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What are test tiles?
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Test tiles are small clay tiles used to test glazes.
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How do you make test tiles?
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First pick a clay.
Choose the clay body that you will ultimately be using. If you are going to use the glaze on porcelain bottles, then use porcelain for your test tiles. If you are making stoneware dishes, then use stoneware.
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Pick a style.
The style of the test tile is the finished shape. Test tiles can take the shape of actual flat tiles. They can be tiles with carved textures. They can be small bowls. They can even be small vases.
Most of the time, small tiles will be fine. However, if you will be using the final glaze on bowls, I would make small bowls as test tiles so that you can see how the glaze pools in the bottom.
Make the tiles.
Here are the steps for making flat test tiles.
1. Roll out a flat slab of well wedged clay ΒΌ of an inch thick.
2. Measure rectangles on the slab 1 inch by 3.5 inches.
3. Cut out the rectangles.
4. Place a hole in the center of the top of each tile at least 1/8 inch in diameter. (this hole makes it easy to tie the tiles together with string or hang them on nails)
5. Place any texture you want on top of the tile (I run a fork down the top part of the tile. This is good to show how glazes will pool in textures)
Bisque Fire the tiles.
Fire the tiles to the bisque temperature that you would fire your pieces made of the same clay.
Glaze the tiles.
I dip the entire tile in glaze, remove and let sit for a few moments. Then I give the right half of the tile a second dip (This will show the difference between one dip on the left side and two dips on the right side). Then I clean off the entire bottom and sides of each tile.
Fire the tiles.
Fire the tiles to the appropriate finish cone. I usually fire my test tiles on broken kiln shelves (It is possible that by combining glazes you change the melting point and you get some runny glazes).
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| GlazeMixer.com is a great site. It is perfect for potters who may not have every raw material but still want to use the thousands of glaze recipes that are out there. You enter glaze recipes on this site and they will mix them for you! It is a great time saver. A great way to avoid the mess, the cost of buying large amounts of ingredients you never use and the health problems associated with mixing your own glazes. |
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| 'The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes' by John Britt is a great book. It is perfect for potters that are interested in High Fire glaze research. It gives a great overview of glaze chemistry, glazing techniques and recipes. |
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| 'Clay and Glazes for the Potter' is a classic! It is actually the book I used in my Glaze Chemistry class in grad school. The original author, Daniel Rhodes has passed away. However, Robin Hopper has updated the text with newer research. This book covers it all. A great place to learn about glaze chemistry and why glazes and clays work like they do. |
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Cacart Southwest Designs
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