DMCosta Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Hi All, about a week ago I mixed together a white dry glaze that keeps having thick sludge sink to the bottom. It’s a premade glaze I bought dry then mixed and sieved myself. It seems no matter what I do only this particular white glaze has about 1-1.5 inches of glaze sludge on the bottom of the bucket that is almost unmovable. You can stir the glaze surface wise but the sludge won’t move. It sticks to the base of the bucket like a magnet. In order to move it you have to REALLY get in there with something to break it up. Today I tried re mixing and re sieving the glaze and nothing changed. I know bucket glazes naturally have this on the bottom but this is excessive. Anyone have any tricks to help? ~Dianna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Sounds like you need flocculant to help keep it suspended. Epsom Salts work great. Add about 1/2 of 1% of the total dry weight of the glaze. Dissolve in a bit of water first, add about half, see if that helps. Add the remainder if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 You can dissolve epsom salts in water and add it a teaspoon at a time until the glaze thickens a little. Some people use bentonite at a 2% concentration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMCosta Posted August 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 Ok great thanks so much, does the salt have to be completely melted to add? Would it need to be mixed again with the electric mixer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted August 15, 2019 Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 I second the use of a little saturated Epsom salt solution on an already mixed glaze. Add Epsom salts to a cup of really hot water, and keep adding until you can’t dissolve any more. Scrape all the stuff off the bottom of your bucket and mix the glaze up thoroughly. Add the Epsom salt solution to your bucket a teaspoon at a time (this stuff is potent!), and mix thoroughly in between additions. Your glaze will appear to thicken a bit, and you may have to adjust your water levels. The glaze will still settle if left sitting for a few weeks, but it won’t hardpan, and will stir up much more easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted August 15, 2019 Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, DMCosta said: Ok great thanks so much, does the salt have to be completely melted to add? Would it need to be mixed again with the electric mixer? You’re going to want to mix it thoroughly, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMCosta Posted August 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 Just now, Callie Beller Diesel said: You’re going to want to mix it thoroughly, yes. Awesome thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted August 15, 2019 Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 You shouldn’t need to sieve it, though. Its easier to add dissolved Epsom salts to already wet materials. Epsom salts dissolve better in hot water than they do in a cold glaze bucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 On 8/14/2019 at 4:06 PM, liambesaw said: You can dissolve epsom salts in water and add it a teaspoon at a time until the glaze thickens a little. Some people use bentonite at a 2% concentration Liam makes a good point. @DMCosta Next time you mix glaze from dry, add 2% bentonite (by weight of the dry material). You'll want to dry mix it well so it doesn't clump. Combined with the epsom salts it'll do wonders. It's really difficult to add bentonite to a wet glaze, though. It clumps up something crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMCosta Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Thanks everyone you really were a lifesaver! I used the Epsom salts today and they revived two of my glazes that kept having this issue. Thanks so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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