For Flux Sake Podcast

CMW’s Matt and Rose Katz join co-host Kathy King to answer your burning questions about clay and glaze in a comical, albeit insightful, way. Check out the latest episodes of For Flux Sake below, or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

Once you’ve finished listening to all of the For Flux Sake episodes, check out The Brickyard Network’s other great podcasts here!

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Hi there! We’re Matt and Rose. We started this workshop to provide the ceramics community with a solid understanding of their glazes and clay to make your studios the best that they can be! We co-host a podcast on ceramics and glazing! Check out recent episodes below.

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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.

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Episode 108 – How does a kiln sitter work?

Season 4

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.
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Episode 107 – How can you tell if a glaze is fully melted?

Season 4

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.
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Episode 106 – Are metallic glazes similar to melted metal?

Season 4

Have you ever wondered what makes a bronze glaze work? This week on the show the gang answer a listener's question about metallic oxides in glazes, and discuss the finer points of what makes a pinhole a pinhole.
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Episode 105 – Can you adjust a cone 6 glaze up to cone 10?

Season 4

Have you noticed how a tight kiln pack can slightly change your cones? In this week’s episode the gang talk about why this happens, as well as answer a listener's question about firing a balloon inside of a ceramic sculpture.
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Episode 104 – Does how tight a kiln is packed affect its final temperature?

Season 4

Have you noticed how a tight kiln pack can slightly change your cones? In this week’s episode the gang talk about why this happens, as well as answer a listener's question about firing a balloon inside of a ceramic sculpture.
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Episode 103 – What does vinegar do to clay?

Season 4

Have you ever wondered why vinegar is added to joining slip? This week on the show the gang talk about the use of vinegar in the studio and the absorption rates of blending reclaimed clays. They also answer a listener's question about glazing terracotta flower pots.
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Episode 102 – Fluxed Up with Steve Lee

Fluxed Up, Season 4

Join us as Steve shares about his path to harnessing failure to create his beautiful porcelain forms, as well as his time as director of the Archie Bray Foundation and his role in starting the Brickyard Network.
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Episode 101 – Are ceramic sealers safe to use on functional ceramics?

Season 4

Today we return to the much loved topic of glaze durability on For Flux Sake. Kathy, Matt, and Rose start by talking about the long term durability of Bristol glazes. Then they delve into listener questions about ceramic sealers and substituting for Gerstley Borate in Raku glazes.
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Episode 100 – Episode 100!

Season 4

Today we are celebrating the 100th episode of For Flux Sake! We’d like to thank the listeners for their excellent questions and for listening as the show has evolved over the last four years.
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Episode 99 – Fluxed Up with Susan Feagin

Fluxed Up, Season 4

Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Susan Feagin! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Susan shares funny stories about working at the Penland School of Craft, as well as how she creates brightly colored slips for soda firing. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist.
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Episode 98 – When do glazes actually melt during the firing?

Season 4

Have you ever wondered when the magic happens during the firing? This week on the show the gang talk about the last 100 degrees C of the firing when glazes generally do their melting. They also answer a listener's question about thermocouples placement, and take a trip to Materials Corner to talk about Frit 3110.
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Episode 97 – Who are we?

Season 4

Join us as Meredith shares about working with decals and layered underglaze, as well as how she had to pivot away from her favorite glaze in the middle of a major commission.
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Fluxed Up with Meredith Host | For Flux Sake Episode 96
Fluxed Up with Meredith Host | For Flux Sake Episode 96

Episode 96 – Fluxed Up with Meredith Host

Fluxed Up, Season 4

Join us as Meredith shares about working with decals and layered underglaze, as well as how she had to pivot away from her favorite glaze in the middle of a major commission.
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Cristobalite and quartz inversion are the great boogie men of ceramics, often being used as an explanation for cracking clay, glaze fit issues, and general ceramic mayhem. In this episode the gang sort fact from fiction and explain the changes that silica goes through during firing. They also start the episode talking about Matt’s amazing new computer keyboard, which has beautiful celadon-glazed porcelain keys. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes?
Cristobalite and quartz inversion are the great boogie men of ceramics, often being used as an explanation for cracking clay, glaze fit issues, and general ceramic mayhem. In this episode the gang sort fact from fiction and explain the changes that silica goes through during firing. They also start the episode talking about Matt’s amazing new computer keyboard, which has beautiful celadon-glazed porcelain keys. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes?

Episode 95 – What should we know about cristobalite and quartz inversion?

Season 4

Cristobalite and quartz inversion are the great boogie men of ceramics, often being used to explain cracking clay, glaze fit issues, and general ceramic mayhem. In this episode the gang sort fact from fiction and explain the changes that silica goes through during firing. They also start the episode talking about Matt’s amazing new computer keyboard, which has beautiful celadon-glazed porcelain keys.
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Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Paul Andrew Wandless! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Paul shares about making casting slips out of dark clay bodies, as well as how he builds with cast slabs for extra strength and durability. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist.
Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Paul Andrew Wandless! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Paul shares about making casting slips out of dark clay bodies, as well as how he builds with cast slabs for extra strength and durability. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist.

Episode 94 – Fluxed Up with Paul Andrew Wandless

Fluxed Up, Season 4

Join us as Paul shares about making casting slips out of dark clay bodies, as well as how he builds with cast slabs for extra strength and durability. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist.
View Episode
Have you ever tried to create budget-friendly glazes? It can be hard, especially when you want rich purples and blacks. This week the gang talk about ways to save money in your glaze lab, and how tariffs might affect the supply chain. They also start the episode commiserating on how cold it is this time of year in New England, and what to do if your clay freezes.
Have you ever tried to create budget-friendly glazes? It can be hard, especially when you want rich purples and blacks. This week the gang talk about ways to save money in your glaze lab, and how tariffs might affect the supply chain. They also start the episode commiserating on how cold it is this time of year in New England, and what to do if your clay freezes.

Episode 93 – Are there budget-friendly black and purple glazes?

Season 4

Have you ever tried to create budget-friendly glazes? It can be hard, especially when you want rich purples and blacks. This week the gang talk about ways to save money in your glaze lab, and how tariffs might affect the supply chain. They also start the episode commiserating on how cold it is this time of year in New England, and what to do if your clay freezes.
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Have you noticed thermal expansion measurements on your clay or glaze recipes? If so you might be wondering what those measurements mean, and how you use them to predict glaze fit on a clay body. This week the gang discuss thermal expansion and why those numeric values aren’t always so helpful. They also answer a listener question about glazes with rare earth elements.
Have you noticed thermal expansion measurements on your clay or glaze recipes? If so you might be wondering what those measurements mean, and how you use them to predict glaze fit on a clay body. This week the gang discuss thermal expansion and why those numeric values aren’t always so helpful. They also answer a listener question about glazes with rare earth elements.

Episode 92 – How can I measure thermal expansion?

Season 4

Have you noticed thermal expansion measurements on your clay or glaze recipes? If so you might be wondering what those measurements mean, and how you use them to predict glaze fit on a clay body. This week the gang discuss thermal expansion and why those numeric values aren’t always so helpful. They also answer a listener question about glazes with rare earth elements.
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New kilns bring lots of excitement to the studio, but also a few questions. Should I calibrate my thermocouple? And, Do I need to adjust my firing rate to my new elements? This episode the gang talk about new kilns, ASTM standards for ware, and the difference between K23 and K26 soft bricks. They also start the show discussing testing methods for glaze durability. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes?
New kilns bring lots of excitement to the studio, but also a few questions. Should I calibrate my thermocouple? And, Do I need to adjust my firing rate to my new elements? This episode the gang talk about new kilns, ASTM standards for ware, and the difference between K23 and K26 soft bricks. They also start the show discussing testing methods for glaze durability. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes?

Episode 91 – How can I get the best firing out of my new kiln?

Season 4

New kilns bring lots of excitement to the studio, but also a few questions. Should I calibrate my thermocouple? And, Do I need to adjust my firing rate to my new elements? This episode the gang talk about new kilns, ASTM standards for ware, and the difference between K23 and K26 soft bricks. They also start the show discussing testing methods for glaze durability.
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For Flux Sake Seasons

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Season 2
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Season 4