Potter’s wheel While the term itself is pretty self explanatory, many people don’t know its actual name. The potter’s wheel, as the name suggests, is able to rotate. The potter puts a lump of clay on its surface, and by spinning the potter’s wheel is able to create different cylindrical objects, be it cups, pots,…
Porosity Porosity refers to the object’s ability to absorb water, which is done through capillary action. This is a serious concern when talking about pottery, as overtime it can weaken the body of the piece that is naturally made out of clay. This should be taken into account when looking for the right piece of…
Ceramic The word “ceramics” originates from the Greek word “keramos”. Keramos refers to the clay that potters use and it includes all of the products made with clay that use heat during their production phases. This use of heat during the production is what makes the clay products permanent. The term also has other usages,…
Oxidation This is a term used in the ceramics industry to describe a process that occurs during the firing step. The kiln is opened to enable oxygen from the air to mix with the clay and glaze components. This is especially crucial in order to “burn off” the carbon and sulfur that naturally reside in…
Lead Many glaze formulas have traditionally used lead as a major element. Even though they can leach into liquids and meals, you should always remember this whenever you are choosing food-safe ceramics. The risk comes from the cumulative consequences of using common functional items continuously. Since most practical ware is fired to higher temperatures, lead,…
Painting ceramic pieces can be an enjoyable and affordable way to give a new life to old home décor or create a unique gift for your loved one. The process for painting ceramic kitchenware or decorations is generally the same with a few slight nuances depending on the size of the projects. But what are…
Hand building Hand building is a method of making artistic and functional ceramic products by the use of hands without the involvement of the potter’s throwing wheel. Hand building comprises three major techniques and formation methods which include slab building, coiling, and pinching pots. With these hand-building techniques, any pottery artist can make anything out…
Glaze fit In pottery production, this is the term used to define the compatibility of the glaze and the clay within an acceptable range. Various problems such as glaze cracks, glaze flaking off the clay, or various cracks in the claybody (dunting) may occur if there is a mismatch between the glaze and the clay….
Dunting Stress during the fire and chilling process causes cracking in ceramics. Clay goes through a “silica inversion” at just over 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then again at slightly over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit during the fire process. The clay is put under a lot of strain throughout this process. Another factor might be the difference…
Contraction A temperature shift causes a reduction in size. It is not to be confused with shrinking, which is a permanent condition. With a change in temperature, contraction can be reversed. A chunk of ceramic expands and compresses as it heats and cools. A glaze’s rate of expansion and contraction must be consistent with that…