Episodes

  • What are the do’s and dont’s of working in a community studio?
    Oct 15 2025

    Joining a new community studio can be exciting, but also a little scary. Today the gang talk about how to be a good community member. They also answer listener questions about clay color changes, using tar paper in the studio, and where to start when you get your first potter’s wheel. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Cornell Studio Supply, and Ceramic Materials Workshop’s Making Glaze Make Sense.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    vitrification, under fired, clay color, tar paper, community studio, potters wheel

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    34 mins
  • How do you convert glazes to European materials?
    Oct 8 2025

    Have you ever moved and had to convert your glazes to materials from a different continent? Today the gang talk about how you might do that along with why ‘S’ type thermocouples are the best for accurate firings. They also answer listener questions about upcycling large amounts of casting slip and solutions for handles that keep popping off. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Cornell Studio Supply, and Ceramic Materials Workshop’s Making Glaze Make Sense.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    thermocouple, casting slip, pulling handles, BMix, European glazes

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    40 mins
  • What’s the history behind Orton cones' unusual numbering system?
    Oct 1 2025

    Today’s episode starts with a trip to Materials Corner where the gang talk about the likely end of a favorite Kaolin for soda firing. They also answer listener questions about the logic behind Orton cone’s numbering system, the cause of scumming in clay, and the lowest temperature that it's ok to store clay. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Cornell Studio Supply, and Ceramic Materials Workshop’s Making Glaze Make Sense.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    Materials Corner, Helmar Kaolin, Orton cones, scumming, winterizing your studio

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    34 mins
  • Is the bacteria in reclaimed clay a problem?
    Sep 18 2025

    To start the show Kathy shares about the research being conducted into vanishing historic lusters at the Harvard Art Museum. The gang also answer listener questions about material supply chains, the cleanliness of reclaimed clay, and why Matt and Rose went solar. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Cornell Studio Supply, and Ceramic Materials Workshop’s Making Glaze Make Sense.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    Chinese lusters, supply chains, reclaimed clay, bacteria, carbon foot print, solar

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    36 mins
  • What makes a glaze have a wide firing range?
    Sep 10 2025

    Have you ever wondered why some glazes have a wide firing range? Today the gang talk about this phenomenon, answer listener questions about adding stains to clay bodies, and discuss underglaze application. This episode also starts with a trip to Materials Corner along with a check in from a listener about the porosity of flower pots. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Have you checked out the new For Flux Sake Patreon? This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Cornell Studio Supply, and Ceramic Materials Workshop’s Making Glaze Make Sense.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    Firing range, materials corner, frit 3134, flower pots, underglaze, brushing glaze

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    37 mins
  • What defines low-fire ceramics?
    Sep 3 2025

    We are back for season 5 of the show with a low-fire themed episode. Today the gang talk about a few parameters that define low-fire ceramics, as well as how de-airing pug mills work. They also start the show talking about the brand new For Flux Sake Patreon. This is a great way to show your support and have access to discounted merch, live hangouts, and extra episodes. Head over to Patreon and sign up today.

    Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Cornell Studio Supply, and Ceramic Materials Workshop’s Making Glaze Make Sense.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    Low-fire, terracotta, pugmill, de-airing, wedge, vitrification

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    41 mins
  • How does a kiln sitter work?
    Jul 16 2025

    Do you remember the joys of using a kiln sitter? Those mini cones were so cute until you dropped one in the bottom of a fully loaded kiln. Even though manufacturers have shifted to computer controlled models, sitters were a key part of electric kilns for decades. Today on the show the gang answer listener questions about firing a kiln with a kiln sitter and making your own decals. Rose also reads a hilarious story about a clay plasticity experiment gone wrong. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    This episode is the last of the season. We will take a summer break for the month of August and be back to start season five in September.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program, and Cornell Studio Supply.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    Kiln sitter, cones, electric kiln, decals, plasticity, clay formulation

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    39 mins
  • How can you tell if a glaze is fully melted?
    Jul 9 2025

    Today your favorite glaze experts answer a listener's question about judging the melt of an ash glaze, methods for wet mixing bentonite, and whether or not it's safe to use industrial dinnerware made before lead was regulated. They also open the show talking about why you should never crush encapsulated stains. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

    Today's episode is brought to you by Monkey Stuff, The Rosenfield Collection, Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program, and Cornell Studio Supply.

    This week’s episode features the following topics:

    Ash glaze, glaze melt, bentonite, macaloid, lead test, encapsulated stain

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    36 mins