[Nelly]

Dear All,

I have purchased commercial reticulating glazes in the past and have had great results with the product. My issue is that I notice over time, the glaze can become hardened in the bottom of the container where it is stored (i.e., an old plastic ice-cream container with a well sealing lid). I usually have to really dig at it to get it up to consistency again.

Has anyone else had this problem or knows if it is the chemical composition that causes this to occur??

I have a new batch I am going to make and want, if possible, to prevent this problem reoccurring.

Nellie

[~janie]

If it is like all the solids in the glaze sank to the bottom and set up like cement.....

You can mix a pinch of epsom salts in a bit of HOT water to dissolve. Pour into the bucket and start to work the glaze. Once it is smooth again, it should not set up like that again. It doesn't take much epsom salts, either.

[Mark C.]

I like magma for fixing this if epson salts does not.
Mark

[Nelly]

~janie, on 28 March 2012 - 12:08 AM, said:

If it is like all the solids in the glaze sank to the bottom and set up like cement.....

You can mix a pinch of epsom salts in a bit of HOT water to dissolve. Pour into the bucket and start to work the glaze. Once it is smooth again, it should not set up like that again. It doesn't take much epsom salts, either.

Dear Janie,

Yes, that is exactly it. It is as though it becomes rock solid and I spend forever working it to a place where I can use it again.

I will try the epsom salts. You got love that stuff. Seems to be good or everything. Aches, pains, making your grass green and glaze suspension. It is kind of like duct tape. It works for everything.

Thank you for this suggestion.

Nellie

[Nelly]

Mark C., on 28 March 2012 - 01:35 AM, said:

I like magma for fixing this if epson salts does not.
Mark

Mark,

I looked up "magma" and could not find it. Is this a short form for something that I just don't know??

Nellie

[TJR]

Nellie;
I like Bentonite for keeping glaze in suspension. An ice cream pail is probably 1000 grams of glaze. You would add 2% bentonite to this. Mix it up with a small amount of hot water first. I don't know what Magma is either.I know Epsom Salts is Magnesium Carbonite.
TJR.

[Nelly]

TJR, on 28 March 2012 - 09:26 AM, said:

Nellie;
I like Bentonite for keeping glaze in suspension. An ice cream pail is probably 1000 grams of glaze. You would add 2% bentonite to this. Mix it up with a small amount of hot water first. I don't know what Magma is either.I know Epsom Salts is Magnesium Carbonite.
TJR.

TRJ,

Thank you for your reply. I must get some Bentonite. This is a tricky chemical as I recall. I think if you don't mix it with the dry ingredients before you add water it can clump. I must order a little bit of this and the epson salts to have on hand for my glazes.

Thanks again,

Nellie

[Mark C.]

There was an article recently in CM or one of the spins offs (pottery making?) which covered all additives for settling glazes-this piece covered them all.
I use bentonite-epson salts and for the really heavy ones a product called MAGMA- This product works when nothing else comes close. Its a miracle powder when you have a super settling glazeI even have used cmc gum for some salt kiln coatings that have kyanite in them.
find it here
http://www.bigcerami...Supplies/magma.
Mark

[AmeriSwede]

TJR, on 28 March 2012 - 04:26 PM, said:

Nellie;
I like Bentonite for keeping glaze in suspension. An ice cream pail is probably 1000 grams of glaze. You would add 2% bentonite to this. Mix it up with a small amount of hot water first. I don't know what Magma is either.I know Epsom Salts is Magnesium Carbonite.
TJR.

I've also had good results with both Bentonite and Epsom Salts, as well.

Epsom Salts is actually Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄·7H₂O -heptahydrate epsomite) not Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO₃) which is nearly insoluble in water.