beng51•2d ago

My early days with crackle glazes taught me patience

I started with crackle glazes about ten years ago, and it was a real struggle. At first, I couldn't get the cracks to form right, and my pieces would come out looking messy. I spent hours mixing glazes by hand, using old recipes from a book my teacher gave me. Over time, I learned that the firing temperature makes a big difference. Now, with new kilns and better materials, the process is simpler, but I miss the challenge. Those early failures made me appreciate each successful piece more. Today, I still use crackle glazes, but with a lighter touch, knowing how far I've come.

4 comments

4 Comments

perry.oliver2d ago

You mentioned firing temperature making a big difference, but in my experience, it's the cooling rate that really controls the crackle pattern. I used to crank the kiln down super fast trying to get those fine cracks, but it just made them chaotic. Slowing the cooling cycle, even just by leaving the kiln closed an extra hour, gave me much more control over the crackle size and spacing. That was the real game-changer for me.

the_gavin2d ago

You ever get stuck on one idea for way too long? I was totally convinced the peak temp was the only lever for crackle. My own tests with rapid cooling just made a messy spiderweb every time, so I wrote that method off completely. Reading your take on the slow cool actually made me go back and check my old notes. Turns out I was so focused on one variable I missed the bigger picture. Letting things cool down gently really does create that more even, controlled crackle I was trying to force.

dakotaclark2d ago

Actually both matter a lot, peak temp sets up the stress and the cooling decides how it releases. Too hot plus fast cool is always gonna be a mess. Gotta balance them.

zaranelson3h ago

Seeing Gavin figure that out applies to all of us.