Mastering Cone 6 Glazes: Improving Durability, Fit and Aesthetics

This is absolutely the best glaze book for the functional potter that is available today!

I can't recommend this book enough for the potter looking to better understand glazes and the firing process for cone 6 oxidation ware. It's detailed but unpretentious and will be accessible to the non-chemist potter for which it's written. Hesselberth and Roy have obviously spent a great deal of time and money learning what makes a glaze stable and safe for functional use. This is not a recipe book, though the recipes included are outstanding; rather the authors wish to better inform and equip the potter in 1) better matching his clay bodies with his glazes, 2) ensuring minimal leaching of toxic materials from his glazes, 3) learning to rely on stable and reliable materials in glaze formulation (so long Gerstley Borate), and 4) teaching the potter ways to test whether a particular glaze is safe and stable. The authors will be the first to say that what's provided here is not exhaustive but this book goes further than any other glaze book I know of in promoting the use of stable and safe glazes that fit well and look good. If you're like me, the price might discourage you. It's an investment well worth making though, and I haven't regretted it. I've now worked in two studios that have based their entire glaze palate on the recipes and principles provided in this book, and the results are reliable and beautiful. I really think this is going to set the standard for glaze books and cone 6 glazing for a long time to come.

Being a novice potter in search of answers regarding cone 6 glazes, this book was my 5th glaze book to purchase. I only wish that I had bought it first and I would only own one! I found this book straight forward with great information regarding not only glaze mixing but successful firing. I would recommend it to anyone trying to get started mixing their own glazes. I had tried many glaze recipes from other books and the web, only to be disappointed with the outcome. The recipes in the back of this book work wonderfully. I am thrilled!!

Very useful reference. Assuming you know other aspects of ceramics, this book seems to contain all the info you need to succeed with cone 6 glazes. It's not only for cone 6 though, because much of the info will apply to other glazes as well. Includes a solid explanation of glaze theory, balanced by a wealth of very detailed and practical considerations for getting the best possible results in the real world.

This book lives up to its title. If you want a book that covers Cone 6 Oxidation Glazes in an understandable manner, I highly recommend this book. In addition to the technical information the authors actually supply (in Chapter 6) some beautiful glaze recipes that meet their standards for functional use.