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Studio Pottery Glaze Calculator

Calculate glaze batch weight from unity formula and raw material analysis. Scale recipes to any batch size for consistent studio pottery glazing.

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Inputs that matter
Original Batch Size, Target Batch Size, Ingredient A (original), Ingredient B (original), and 1 more
Output to expect
Glaze Recipe Calculator
  • Check the units and required inputs before comparing results.
  • Keep the assumptions with a copied result so you can reproduce the calculation later.
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Reference & details

How it works

Unity Molecular Formula

A glaze UMF expresses oxide ratios with silica and alumina normalized to unity. Each raw material contributes specific oxides based on its chemical analysis percentage.

UMF = moles of each oxide / moles of SiO₂ (unity basis)

Material Contribution Matrix

Each ingredient in the recipe contributes oxides proportional to its weight and analysis. The solver distributes batch weights so the combined oxides match the target UMF within tolerance.

Oxide from material = (weight × analysis%) / 100

Batch Scaling

Once a 100 g or 1 kg test batch is balanced, scale all ingredient weights proportionally to your production batch size while maintaining the same oxide ratios.

Scaled weight = (target batch g / reference batch g) × ingredient weight

Updated: July 2026

Example Scenarios

A 500 g test batch of a cone 10 celadon is verified on tiles. Scale all feldspar, silica, whiting, and colorant weights by 10× to mix 5 kg for a kiln load of mugs.

New feldspar shipment shows 0.3% higher K₂O in analysis. Recalculate batch weights to hold the same UMF rather than mixing by the old recipe blindly.

A dipping glaze needs 10 liters at 45° Baumé. Calculate dry batch weight from specific gravity target, then scale ingredient amounts from the unity formula.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Scaling by volume instead of weight for dry materials

Always scale glaze batches by weight. Different materials have different bulk densities, so cup-for-cup scaling introduces significant chemistry errors.

Ignoring material moisture or contamination in analysis

Use fresh chemical analysis for each material lot. Stored feldspar and whiting can absorb moisture, shifting actual oxide contributions in the mixed batch.

FAQ

A unity formula (UMF) lists glaze oxides as mole ratios with silica set to 1.0 (or alumina in some systems). It describes glaze chemistry independent of batch size, making recipes comparable and adjustable.

Loss on ignition (LOI) represents weight lost during firing from carbonates and hydrates. Use calcined or corrected analyses when calculating batch weights, or the fired glaze chemistry will differ from the target.

Yes. Glaze batches scale linearly because oxide ratios depend on weight proportions. Double the batch size doubles every ingredient weight while keeping chemistry identical.

Water content, mixing time, and specific gravity affect application thickness. Chemistry is the same, but check viscosity and dip time when scaling dipping glazes to larger batches.

Start from a proven recipe and use UMF to understand it. When substituting materials or adjusting properties, calculate from UMF to maintain balance of fluxes, alumina, and silica.

About Studio Pottery Glaze Calculator

Pottery glazes are formulated from raw materials that contribute oxides to a unity molecular formula (UMF). This calculator converts your target UMF and material analysis into weighed batch amounts so you can mix repeatable glaze recipes in the studio.