Glazing In a Small Studio

Glazing in a small studio can be really tricky, since the materials are all hazardous in one way or another and you definitely can’t have anything mix accidentally. Here are a couple quick thoughts and considerations for you in your studio.

• I’ve found that labelling my materials with both what they are and their chemical diamond. At a glance I know how toxic the material I’m working with is.

• To avoid Silicosis, I wear a fine particulate respirator while working with any powdered materials

• I think that gloves are a must when working with and toxic glazes, and wear them at all times when glazing.

• Keeping surfaces clear of dust is super important, as clay dust that settles beneath glaze can cause extreme crazing—when the molten glass of the glaze becomes hyper-mobile and leaves bare patches of clay. For my work this cannot be salvaged.

• Waste water is one of the most important considerations, in particular at what times it’s safe to go down the drain. Each area of the world is different, but in Salt Lake I air far on the side of safety, so only completely non-reactive materials get washed down the drain. When I’m working with at toxic material, I use a quarantined bucket of waste water and a separate set of mixing tools. I’ll allow that water to evaporate and then dispose of the toxic sludge at a designated waste facility.

  • I do not use any toxic glazes over wax resists, so I thankfully do not have to tidy anything toxic with a sponge. If you did, it would similarly go in the toxic bucket.