Glossary of Terms - C
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Calipers
Calipers
Tool for measuring interior or exterior width, often used for making lids.
Centering - Coning up
Centering - Coning up
When wheel throwing, one of two motions to bring the clay to center before throwing the pot.
Checking Depth
Checking Depth
When wheel throwing, using a needle tool to find out how thick the clay is at the foot of the pot.
Cobalt Carbonate and Cobalt Oxide
Cobalt Carbonate and Cobalt Oxide
Coloring oxide used for blues and blacks.
Collaring
Collaring
When wheel throwing, bringing the clay in to make the pot narrower.
Colorant
Colorant
Any element used to add color to glazes or clays.
Compressing the foot
Compressing the foot
When wheel throwing, pressing down on the base of the pot to make the clay tighter and firmer, and less likely to crack.
Compressing the rim
Compressing the rim
When wheel throwing, finishing the rim with a rib, chamois, or fingers.
Cone Charts
Cone Charts
ceramic materials which measure heat work in the kiln.
Copper Carbonate and Copper Oxide
Copper Carbonate and Copper Oxide
Coloring oxides used for greens and metallic colors. IN reduction, can give red colors.
Craze, Crackle, Crawl
Craze, Crackle, Crawl
Glaze surfaces may have surface variations which might be seen as a flaw or, if intentional, might be an aesthetic choice. Crawling is when the glaze pulls away from the clay, and beads on the surface, either due to the bisque not being sufficiently cleaned before glazing, or a defect of the glaze composition. Crackle is the intentional development of a network of fine cracks in the glaze, often seen in Raku ware. Crazing is the unintentional forming of cracks in glaze surface, sometimes due to rapid cooling of glazed ware, or a poor fit between clay and glaze. All of these glaze surfaces, whether intentional or not, are not considered food-safe.
Cutting Off
Cutting Off
When wheel throwing, removing the finished pot using a wire.