View Larger Image Techniques in our weekly "Tip of the Week" series come from all levels of experience: studio artists, production potters, students, teachers and industry experts.

October 26, 2007

Tip of the Week: Reel in a Great Glazing Table

by Paul Vernier | Read Comments (1)

A small empty cable/wire reel — not the large ones some of us may have used for dining room tables in college! — makes a great glazing table. The reels I use are about knee high and 30 inches in diameter, and can usually be found at a local electrical supply store or through an electrician. The reels are the perfect height to set a five-gallon bucket or other glazing container on and have it easily accessible without bending too low and straining your back. The reel's size also allows you to easily walk around it when you're glazing large pieces. Plus, when you're finished glazing you can easily roll your glazing table out of the way. Thanks Paul!

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Other great tips
1. In winter, heating ducts or warm air currents in the studio can make uniform drying difficult. Here's an effective solution for those large pieces — especially bowls waiting to be trimmed — for which uneven drying is particularly ruinous: Putting a cardboard box over the piece allows drying to proceed evenly.

2. Having trouble applying stains over raw glazes? Misting the glazed pot with water before brushing allows the stain to flow more smoothly.

3. Old bed sheets available at secondhand stores make strong coverings for wedging and worktables, and can be easily removed for laundering.

4. Simply pat your brushes dry — never shake them out or wipe water out of them. Doing so crosses the brush hairs and keeps them from returning to their original parallel position, which hinders the flow of slip or glaze.

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You can find definitions and explanations for more than 500 ceramic terms—from agateware to zirconium—in the Ceramic Arts Daily Glossary.