Stained engobes can be applied thinly yet fire opaque

This black engobe, L3954F, is on a cone 6 buff stoneware (at leather hard stage). It contains only 7.5% Mason 6600 black stain. How is that possible? Why do people add so much more to their underglazes? Because this recipe has been tuned to have the same degree of maturity as the body - it therefore fires totally opaque. This contrasts with underglaze/engobe recipes containing significant frit, among other issues, their vitreous nature renders them translucent. Thus, up to 40% stain is needed to crowbar their opacity enough to intensify color. And a thicker application (that carries other issues).

Notice how thinly and evenly this is applied. This was possible because of another key factor: The slurry was adjusted to be thixotropic. The thinner layer enables drying more quickly. The body-compatible engobe recipe also means fewer issues with flaking during drying, better fire-fit.

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Absolutely Jet-Black Cone 6 Engobe on M340

The could also be super white

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This is the L3954B engobe. 15% Mason 6600 black body stain has been added (instead of the normal 10% Zircopax used for white). Of course, a cover glaze is needed for a functional surface. We put a lot of development work into producing a recipe fits this body, M340. It works even when thickly applied because it has the same fired maturity as the body. Lots of information is available on using L3954B (including mixing and adjustment instructions). Engobes are tricky to use, follow the links below to learn more. L3954B is designed to work on regular Plainsman M340 (this piece), M390 and Coffee Clay. Most important we document how to adjust its maturity, and thus firing shrinkage, to fine tune fit if needed. These bodies dry better than porcelains and are much less expensive, so coating them with an engobe to get a surface like this makes a lot of sense. Ed Phillipson discovered this 80 years ago, enabling selling ware made from these clays as white hotel ware.

The best way to make black clay: Don't.

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To prove that using an engobe is the best way to make a black cone 6 stoneware clay surface consider the mug on the left, a version of L4768E. This is not the best way but it is the one most used (and what Plainsman Clays does with Coffee Clay). This is a DIY mix, the darkest that it is practical (I used the hyper-red burning C-Red clay as a base, thus needing much less umber to darken it). While it looks black beside red burning bodies, beside this true black it doesn't, First, it is not a body, it is just a thin veneer of stained porcelain engoben (if the surface is all we see why stain it all the way through?). That being said, some people need a totally black and safe clay, like this one, and can afford to make it themselves (if that is you try using the L4053B recipe as a starter). Get a plaster table and a propeller mixer and you will be unstoppable!

What about using metal oxides to make the engobe? Black stain is expensive but is far superior (and safer) for black. Consider using 10-15% colorant in this 500g mug, which would require 50-75 grams of stain (~$5-8). 10% stain in an engobe applied in this thin layer likely needs only a few grams of stain (for pennies of cost). What about using a commercial black underglaze? There are normally vitreous, would stick to a kiln shelf and not cover evenly like this.

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Glossary

Engobe
Engobes are high-clay slurries that are applied to leather hard or dry ceramics. They fire opaque and are used for functional or decorative purposes. They are formulated to match the firing shrinkage and thermal expansion of the body.

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