a great way to add sharp lines, shadows, shades, and color gradients to your pottery. On the surface, airbrushing seems like a simple process. You load the airbrush with underglaze and you spray, right? Well, not exactly. There are a few things that it’s helpful to know from the off. These will…
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Burnishing Pottery With A Plastic Bag – Not That Strange!
Burnishing pottery involves rubbing it before it’s been fired so that the surface is smooth and shiny. There are lots of ways to burnish, and one of the easiest ways is burnishing pottery with a plastic bag. This might sound strange, but it does work. What is Burnishing Pottery? Burnishing clay is a way of…
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How to Glaze Raku Pottery – Glazing and Underglazing Raku
Raku firing is quite different from regular firing in a gas or electric kiln. If you are new to raku, this may have left you wondering if raku glazing techniques are different too. When I started out in raku, I was left with similar questions. I wanted to know exactly how to glaze raku pottery…
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The Best Clay for Raku Pottery – Choosing a Raku Clay
When I started looking into raku firing, I was keen to avoid my pottery cracking as it cooled. I knew that it was common for potters to lose their work as it was taken from the raku kiln. So, I started to look into what might be the best clay for raku pottery, and this…
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How to Clean Raku Pottery – Let Your Raku Shine
There are two occasions when you might want to clean raku pottery. If you have made or bought a piece of raku you might want to know how to keep it dust-free. Or, you may want to know how to clean off the carbon residue left from the firing process. This article is mainly about…