kitasclay Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Fellow potters, I need your expertise: I'm part of a potter's guild and we're in the process of moving everything to a new space - our kilns, our chemicals, our tools, and our already-mixed glazes. Most of it is pretty easy (in theory) but I am hoping some of you might have some insight on moving glaze buckets - or at least making them a little lighter and hopefully easier to move. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to getting the water out of a glaze, relatively quickly, without compromising the integrity of the mixture? Just pouring out the top layer of water seems like it might also take out any material that is lighter than the rest and stays suspended in the water. Is there a filtering device for this purpose? Hopefully we'll be moving or donating most of the glazes, but some will probably be disposed of - if anyone has any insight on best practices that would be much appreciated also. Any/all other tips for doing a big studio move (on a tight budget) would be more than welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 How many days or weeks do you have before the move? If you have a week or so, remove the lids from the buckets now. The winter air will evaporate the excess water in a few days. If you have glazes that don’t contain any soluble components, you can quickly remove the top water with a turkey baster, while disturbing the settled solids as little as possible. For glazes that contain solubles, tipping or turkey-bastering the excess water could change the makeup of the glaze, so evaporation is better for those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 You can pour off the top clear water-use a dipper /container-you could measure the amount and add that amount at new location. In terms of disposals -drain off the water and let the rest to dry out -you could put this in a few cardboard boxes to dry or freeze it outside -toss it as a solid.This is for non toxic glazes . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Banks Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Not only will you lose fine particles in suspension you will lose any soluble components by pouring water off. I've known a few buckets of glaze that were never the same after someone poured water off. Allowing water to evaporate is the best way I know to remove water. Freezing buckets of glaze can keep the mess down but will also change some glazes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 My rule of thumb: if the water is clear and has no color, it’s probably safe to remove it. If the water is yellow or brown, it contains solubles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 57 minutes ago, GEP said: My rule of thumb: if the water is clear and has no color, it’s probably safe to remove it. If the water is yellow or brown, it contains solubles. Mine too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 I think freezing the glazes would be the best way to prepare them for moving. That shouldn't be too difficult in your neck of the woods. Then test them after they thaw to see if there are any changes. It might be advisable to put the glazes into smaller buckets before freezing so that in the event that the buckets crack, you won't lose too much. JohnnyK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 If you freeze the glazes, prepare for them to hardpan quite severely. It’s a lot of work to reconstitute them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 My comment on freezing glazes was about disposal of them nit reusing them - to pour off the liquids and freeze the solids for the trash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitchmss Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 Make a lot of work IMMEDIATELY and USE all that glaze!......then I guess you have a lot of pots to move. Pick your poison! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 kitasclay, i wonder if we are all reading your post and thinking of 5 gallon buckets of glaze. you probably would not be asking about moving such a small bucket so i wonder if your large group uses trash can size glaze buckets. i have seen them used in group situations and unless they are in Rubbermaid Brute brand containers with wheels, you are right, it will be difficult to move them. if they are in large containers, i would make plywood bases for each one, add wheels from harbor freight, 5 wheels minimum, and try that. heavy, containers of wet materials mean difficult handling. it might help to surround each one with some kind of band. the 5 or 6 inch wide plastic wrapping that so many shipping companies use might make a difference if wound around enough times. i would do that about a foot down from the top just to stabilize the entire thing. if the container is not full, put the band at the level of the liquid inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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