There are a lot of ways to make test tiles. A simple slab bent into an L shape with a hole at the top for hanging on a peg board may be one of the easiest. I've tried a lot of different tiles and there is one consistent result. The information I get is not complete. so I set about designing and making the perfect test tile.
What I need to know is a complete run of (1)what one glaze over another glaze will look like, (2)I need a variation with a stamp impression, (3) a variation with a slip trail, (4) what does Strontium Crystal Magic Warm added to the mix?, (5) SCM-Cool?, and finally (6) I need both horizontal and vertical tests to see what/if gravity has any effect.
I made a spread sheet to show what glazes go over and which go under in order. Then I drew what I thought would give me the information I needed. Then I wondered - How exactly am I going to be able to reference this? can I hang this on a peg board? How long is it going to take me to make these tiles? How many do I need? (min. 196, btw.)
Frankly, there is a tile that is perfect in shape, gives me all the info that I'm looking for based off a tile that Julia Galloway and Lilly Zuckerman used in a glaze workshop I took at the Archie Bray. A larger version of that extruded die would be perfect. One problem. I don't have a clue how to make a die. I have a blank, but don't feel I have the time to teach myself this. I need tiles now. So this is how I started.
I threw a ring on my 16" bats. The issue is how to make these big enough, wide enough, tall enough AND storable.
So then I thought smaller versions on my 6" bat inserts would be the trick, I can throw a 3/4# ball into a horizontal and vertical surface at the same time. But that dang storage issue comes up again.
So back to the extruder I went. A hexagonal cylinder is still the best option, the fastest to make, cut, alter as necessary. Now I just need to make at least 200 of them. And for the horizontal surface information, I think I'll just make slabs to cut, with a hole and the corresponding tests can hang on the same peg.
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2' lengths of hexagonal cylinders for cutting. |
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Cut to 3 1/2 inch heights. |
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Slip trailed, Stamped, SCM Warm and Cool, a nice big hole for hanging and the side that will be marked what glazes are involved. One side is also completely smooth. |
And now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some test tiles to make.