 Tony Hansen's Thousand-Post TimeLineI am the creator of Digitalfire Insight, the Digitalfire Reference Database and Insight-live.com. ... more Mother Nature's Porcelain MugOriginal File: RedMNP.mp4 Context: Mother Nature's Porcelain, Tony Hansen Wednesday 3rd April 2019 
The matteness this glaze develops is dependant on the cooling rateThis is the G2934Y matte cone 6 recipe with a red stain (Mason 6021). The one on the left was fired using the C6DHSC slow-cool schedule. The one on the right was fired using the drop-and-soak PLC6DS schedule. The only difference in the two schedules is what happens after 2100F on the way down (the ... more Context: G2934Y - Cone 6 Magnesia Matte Low LOI Version, Matte Glaze, Firing Schedule, Plainsman Cone 6 Slow Cool (Reactive glazes) Wednesday 20th March 2019 
Transparent and RavenTalc silky matte glazes on black engobe at cone 10RClay is Plainsman H450. The L3954N black engobe was applied at leather hard stage (on the insides and partway down the outside). The G1947U clear glossy glaze over it on the inside produces a deep and vibrant hue (left). The inside glaze on the right is GR10-C Ravenscrag silky matte. The outsides are GR10-J Ravenscrag Dolomite matte with a little added cobalt and iron (for blue and brown). Context: L3954N - Cone 10R Base White Engobe, GR10-C - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Silky Talc Matte Wednesday 20th March 2019 
Difference between oxidation and reduction! GR10-C matte on Plainsman H443Same body, same glaze. Left is cone 10 oxidation, right is cone 10 reduction. What a difference! This is a Ravenscrag-Slip-based recipe on a high-fire iron stoneware. In reduction, the iron oxide in the body and glaze darkens (especially the body) and melts much more. The behavior of the tin oxide opacifier is also much different (having very little opacifying effect in reduction). Context: Talc, Tin Oxide, GR10-C - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Silky Talc Matte, Reduction Firing, Oxidation Wednesday 20th March 2019 
Sourcing Li2O from spodumene instead of lithium carbonateLithium carbonate is now incredibly expensive. But I was able to source the Li2O from spodumene instead. Spodumene has a complex chemistry, but the oxides that it contains (other than Li2O) are those common to glazes anyway. Using my account at insight-live.com, I did the calculations and got a ... more Context: Spodumene, Lithium Carbonate Tuesday 19th March 2019 
Here is why quartz is good in clay bodiesThe piece on the left is 65% ball clay and 35% nepheline syenite. The one on the right is 65% kaolin and 35% nepheline syenite. Both fire vitreous at cone 6. But the glaze is crazing on the kaolin and not on the ball clay. This is because the ball clay contains significant quartz, that raises the thermal expansion and that puts the squeeze on the glaze and prevent the crazing. Tuesday 19th March 2019 
Functional ware at low fire! Don't dismiss it just yet.These were only fired at cone 04, but they are durable enough to last some time with normal use. The insides have a transparent glaze (Spectrum 700), it is leadless and completely safe. These are great insulators, they keep coffee warm longer than porcelain or stoneware. The feet are glazed so they ... more Context: Which is better for functional ware? Cone 04? Cone 10 reduction? Monday 18th March 2019 
Which is better for functional ware? Cone 04? Cone 10 reduction?Not so fast! Cone 10R ware is only strong if the glaze fits. Fortunately this does. But either one will break if dropped on the floor. The stoneware clay has a porosity of 2.5-3%, the earthenware 12%. But the entire base of the orange one is glazed (it was fired on a three-pointed stilt), and the ... more Context: Incredible mother nature’s porcelain, Functional ware at low fire! Don't dismiss it just yet. Monday 18th March 2019 
Cheap Amazon glaze mixer, how does it stack up?Make some adjustments and it is usable. First, it is very quiet and has lots of power. The plastic sliders ride smoothly and provide precise adjustability (but the plastic threads might not last). The vertical shaft is stainless steel and the cast iron base is heavy, sturdy, practical. The ... more Context: Propeller Mixer Tuesday 12th March 2019 
It's possible to formulate a porcelaineous stoneware with just two materialsLeft: 65% #6Tile kaolin and 35% Nepheline Syenite. It's white but crazes the glaze and has 1% fired porosity (measured in the SHAB test) so it does not have porcelain density. Plasticity is very good. Right: 65% M23 Old Hickory ball clay and 35% Nepheline Syenite. The glaze fits, it has zero ... more Context: Stoneware Monday 11th March 2019 | Contact Us:Use the contact pages within or outside your account at Insight-Live.com 
Login to your online account Chemistry plus physics. The on-line successor to desktop Insight. Get an account for as little as $15. It does so much more. 
Still available for Mac, PC, Linux Interactive glaze chemistry calculations (legacy, no longer supported) What people have said about digitalfire• I enjoy using your software and website. • Thanks for your great contribution over the years to our field of work. • Your website has become an excellent resource for students and professionals alike, congratulations. • Your glaze expertise is the piece of the clay puzzle that I need to relax and enjoy this artistic journey. • I have joined to millions of others who must absolutely love you and are so thankful to you - I just want you to really know that you have opened up a whole new world to me that I thought was insurmountable - The wealth of information on Digital Fire is most appreciated, and I hope you know that what you have done is really enormous and God sent to potters. • I am very delight about the services provided by your site. It is really very informative. • Your web is great! Click here to see all 191 What people have said about Insight-Live• Thank you very much for creating these examples and explanations. I am getting a much better understanding for why Frits are so much better. Now that I am digging into InSight-Live and manipulating the chemistry, this documentation is the main place where I can find the facts and suggestions that help clear up my questions. Thank you for creating such a very practical and wonderful upgrade . The interface is so nice and even forgiving. Thank You Very Much, • The articles contained very helpful. I work for luxury table ware well known brand from UK. • Many, many thanks for DigitalFire! It is a wonderful collection of information and experience. • Hey Tony, just like to say thanks for your fantastic site as it has been the best reference guide for my helper and I. • THIS IS FRIGGIN' AMAZING! YAY! NOW I NEED GLAZE MATERIALS! WOOT! I'm blown away by your site. I'm totally going to geek out on this I can tell. Item #1 on my agenda is to stop being at everyone else's mercy for glazes. • You are a real gem, your work really help me a lot. • Thank you so much for this wonderful resource you have created! I have found all of the information in the Digital Fire database as well as Insight to be incredibly helpful tools in the ceramic world. Click here to see all 112 |
