For Flux Sake

Today we have a special NCECA focused episode featuring questions recorded in person at this year's conference in Detroit. The gang answer questions about explosions in a glaze firing, sanding bisque ware, and wheel cleaning. They also start the episode taking a trip to Materials Corner to talk about changes in the Red Art supply. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth to record with us at NC...

Today we have a special NCECA focused episode featuring questions recorded in person at this year's conference in Detroit. The gang answer questions about using hot wax, refiring in a community studio, particle packing for brushing glazes, and best practices for using Bentonite in glazes. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth to record with us.   Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Pa...

Today the gang compares cost versus reliability when buying kilns and kiln shelves. The episode starts with a question about purchasing S-type thermocouples for new kilns and a discussion about preventing warping in cordierite kiln shelves. On a related but strange note, they also talk about how a popular outdoor grill helped lead the U.S. into our current talc shortage.   Have you checked out the...

To start today's episode the gang talk about their upcoming live show in Boston. We hope you will join us June 5th at the Harvard Ed Portal , where Kathy, Matt, Rose, and Producer Ben will be ready to answer your burning questions about clay and glaze. They also answer listener questions about what to do when all your glazes mature at a different temperature, and how to identify a mystery white sp...

Today we have a special Flux U episode where the gang dive deep into glaze application to answer a listener's question about the chemical and physical limitations of glaze layering. What seems like a simple topic turns out to be quite complex. They also talk about helpful tips for buying and installing your first home kiln.  Have you ever wanted to be on a For Flux Sake episode? Join the gang in p...

To start today's explosive episode a listener writes in wondering about using ash from Mt. St. Helens in a glaze. The gang also talk about best cleaning practices for keeping pets and children safe in a home studio, and methods for reducing pinholing.  Would you like to ask your burning questions about clay and glaze to Kathy, Matt, and Rose in person? June 5th the whole gang heads to Boston for a...

We love questions from our educator friends. Today's episode starts with a question from a high school teacher who wondered what the best materials are for starting a glaze lab. The gang also answer a question about cleaning up clay with soap and take a trip to Materials Corner to report on the recent bankruptcy of a major ceramic materials supplier.    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake P...

Have you ever wondered what the firing rates are for the pre-programmed kiln schedules in modern kilns? In today's episode the gang talk about the differences between slow, medium, and fast on Bartlett controllers, and how the rates affect glaze outcomes. They also answer a listener question from Sweden about Boron sources and why some of them were recently banned. To start the episode Rose and Ma...

Unloading a kiln can be an emotional rollercoaster, especially if it's filled with a new ceramic form that gives you trouble. Today the gang answer a listener question about how to keep plates from cracking, the best temperature for firing terracotta, and if there is a vegan alternative for shellac.   Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com an...

What is carbon coring, and should we care about it? The term is actually a misnomer, with the real culprit being iron, a common ingredient in reduction fired clays. Today the gang talk about the phenomenon along with questions about kiln safety, and best studio practices for kids and pets.    Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you cou...

Glaze preparation is a necessary part of the ceramic process, but have you ever wondered why sieving glazes is important? Today the gang talk about various ways to prepare a glaze and why you might not need to sieve as much as you think. They also break down the idea of glazes that fire at multiple temperature ranges, and answer a listener's question about bubbling in a clear glaze.    Do you have...

To start today's episode we take a ride to Materials Corner to talk about the situation with EPK, as well as, if there is an easy substitute to use in clay and glazes. The gang also answers a listener's questions about the feasibility of making your own clay. What equipment do you need? Does doing it yourself save money?    Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxS...

Have you ever wondered why kilns have peep holes? Today Matt, Rose, and Kathy debate the function and necessity of peep holes, while also tackling a question about glazing only the interior of a pot. They also start the episode talking about the research Kathy is doing at Harvard Ceramics into the historic use of graphite as a ceramic sealer. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us...

Happy New Year! To start 2026 the gang answer listener questions about ash glazes, mixing brushing and dipping glazes, and how the particle size of colorants affects glaze outcomes. They also begin the episode sharing stories about the highs and lows of art center holiday sales. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured...

Have you wondered what makes a glaze food safe? Today we are happy to welcome Gabriel Kline and Bill Collins to the show to talk about the topic, and their new book Amazing Glaze: Food Safe Recipes . They discuss the definition of food safety, how to test glazes, and what they learned after testing dozens of popular cone 6 and cone 10 recipes.   Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon?...

Do you fire your kiln fast or slow? And does it really matter? Today the gang answer a few listener questions about the relationship between temperature, glaze melt, and vitrification. They also discuss a class of clays out of the UK that vitrify at low fire temperatures.    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted m...

Commercial casting slips are great for their convenience, but what do you do when your recipe hard-pans in the bucket? Today the gang talk about why hard-panning happens and how you can fix it. They also discuss making temp checks, the best bisque temp for commercial glazes, and the controversy around the sale of fake ceramic pigments.   Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is...

Have you ever had small pieces of an unglazed foot ring stick to a kiln shelf? This bummer of a phenomenon is called plucking, and today the gang talk about how and why it happens. They also answer a listener's question about increasing plasticity in halloysite porcelains and take a trip to Materials Corner to discuss the rumors swirling around EPK production. Do you have questions or need advice...

Halloween is our favorite holiday at For Flux Sake. We can't get enough of the costumes, candy, and science! Join the gang this week as they answer listener questions about using wild clays in a community studio, washing dirty clay laundry, and the proper way to open a bag of dry ceramic material. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and yo...

Joining a new community studio can be exciting, but also a little scary. Today the gang talk about how to be a good community member. They also answer listener questions about clay color changes, using tar paper in the studio, and where to start when you get your first potter's wheel. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be fe...

Have you ever moved and had to convert your glazes to materials from a different continent? Today the gang talk about how you might do that along with why 'S' type thermocouples are the best for accurate firings. They also answer listener questions about upcycling large amounts of casting slip and solutions for handles that keep popping off. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us...

Today's episode starts with a trip to Materials Corner where the gang talk about the likely end of a favorite Kaolin for soda firing. They also answer listener questions about the logic behind Orton cone's numbering system, the cause of scumming in clay, and the lowest temperature that it's ok to store clay. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail...

To start the show Kathy shares about the research being conducted into vanishing historic lusters at the Harvard Art Museum. The gang also answer listener questions about material supply chains, the cleanliness of reclaimed clay, and why Matt and Rose went solar. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming...

Have you ever wondered why some glazes have a wide firing range? Today the gang talk about this phenomenon, answer listener questions about adding stains to clay bodies, and discuss underglaze application. This episode also starts with a trip to Materials Corner along with a check in from a listener about the porosity of flower pots. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line a...

We are back for season 5 of the show with a low-fire themed episode. Today the gang talk about a few parameters that define low-fire ceramics, as well as how de-airing pug mills work. They also start the show talking about the brand new For Flux Sake Patreon. This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and si...