Can You Glaze Pottery at Home?
Adding a glaze to pottery provides a protective and decorative clear or colored finish. The basic processes for adding glaze coating to any piece are somewhat simple, but some techniques require the use of equipment such as a air brush or a glazing fountain. There are a number of issues to consider the best location for glazing pottery. It can be done in your home, but with certain precautions.
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Materials and Equipment
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Glazing pottery requires the use of specific materials and equipment. If the goal is to glaze a few pieces, even simple brush techniques may be easier to accomplish at a local college or pottery shop. The facility may provide access to an air brush for greater artistic control when applying colored glazes. Air brushing requires a paint booth, respirator and other safety equipment. Regardless of the application process, once coated with glaze, pottery must be fired at high temperatures in a kiln to harden the finish and clay. If glazed at home, it must then be transported to a facility with a kiln and scheduled for firing with other pottery items from other individuals.
Toxic Issues
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Glazing pottery in any location requires special precautions, as both the clay in the pottery and the ingredients for glaze contain a number of toxic materials. Substances such as lead, arsenic, black copper oxide and chromium oxide are just a few of the chemicals that can cause skin, eye and airway irritation if not handled while wearing proper safety equipment. In addition to the toxins present in some glazes and paints, others are emitted during the firing process. As materials turn into vapor in the heated kiln, the poisonous gases become airborne, allowing residents to breathe in the gases. After a while, the gases condense on all surfaces and further add to a toxic home environment.
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Home Studios
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Yes, you can glaze pottery at home, but you must properly prepare to keep your home safe as you enjoy the craft. A home studio is the best option for a serious potter needing to glaze a lot of pieces. Glazing ingredients and equipment such as a fountain glazer and glazing tongs can be purchased as needed, and are often found online without a lot of expense. You can also purchase small kilns that run off the same voltage required by electric clothes dryers or fueled by natural gas.
Home Studio Safety
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A pottery studio should be a separate room in the home and you should never put a kiln in a basement. Venting the kiln to the outdoors is a must, but does not protect from all vapors. Always wear basic safety equipment in a ventilated environment when working with glazes. Wear a jumpsuit or smock, head covering and rubber gloves to protect yourself from contamination when working in the studio, and never wear those items outside the studio. If clients or family must enter the studio, section off an area from the main work tables and kiln. Frequently wash all surfaces in the greeting area and work stations and properly dispose of waste water and other hazardous materials. Children should not be allowed in the studio, as these materials are more toxic to them than to adults.
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