GLAZE COMMITTEE - Procedures

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1. General

The Glaze Committee is responsible for maintaining the Studio’s glaze collection. The committee monitors the collection, adding new glazes and retiring old glazes as needed to support member interest.

2. Current Glaze Collection
1. The current glaze collection includes high and low fire glazes and underglazes.
1. Broad categories of glazes include celadons, crystals, runners, stroke-and-coats, and velvets. Most of the major glaze manufacturers are represented.
2. One of the main responsibilities of the committee is to monitor glaze inventory and reorder glazes and glaze related materials.
3. The majority of glazes are purchased in one pint containers in order to provide a wide variety to Studio members.
1. Glazes with high usage may be purchased in one gallon containers to reduce costs. A small group of the one gallon glazes are stored in five gallon buckets to be used for dipping and pouring.
4. The collection is monitored to support member interests (see below for adding and retiring glazes).
5. The “glaze board” is maintained; this is a display of test tiles in which all stocked glazes are applied to the Studio’s 4 standard clay bodies.
1. The committee creates the tiles and glazes them for firing.
6. Many glazes that were approved by the committee but are no longer included in the collection may be purchased by members for their personal use.
7. Guidelines are established for glazes that move excessively in order to avoid damaging kiln shelves.
8. Efforts are made to economize glaze usage in order to keep glaze purchase costs within the current year’s budget.
3. Maintenance of Glazes and Equipment
1. Glaze quality is maintained by the committee.
1. This involves weekly or bi-weekly cleaning/scraping/stirring of all high fire glazes.
2. Certain glazes have been identified as having wide fluctuations in their specific gravity; they require additional monitoring and maintenance.
1. the dipping glazes in five gallon buckets fall into this category as well as some of the glazes in one gallon buckets.
3. Equipment needed for glaze maintenance is monitored and replaced as needed.
4. Documenting the collection
1. The glaze inventory is maintained in a spreadsheet.
1. Having this purchase history helps the committee make decisions on which glazes to keep or retire and the quantity of each glaze they need to keep on hand. The pricing history helps inform the finance committee in their budgeting decisions.
2. The material Safety Database (MSD) is maintained for all glazes using information provided by the manufacturers.
3. A list of glazes and their properties is maintained and posted for member use. Food safety and other attributes are documented.
4. Additional information on glazes can be found on the manufacturer websites, on the glaze containers themselves and in signage that has been posted by the committee.
5. Adding new glazes. The procedure to add new glazes is as follows:
1. Member recommendations are reviewed.
1. The committee decides on glazes to be tested based on what they will add to the existing collection.
2. Testing is done for ease of use, predictability, stability - and (if needed) movement in combination with other glazes.
3. Firing of test glazes is coordinated with the Kiln Committee.
4. The glaze committee approves or rejects the glaze depending on test results and Kiln Committee input.
1. If the new glaze is approved, documentation is updated, test tiles are created, and the new glaze is communicated to members.
2. If needed, application information is documented for members.
6. Retiring old glazes
1. Glazes come into and go out of popularity. Retiring little used glazes opens the door to new glazes that spark member interest.
2. A decision to retire a glaze is based on usage as well as similarity between glazes within the collection.
1. Usage is monitored based on the purchase date that is recorded on the glaze container and the glaze inventory spreadsheet.
3. Retired glazes may be sold to members at a discounted price.
7. Communication
1. New and discontinued glazes are communicated to members in the newsletter.
2. Samples of new glazes are highlighted on a shelf in the main glaze area.
1. See above for documentation of glazes for members.
3. New members are trained in proper glaze usage in classes offered by the Education Committee.
4. The Committee provides member assistance as needed.

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Glaze Committee Procedures 11-9-23.docx

updated: 1/4/2024 - jdo