Making 9500 Gram Glaze...how Much Water

[Mountain Meg]

I am beginning to mix 9500 grams of glaze in a 5 gallon bucket. I would like an idea of how much water to add before adding dry ingredients. I did have this information at one time...I appreciate suggestions and ideas. Thank you, Mountain Meg

[bciskepottery]

For a batch that size, I start with a gallon or two in the bucket, add the measured dry ingredients, and then add enough water to cover the ingredients. I then let the mixture slake. I then mix and add more water until I reach the consistency desired, then sieve and measure for specific gravity. Starting with water in the bucket can reduce the amount of dust produced when adding the dry ingredients. And, don't forget your mask.

[MatthewV]

A 10K batch fits in a standard empty 5-gallon bucket nicely.

 

You should fill it less than 1/3 of the way. Easier to add water than to take it out.

 

I personally let it sit a day after adding the dry to the water, sieve twice, and then add water to the right consistency. If a bucket has a few inches of liquid glaze in it I make an 8K batch.

[ChenowethArts]

@Mountain Meg, Most of our mixes are in the 9000-11,000gm range and we start with a clean 5 Gal.bucket and about a gallon of water.  I mention the clean bucket only because I am in a student-studio situation where there is always a possibility of glaze contamination from someone breaking the rules while dipping from one bucket to the next.  We do take the remnants from the original bucket, scrape the sides, blend the  mix, sieve it, and pour it into a smaller container where it will be used on test tiles just to make sure that it is NOT contaminated. 

 

Most of the time, the amount of water added to a new mix is based on a finger-dip test and adjusted very slowly if water is needed.

Any freshly mixed glazes that are headed to the spray booth get additional water, an 80 or 100 sieve, and hydrometer testing for specific gravity.

 

-Paul

[High Bridge Pottery]

I add 2/3 the total dry weight in water. Normally gets a surface gravity of 1.7-1.8.

[Callie Beller Diesel]

I follow bciske's method except for one thing. I'll add enough water after slaking to get the glaze to a working consistency to sieve it, and because I use fresh water to rinse out the sieve and other utensils, I sort out the working consistency and the specific gravity at the very end.

[Mark C.]

I put about 1/3 of a bucket of water add dry materials power mix and let it sit a day

Next day I sieve it and while rinsing and using that bucket wash water to mix I will adjust to final specific gravity at the end

[neilestrick]

How much glaze fits in a 5 gallon bucket will depend entirely on the makeup of the glaze. I have very few glazes that can go 10K into a bucket. Most are 9K, some as low as 8500g. If the glaze has a high amount of clay, iron or feldspar, all of which can hold a lot of water, then the batch size will be smaller. In my experience cone 10 glazes trend toward 10K, but at cone 6 I've never fit that much.

[dhPotter]

Mastering Cone 6 Glazes suggests 3 oz liquid per 100 grams of dry for the glaze.

[Mountain Meg]

Thank you for all of the responses! I am ready to move forward into "large quantities" of glaze making!

[oldlady]

just one other piece of advice.  if you are using bentonite in the recipe, stir it dry into one of the other ingredients before adding it to any water.  usually the largest amount, whatever ingredient it might be.  you do not want to find a lump of gel in your glaze once you start sieving it.