When using stains, customize the percentage, host glaze and firing scheduleThese are G2926B clear glazes with stains added and fired at cone 6. The one on the left has 11% Mason 6021 encapsulated red. It is pebbling the surface (even with 2% zircon), it may be at the upper end of its firing range. Possible solutions are faster firing up and down to give the stain less ... more These are G2926B clear glazes with stains added and fired at cone 6. The one on the left has 11% Mason 6021 encapsulated red. It is pebbling the surface (even with 2% zircon), it may be at the upper end of its firing range. Possible solutions are faster firing up and down to give the stain less chance to decompose. A lower percentage might help, that would impart a bit of variation where it is thicker and thinner (like the purple one) to add visual interest. A different host glaze, perhaps one with less boron might work better. The purple one has 10% Mason 6304, it is not affecting the glossy glaze surface. But the percentage needs to be higher to prevent the wash-out of color where it is applied thinner. Context: Encapsulated Stains, Stain Tuesday 3rd July 2018 
The difference between a slip and an engobeL3685U slurry was applied to the insides of both of these mugs. But on the left it is a "slip", on the right an "engobe". Why? The left mug only has a thin layer, applied by painting a gummed version on (at leather hard stage). On the right a gelled slurry was poured into the leather hard piece, ... more L3685U slurry was applied to the insides of both of these mugs. But on the left it is a "slip", on the right an "engobe". Why? The left mug only has a thin layer, applied by painting a gummed version on (at leather hard stage). On the right a gelled slurry was poured into the leather hard piece, poured out and the rim dipped (creating a much thicker layer with more power to impose its own drying and firing shrinkage). So it is much more important that the latter be compatible with the underlying body. The EBCT test is used to measure how compatible the body and engobe are. Context: EBCT Engobe Body Compatibility Test, Engobe, Slip Tuesday 3rd July 2018 
Terra cotta transparent glaze: Too thick and just rightWhen clear-glazing terra cotta ware (Plainsman L215 here) an important issue is glaze thickness. The mug on the left was double-dipped (so suspended bubbles are present in the handle recess, thumb-hold and along its edges). The glaze needs to be thick enough so that it feels glassy smooth but thin ... more When clear-glazing terra cotta ware (Plainsman L215 here) an important issue is glaze thickness. The mug on the left was double-dipped (so suspended bubbles are present in the handle recess, thumb-hold and along its edges). The glaze needs to be thick enough so that it feels glassy smooth but thin enough to avoid the bubbles. Normally, if applied the thickness of the one on the left, it would be completely milky, filled with micro-bubble clouds. Why has it not done so here? Because it is fired at cone 03 (using G2931K glaze and the C03DRH firing schedule). An added benefit is that the body is so much stronger than it would be if fired at cone 06 or 04. And the underglazes work fine. Context: G2931K - Low Fire Fritted Zero3 Transparent Glaze Tuesday 3rd July 2018 
Terra cotta with transparent glaze: At cone 04, 03The body is Plainsman L215 (bisque fired at cone 06). The glaze is G2931K. There is good reason to glaze fire to cone 03 instead of 04. Although these commercial underglazes work the same the clay fired at cone 03 is stronger and a deeper red color. But best of all, the glaze is more transparent ... more The body is Plainsman L215 (bisque fired at cone 06). The glaze is G2931K. There is good reason to glaze fire to cone 03 instead of 04. Although these commercial underglazes work the same the clay fired at cone 03 is stronger and a deeper red color. But best of all, the glaze is more transparent (because it has fewer micro-bubbles suspended in the glass). Cone 03 is also more tolerant of getting the glaze on too thick, at 04 it will turn completely milky. Context: G2931K - Low Fire Fritted Zero3 Transparent Glaze, Terra cotta Tuesday 3rd July 2018 
Ravencrag rutile blue vs. Alberta Slip floating blue at cone 6Both have been applied at moderate thickness on Plainsman M325 (using a slurry of about 1.43-1.45 specific gravity, higher values end up getting them on too thick). The Ravenscrag version highlights contours better (the edges are black because of the black engobe underneath). It also produces the ... more Both have been applied at moderate thickness on Plainsman M325 (using a slurry of about 1.43-1.45 specific gravity, higher values end up getting them on too thick). The Ravenscrag version highlights contours better (the edges are black because of the black engobe underneath). It also produces the blue color whether or not the kiln is slow cooled to 1400F (although a faster cool is less blue). But the Alberta Slip version has zero cobalt so is less expensive to make. It produces a deeper color over the black engobe underneath the upper section of the pieces. Both of these produce a wide range of effects with different thickness, bodies and firing schedules.
Context: GA6-C - Alberta Slip Rutile Blue Cone 6, GR6-M - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Floating Blue, Plainsman Cone 6 Slow Cool (Reactive glazes) Tuesday 3rd July 2018 
Manually programming a typical electric hobby kiln electronic controllerI document programs in my account at insight-live.com, then print them out and enter them into the controller. This controller can hold six, it calls them Users. The one I last edited is the one that runs when I press "Start". When I press the "Enter Program" button it asks which User: I key in "2" ... more I document programs in my account at insight-live.com, then print them out and enter them into the controller. This controller can hold six, it calls them Users. The one I last edited is the one that runs when I press "Start". When I press the "Enter Program" button it asks which User: I key in "2" (for my cone 6 lab tests). It asks how many segments: I press Enter to accept the 3 (remember, I am editing the program). After that it asks questions about each step (rows 2, 3, 4): the Ramp "rA" (degrees F/hr), the Temperature to go to (°F) to and the Hold time in minutes (HLdx). In this program I am heating at 300F/hr to 240F and holding 60 minutes, then 400/hr to 2095 and holding zero minutes, then at 108/hr to 2195 and holding 10 minutes. The last step is to set a temperature where an alarm should start sounding (I set 9999 so it will never sound). When complete it reads "Idle". Then I press the "Start" button to begin. If I want to change it I press the "Stop" button. Those ten other buttons? Don't use them, automatic firing is not accurate. One more thing: If it is not responding to "Enter Program" press the Stop button first. Context: Electric Hobby Kilns: What You Need to Know, Why is the clay blistering on this figurine?, Controller, Firing Schedule, Drop-and-Soak Firing, Manually program your kiln or suffer glaze defects!, Cone 6 Drop-and-Soak Firing Schedule Thursday 28th June 2018 
Thrown pieces made from pure Grolleg and EP KaolinThese have just been thrown on the wheel. They were slurried and dewatered to about the same water content and the same amount was thrown on a potters wheel to compare the plasticity. While the Grolleg is stickier and dewaters a little slower, it is not nearly as plastic. Curiously, New Zealand ... more These have just been thrown on the wheel. They were slurried and dewatered to about the same water content and the same amount was thrown on a potters wheel to compare the plasticity. While the Grolleg is stickier and dewaters a little slower, it is not nearly as plastic. Curiously, New Zealand Halloysite is quite a bit less plastic than the Grolleg but it responds to plasticity augmentation (in porcelain recipes) just as well as Grolleg (similar amounts of bentonite producing similar plasticities). And, bodies containing EPK need about the same amount of bentonite to produce plasticity suitable for throwing large forms. So, the plasticity a porcelain appears to have by itself is not completely indicative of what it will contribute to a body. Context: EPK fired bar (top) vs Grolleg at cone 10R. Why shrinking more? Sunday 24th June 2018 
EPK fired bar (top) vs Grolleg at cone 10R. Why shrinking more?From these (SHAB test bars) EP kaolin appears to have a much higher fired shrinkage. But half of that happened during drying. Still, EPK shrinks 4% more during firing. Yet Grolleg produces more vitrified porcelains. The EPK bar also appears be whiter. Yet in a porcelain body Grolleg fires much ... more From these (SHAB test bars) EP kaolin appears to have a much higher fired shrinkage. But half of that happened during drying. Still, EPK shrinks 4% more during firing. Yet Grolleg produces more vitrified porcelains. The EPK bar also appears be whiter. Yet in a porcelain body Grolleg fires much whiter. That higher drying shrinkage proves that EPK is much more plastic, right? Not really. Throwing porcelains containing either require plasticity augmentation using similar percentages of bentonite. What do we learn? To compare materials like this we need to see them "playing on the team", in a recipe working with other materials. Don't rely on material data sheets, do the testing. Context: Grolleg Kaolin, EP Kaolin, Thrown pieces made from pure Grolleg and EP Kaolin Sunday 24th June 2018 
Precipitate can forms in fritted glazes, remember to screen itPotters often store glazes for long periods so tiny spherical precipitate particles can form. These were found in a months-old bucket of G2926B (M370 clear) cone 6 clear glaze (about 2 gallons). These can appear over time, depending on factors like temperature, electrolytes in your water or ... more Potters often store glazes for long periods so tiny spherical precipitate particles can form. These were found in a months-old bucket of G2926B (M370 clear) cone 6 clear glaze (about 2 gallons). These can appear over time, depending on factors like temperature, electrolytes in your water or solubility in the materials (likely, the frit is slightly soluble). The glaze slurry should be screened periodically (or immediately if you note the particles when glazing a piece). This is an 80 mesh screen. Note the brush, using one of these gets the glaze through the screen much quicker than using a rubber spatula. Context: Are frits partially soluble? Yes, many are., Precipitation, Sieve Saturday 16th June 2018 
G2926S low expansion cone 6 base glaze is hereG2926B has proven to be my most durable, crystal clear, non-crazing, easy-to-use general purpose cone 6 base glaze (from dozens I developed). However, some porcelains (e.g. Plainsman P300) need an even lower thermal expansion. G2926S adjusts "B" (by adding low-expansion MgO at the expense of ... more G2926B has proven to be my most durable, crystal clear, non-crazing, easy-to-use general purpose cone 6 base glaze (from dozens I developed). However, some porcelains (e.g. Plainsman P300) need an even lower thermal expansion. G2926S adjusts "B" (by adding low-expansion MgO at the expense of high-expansion KNaO). Yet it has the same gloss. The insides of these P300 mugs use it (with 10% added Zircopax to make white). "S" is not an all-purpose recipe, it could shiver on high silica bodies, use it if G2926B fails an IWCT test for crazing. These mugs were fired using the PLC6DS firing schedule, the outside glazes are G2934Y silky matte with added stains. Context: G2926B - Cone 6 Whiteware/Porcelain Transparent Base Glaze, G2926S - Low Expansion version of G2926B Saturday 16th June 2018 | Contact Us:
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