May 2026: We are continuing a major code rewrite. Please contact us if you find issues. Thank you.

BORY1 - Bory 1 Crystalline Glaze
CELECG - Celestite Crystalline Glaze
FAAO - Fa's All-Opaque Crystalline Glaze
FAC5 - Crystal Number Five Glaze
FO - Octal Crystalline Glaze
G1214M - 20x5 Cone 6 Base Glossy Glaze
G1214W - Cone 6 Transparent Base
G1214Z1 - Cone 6 Silky CaO matte base glaze
G1215U - Low Expansion Glossy Clear Cone 6
G1216L - Transparent for Cone 6 Porcelains
G1216M - Cone 6 Ultraclear Glaze for Porcelains
G1916Q - Low Fire Highly-Expansion-Adjustable Transparent
G1947U - Cone 10 Glossy transparent glaze
G2000 - LA Matte Cone 6 Matte White
G2240 - Cone 10R Classic Spodumene Matte
G2571A - Cone 10 Silky Dolomite Matte glaze
G2826R - Floating Blue Cone 5-6 Original Glaze Recipe
G2826X - Randy's Red Cone 5
g2851H - Ravenscrag Cone 6 High Calcium Matte Blue
G2853B - Cone 04 Clear Ravenscrag School Glaze
G2896 - Ravenscrag Plum Red Cone 6
G2902B - Cone 6 Crystal Glaze
G2902D - Cone 6 Crystalline Development Project
G2916F - Cone 6 Stoneware/Whiteware transparent glaze
G2926B - Cone 6 Whiteware/Porcelain transparent glaze
G2926J - Low Expansion G2926B
G2928C - Ravenscrag Silky Matte for Cone 6
G2931H - Ulexite High Expansion Zero3 Clear Glaze
G2931K - Low Fire Fritted Zero3 Transparent Glaze
G2931L - Low Expansion Low-Fire Clear
G2934 - Matte Glaze Base for Cone 6
G2934Y - Cone 6 Magnesia Matte Low LOI Version
G3806C - Cone 6 Clear Fluid-Melt transparent glaze
G3838A - Low Expansion Transparent for P300 Porcelain
G3879 - Cone 04 Transparent Low-Expansion transparent glaze
GA10-A - Alberta Slip Base Cone 10R
GA10-B - Alberta Slip Tenmoku Cone 10R
GA10-D - Alberta Slip Black Cone 10R
GA10x-A - Alberta Slip Base for cone 10 oxidation
GA6-A - Alberta Slip Cone 6 transparent honey glaze
GA6-B - Alberta Slip Cone 6 transparent honey glaze
GA6-C - Alberta Slip Floating Blue Cone 6
GA6-D - Alberta Slip Glossy Brown Cone 6
GA6-F - Alberta Slip Cone 6 Oatmeal
GA6-G - Alberta Slip Lithium Brown Cone 6
GA6-G1 - Alberta Slip Lithium Brown Cone 6 Low Expansion
GA6-H - Alberta Slip Cone 6 Black
GBCG - Generic Base Crystalline Glaze
GC106 - GC106 Base Crystalline Glaze
GR10-A - Pure Ravenscrag Slip
GR10-B - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Gloss Base
GR10-C - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Silky Talc Matte
GR10-E - Alberta Slip:Ravenscrag Cone 10R Celadon
GR10-G - Ravenscrag Cone 10 Oxidation Variegated White
GR10-J - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Dolomite Matte
GR10-J1 - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Bamboo Matte
GR10-K1 - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Tenmoku
GR10-L - Ravenscrag Iron Crystal
GR6-A - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Clear Glossy Base
GR6-B - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Variegated Light Glossy Blue
GR6-C - Ravenscrag Cone 6 White Glossy
GR6-D - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Glossy Black
GR6-E - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Raspberry Glossy
GR6-H - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Oatmeal Matte
GR6-L - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Transparent Burgundy
GR6-M - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Floating Blue
GR6-N - Ravenscrag Alberta Brilliant Cone 6 Celadon
GRNTCG - GRANITE Crystalline Glaze
L2000 - 25 Porcelain
L3341B - Alberta Slip Iron Crystal Cone 10R
L3685U - Cone 03 White Engobe Recipe
L3724F - Cone 03 Terra Cotta Stoneware
L3924C - Zero3 Porcelain Experimental
- Cone 6 Engobe (for M340)
L3954N - Cone 10R Base White Engobe Recipe for stonewares
MGBase1 - High Calcium Semimatte 1 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase2 - High Calcium Semimatte 2 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase3 - General Purpose Glossy Base 1 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase4 - Glossy Base 2 Cone 6 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase5 - Glossy Clear Liner Cone 6 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase6 - Zinc Semimatte Glossy Base Cone 6
MGBase7 - Raspberry Cone 6 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase8 - Waxwing Brown Cone 6 (Mastering Glazes)
MGBase9 - Waterfall Brown Cone 6 (Mastering Glazes)
TNF2CG - Tin Foil II Crystalline Glaze
VESUCG - Vesuvius Crystalline Glaze

Insight-Live Shares


77C04E - 50:30:20 Frit 3134 cone 6 base
77E05B - Cone 10R Celadon - Luke Lindoe
77E06B - Lindoe Dark Celadon - Lower COE
77E14A - Cone 10R Red Mustard - Luke Lindoe
77E15A - Cone 10R Yellow Mustard - Luke Lindoe
84-G-05-S - Cone 10R Matte Crystal Iron - Luke Lindoe
G 304 - Cone 10R Crystal Iron Brown - Luke Lindoe
G1002 - LEACH'S CELADON CONE 10R
G1129 - MEDALTA CLEAR GLAZE CONE 8-10
G1214M - Hansen 20x5 Clear Cone 6 Base Glaze
G1214Z - Cone 6 Calcium Matte Base Glaze
G1214Z1 - Cone 6 Calcium Matte v2
G1214Z2 - Cone 6 Calcium Matte + TiO2
G1847 - Cone 10R Robin's Egg Blue
G1916M - COE Adjustable Low Fire Clear Glaze
G1916Q - Cone 05+ Expansion Adjustable Gloss Base
G1916Q2 - G1916Q glaze + 5% silica
G1916Q3 - G1916Q glaze + 10% silica
G1916QL - Cone 05+ Low Expansion Transparent glaze
G1916QL1 - Cone 05+ Lower Expansion glaze
G1916S - Cone 06-04 MgO Matte
G1916S1 - Cone 06-04 MgO (using talc)
G1916V - Cone 2 Clear (based on G1916Q)
G1916W - G1916Q with Iron Fining Agent
G1947U - Cone 10/10R Transparent Base
G2415E - Classic Albany Lithium Brown Glossy
G2415J - G2415E Alberta Slip Brown (less Li)
G2571A - Original Cone 10R Silky Matte Base Recipe
G2571B - Cone 10R Silky Matte Base (improved)
G2571BB - G2571B Rutile Bamboo
G2571C - Cone 10R Silky Matte Blue
G2571D - Cone 10R Silky Matte Red
G2571D1 - Cone 10 Marbled Red Glaze
G2571E - Cone 10R Silky Matte Black
G2576B - Cone 10R Tenmoku Glossy
G2584 - Cone 10R Blue Celadon
G2826A - 50:30:20 Gerstley Borate Cone 6 base
G2826A1 - 50:30:20 Frit 3134 base (fixed)
G2826A2 - 50:30:20 Gillespie Borate Cone 6 base
G2826A3 - 50:30:20 GB Makeover Pottery Glaze
G2826B - GB:Frit Raku Glaze
G2826F - GB Honey Amber 04
G2826G - GB Lavendar Satin Glaze Cone 6
G2826M - Gerstley Borate Antique Green Cone 5
G2826N - Gerstley Borate Raku Base NS/GB
G2826R - Floating Blue Original Cone 6 Glaze
G2826R1 - Floating Blue Using Gillespie Borate
G2826U - Floating Blue using Frit 3134
G2826V - Gerstley Borate Cream Oatmeal Cone 6 recipe
G2850C - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Black Glossy
G2850M-C - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Light Blue Matte
G2850P - TEAL BLUE CONE 6 KAT
G2851A - RAVENSCRAG SLIP Matte Blue - Cone 6
G2851AB - RAVENS FLOATING BLUE Cone 6
G2851D - KAT'S RC MATTE - Cone 6
G2851H - RAVENSCRAG Brown Gold Matte Cone 6
G2880 - Alberta Slip Tenmoku #1
G2880A - Alberta Slip Tenmoku #2
G2881B - Ravenscrag Alberta Slip Celadon
G2890B - Randy's Red Original Cone 6 Glaze
G2894 - Ravenscrag Tenmoku #1
G2894A - Ravenscrag Tenmoku #2
G2908A - Alberta Slip Floating Blue
G2917 - Ravenscrag Floating Blue
G2926 - Perkins Clear
G2926A - Perkins Clear with Frit 3134
G2926B - Cone 6 Clear Glossy Base
G2926BL - G2926B Cone 6 Gloss Black
G2926J - G2926B Reduced COE (Li2O)
G2926S - G2926B Reduced COE (MgO)
G2931 - Worthington Cone 06-2 Clear
G2931F - Zero3 Ulexite Transparent Glaze
G2931G - Zero3 G Low Expansion Low Fire Clear
G2931H - Zero3 H High Expansion Variant
G2931K - Zero3 K Cone 03 Transparent Glaze
G2931L - Zero3 L Low Expansion Variant
G2931L2 - Zero3 L Low Expansion w/F-69
G2932 - Deb's Clear #1 Cone 04-02
G2932A - Deb's Clear #2
G2933 - Gerstley:PV Clay low fire clear
G2934 - Cone 6 Magnesia Matte Base
G2934A - High Dolomite-Testing glaze
G2934BL - G2934 85:15 Adjustable Matte Black
G2934J - G2934 with ZnO for Brown Stains
G2934J1 - G2934 (glossed using ZnO)
G2934Y - G2934 (lower-LOI)
G2934Y1 - G2934Y (Anti-Crawling)
G2934Y2 - G2934Y (Higher COE/Stony)
G2934Y3 - G2934 Super Durable
G2934Y4 - G2934 Super Durable #2
G2934Z - G2934Y Red Using F-69
G2936 - Ravenscrag Low Expansion Cone 6 Base
G2936B - Ravenscrag Low Expansion White Base 2
G2936C - Ravenscrag Original Cone 6 Base Glaze
G2938 - Wright's Water Blue Base
G2941A - Leach's Satin Clear Original
G2941C - Leach's Satin Clear - Craze fix
G3806 - Panama Blue Cone 6
G3806A - Panama Blue 2 - More clay, Copper Oxide
G3806B - Panama Blue 3 - Copper Carbonate
G3806C - Panama Cone 6 Adjustment 2015
G3806D - Panama c6 - Lower COE #1
G3806E - Panama c6 - Lower COE #2
G3806F - Panama c6 - Lower COE #3
G3806K - Panama c6 - Lower COE #7
G3806N - C6 Fluid Clear Final Recipe #10
G3808 - Cone 6 Bright Clear - Shaun Mollonga
G3808A - Cone 6 Bright Clear using Frits
G3813 - Campana Cone 6 Transparent Glaze
G3813B - Campana Clear Lower Expansion #2
G3813C - Campana Clear Low Expansion (no Spodumene)
G3814 - Low Zinc High Feldspar Fritless base
G3822 - Spectrum Clear 700 Dipping Glaze
G3834 - Tenmoku Cone 6
G3840 - Shino Trial Number 1
G3868 - Gold - Cone 6
G3868A - Gold Using Spodumene
G3868B - Gold Using Fusion Frit 493
G3868C - Gold Using Frit #2
G3875 - Tangerine 4 (Orange)
G3875B - Zinc Clear cone 6
G3875C - Tangerine + Orange Stain
G3879 - Cone 04+ UltraClear Glossy Base
G3879C - Cone 04 UltraClear Low-Expansion
G3879E - Cone 04+ UltraClear Glossy Base
G3879F1 - Cone 04+ UltraClear Glossy Base
G3888 - Kieth Davitt High-fluid-melt copper blue
G3892 - Val Cushing Satin White #71
G3903 - Alberta Slip + Frit FZ-16
G3904 - Original Recipe Using Frit 3124
G3904A - 3134 Mistake Recipe Fixed
G3909 - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Matte Blue
G3910 - Fritted version of G1947U #1
G3910A - Fritted version of G1947U #2
G3912A - Surface Tension White Tin
G3914A - Alberta Slip Gloss Black
G3918 - Red Mustard in G2571A Base #1
G3925 - Perfect Clear
G3925B - Perfect Clear Make-Over #1
G3926B - G2926B with Tin/Zircopax
G3926C - G2934 White Tin/Zircopax
G3933 - G2934:G2926B Oatmeal - Cone 6
G3933A - G2934:G2926B Oatmeal Cone 6
G3933E - G3933 Oatmeal Ravenscrag #2
G3933EF - G3933 Oatmeal Ravenscrag #4
G3933G1 - G3933 Oatmeal Alberta Slip + Li
G3939A - Cone 6 Oxidation Marbled Red
G3948 - Red Orange Glazy Original
G3948A - Plainsman Iron Red Orange
G3948A1 - Red Orange - Plainsman Spodumene
G3948A3 - Red Orange - Plainsman Spodumene #2
G3955 - N505 Base Satin White - Opaque
G3966 - Cone 10R S2 - Luke Lindoe
G3971 - Lead Bisilicate Glaze
G3973 - Hilda Ross Rust
G4546 - Pattis Crystal Clear Cone 6
G4594 - 3B as a glaze
GA6-A - Oringal Alberta Slip Amber/Honey base
GA6-F - Alberta Slip Cone 6 Oatmeal
GR10-A - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Transparent Base
GR10-C - Ravenscrag Talc Matte
GR10-CW - Ravenscrag Cone 10R Talc Matte White
GR6-H - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Oatmeal
H0009 - 1945 MEDALTA FILTER CAKE
L2553B - Imco Carbondale Clay - C-Red
L2596E - H550 Casting Body #5
L2596F - H550 Casting Body #6
L2596G - H550 Casting Body #8
L2626 - Barnard Slip
L3127E - Boraq 1
L3127G - Boraq 2
L3127I - Boraq 3
L3127N - Boraq 5 #4 (available materials)
L3146A - Foundry Hill Creme+Nepheline
L3146B - New Foundry Hill Creme
L3146C - FHC + Kyanite
L3146D - FHC + Pyrax
L3164A - Cordierite Flameware - more bentonite, added grog
L3500 - Alberta Slip Original cone 6 base glaze
L3500G - Alberta Slip + Frit 3249
L3500H - Alberta Slip + Frit 3249 and Silica
L3523 - Cone 04 Gerstley Borate matte base
L3523A - Compare Boraq 5 #1 with GB in a glaze
L3523B - L3523 glaze using Boraq 5 L3127L
L3523C - L3523 glaze using Boraq 5 L3127M
L3523D - L3523 recipe using Boraq 5 L3127N
L3617 - Cornwall Stone substitute #2
L3619 - Cornwall Stone Average Analysis
L3660C - Flameware - Very High Pyrax with Molochite
L3660G - Pyrax/Kaolin Flameware
L3660P - Pyrax Flameware (low fire)
L3664A - PV CLAY Feb 2013 Shipment
L3673 - Laguna Barnard Slip Sub
L3685U1 - Zero3 Engobe Recipe
L3685Y - Cone 03 Terrastone 2 Engobe
L3685Z2 - Z2 White Cone 04 Engobe Base (no frit)
L3685Z3 - Z3 White Cone 04 Engobe (5% frit)
L3685Z5 - White Cone 04 Engobe for L4170B (3% frit)
L3685Z6 - Brown Engobe for Snow
L3685Z7 - Cone 04 Brown Engobe for Snow
L3685Z8 - White Cone 2 Engobe for L215, L210, L4170B (2% frit)
L3693E - Alumina Lining for Crucibles
L3693E1 - Zircon Lining for Crucibles
L3693H1 - Plastic Refractory Alumina Body H1
L3724M1 - Redart Fritware #4
L3724M2 - Redart Fritware #5
L3724N - Redart Fritware #1
L3724N2 - Zero3 Stoneware
L3724P - Redart Fritware #2
L3728 - Cone 6 Dolomite Testing Glaze
L3778D - Cone 6 Translucent Grolleg Plastic
L3778D1 - Cone 6 Grolleg Pink/Blue Porcelains
L3778G - Cone 6 Translucent Grolleg Casting
L3798C - M340 Casting Body
L3798G - M340C Casting Body Revision 7
L3802E - Crystal Ice - Cone 10
L3806L - Panama c6 - Lower COE #8
L3840 - Diatomaceous Earth (Ant Killer)
L3868 - Craft Crank - From PotClays, UK
L3868A - Craft Crank - Base
L3868C - Craft Crank Clone 2
L3869 - Crank Industrial - From England
L3869A - Industrial Crank Base
L3894D - PV Calc Mix 4
L3906 - P300 Cone 6 Casting Body
L3911 - Bizen Clay
L3916 - Bizen Duplicate using Plainsman Materials
L3924C - Zero3 Porcelain - Experimental
L3924J - Zero4 Plastic Porcelain
L3924L - Zero4 Casting Porcelain
L3954B - Cone 6 White Engobe Recipe
L3954F - Cone 6 Black Engobe
L3954J - Black Cone 10 Whiteware Engobe Recipe
L3954N - Cone 10 Engobe for H550
L3954R - Super-White Engobe for Cone 6
L3954S2 - White Engobe for M340, M390, L215, L210
L3972 - 98 Mix
L3977 - BGP Low Stoneware Body
L4001 - Plainsman Super Kiln Wash
L4005D - M390 Casting Version 5
L4023F - Proposed H440 Casting Body #5
L4028 - G2571A Rutile Bamboo
L4053B - Cone 6 Black Clay Body - Type 1
L4068 - Barnard Chemical Substitute
L4115J3 - L211 Stnwre 3D:OM4:NS
L4115L2 - L211 3D:OM4:NS:Talc 42 mesh
L4115L2a - L211 3D:OM4:NS:Talc 80 mesh
L4158 - Cimtalc 15 Talc lab test
L4159 - Cimtuff 9115 Talc lab test
L4163 - Red Art Cone 1 Clay Body
L4168G5 - H440C (concentrate) #5
L4168G9 - New H440 Functional Proposal #8
L4170 - L215 Terra Cotta Casting #1
L4170B - Terra Cotta Casting #2
L4170F - Terra Cotta Casting #3
L4208C - MNS Cone 6 Fine Stoneware
L4208D - 3B +200# particles sieved out
L4217G - M370-like Cone 6 Faster Casting
L4227 - Plus Clay
L4228 - Fimo Clay
L4237 - Redart Tile Body
L4239 - H550 Casting Body #7
L4244 - BGP Clay:Flyash F 50:50 Mix
L4244A - Flyash F:Bentonite 10:90
L4245 - LaFarge Fly Ash F:Bentonite 95:5 Mix
L4245F - Fly Ash F:Bentonite:BallClay 80:10:10
L4246 - A2 +200# particles sieved out
L4247 - A3 +200# particles sieved out
L4248 - Old Hickory M23 Ball Clay
L4249 - 3D +200# particles sieved out
L4249A - 3D MNS 325 Mesh
L4249B - 3D 100 mesh
L4264 - Raku Crackle Glaze Base - Frit 3110
L4264A - Raku Glaze Base #1
L4264B - Raku Glaze Base #2
L4264C - Raku Glaze Base #3
L4264D - Raku Glaze Base #4
L4273 - G3806N1 + 2% Zircopax
L4280 - L215 : M390 Mix for Cone 1 Stoneware
L4287 - Midfield Clay Yukon
L4287A - Catchment Clay Yukon
L4292 - Monte Marte Air Hardening Clay
L4293 - DAS Air Drying Clay
L4294 - Sculpey PE08 Oven Bake Clay
L4398 - Ravenscrag Cone 6 Raspberry
L4404A - Refractory Casting Slip
L4404B - Plastic Refractory (heavy duty)
L4404C - Refractory Plastic (low expansion)
L4404D - Refractory Casting (low expansion)
L4410L - L213 NS:Dolo 30:20
L4410P - L213 40:10 Dolo/NS
L4421 - Seed pelleting clay and binder
L4441A - Minspar
L4441B - Minspar Calculated Substitute
L4453C - 3D:A2 Body Base H550 Blend
L4458 - Lithium Flameware Test
L4482B - Alumina Wadding #2
L4484D - 2018 3B+6% 6666 at 100#
L4498 - Low Expansion Super White Cone 6 Fritware
L4498A - Low Expansion Fritware Casting
L4530 - Carbondale M390 #1
L4530A - Carbondale M390 #2
L4532A - Pyrometric cone pressing body #2
L4532B - Cone pressing body #3
L4532D - Cone pressing body #5
L4532F - Cone 5 Cone-casting v.1
L4543 - Firebrick & kiln post/shelf clay - v1.0
L4543B - Firebrick & kiln post clay v2.0
L4543C - Refractory kiln post clay v4.0
L4557 - Volumetric Screw Feeder Design - ESP32 based
L4558 - M390 Casting (M370+C-Red)
L4558A - M390 Cone 6 C-Red Casting #1
L4558B - M390 Cone 6 C-Red Casting #2
L4567 - Cat Litter
L4575 - SIAL Refractory Slip
L4575A - SIAL refractory slip Duplicate
L4588 - Red NZK Cone 6 Porcelain
L4597 - Luke Lindoe Fired Samples
L4599 - Slip for Slipware
L4599A - Slip for Slipware - #5 Ball Clay
L4608 - Kyanite Bisque-Fix, Kiln-Patch
L4655 - Titanium Dioxide in GA6-C
L4655A - GA6-C Titanium + Iron
L4655B - GA6-C Lower Thermal Expansion
L4696 - Cordierite Flameware
L4697 - Flameware body from French mfgr
L4705A - GA6-C Using Frit 3195 and Titanium
L4768D - Cone 6 Black Casting Body - Type 2
L4768E - Cone 6 Black Casting Body - Type 3.1
L4768H - Cone 6 Black Casting Body - Type 3.3
L4807 - M370-like Super-Fast Casting Porcelain
MHSCUL - MASTER RedArt Sculpture Clay
MRG6B - G2850A Ravenscrag Cone 6 Light Blue
MRG6C - Ravenscrag Cone 6 White Glossy
MRG6E - G2850P Ravenscrag Cone 6 Raspberry
MRG6G - G2851H Ravenscrag Cone 6 Light Blue Matte
P4738A - 98 BGP RETEST
P4808 - 45D
P5867 - Sculpture Clay
P6385 - M2 ST
P6821 - L215 Production Run - Mar 2020
P7088 - H440
PC-32 - Amaco Glaze: PC-32 Albany Brown

Insight-Live Shares (also referencing this recipe)

These add technical detail, development info, variations and improvements.

L3954B - Cone 6 White Engobe Recipe

Modified: 2023-10-23 18:06:17

Drying and firing shrinkage fitted to Plainsman M390, M340

Material Amount Percent
Nepheline Syenite18.0020.7
Silica15.0017.2
OM #4 Ball Clay54.0062.1
Added
Zircopax10.0011.49
Bentonite3.003.45
100.00 100

Notes

This is white because of the 10% Zircopax. Increase that 20% for maximum white. The black version of this is L3954F.

This recipe has been tuned to have about the same fired shrinkage as Plainsman M390, Coffee Clay and M340 at cone 6 (we measure this at 6.7% dry-to-fired shrinkage using the SHAB test). We also confirmed fired-shrinkage-match using the EBCT test). If the body you use has between 6.5 and 7.0 fired shrinkage, this should work. Do not ignore this detail. If you apply this as an engobe (e.g. by dipping leather-hard functional pieces), and it is not firing-shrinkage-compatible with the body, it could eventually flake off during use.

The color is whiter than previous trials (because of the zircopax), but some might prefer a little blue stain to brighten the color. We used 0.2% Mason 6336 with good success, other stains we tried agglomerated and caused specking). For a super white see the L3954R recipe.

As will other engobes we recommend mixing in a kitchen blender, it is an ideal way to get the lumps out and thoroughly wet all particle surfaces.

A thixotropic dipping slurry is needed and we have found it is possible to create a deflocculated one using 1000 powder, 780g water, ~3g Darvan. This produces a specific gravity of ~1.55. If it is too viscous add more Darvan, too fluid add a tiny amount of Epsom salts to bring it back to a creamy texture.

A brushing version can also be made, see the notes for the L3954F black engobe.

Related Information

A white engobe on dark and buff burning cone 6 stonewares


This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

Left is Plainsman M340. Right is M390. Each mug has been white-engobed inside (by pouring), using L3954B, and halfway down the outside (by dipping). The insides have been glazed using G2926B clear. The inside surface has more depth and a richer appearance than could be achieved using a white glaze (especially over the dark burning body). The outside of the left one is Alberta Slip base GA6-B. The outside glaze on the right is the clear plus 4% iron oxide. This technique of using the engobe enables porcelain-like functional surfaces on the insides and the visual contrasts and character on the outsides of the stoneware mugs.

Four drops of Davan deflocculant fixed the problem!


This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

This is a white engobe (L3954B) drying on two dark burning cone 6 stoneware leather-hard mugs (Plainsman M390). Those lumps are on the left cannot be screened out, they are agglomerates. That slip has excessive flocculant (powdered Epsom salts are added to gel it so that it stays put on the piece after dipping). About 4 drops of Darvan were added to one gallon of the slurry, this immediately made it smooth and a perfect consistency for application. It remains stable on ware (without runs). Engobes require tight control to have the right viscosity and thixotropy (which can be achieved over a range of specific gravities (about 1.45-1.6). When they are right they are a joy to use, when they are not ware is ruined.

A cone 6 clear glaze plus iron vs. Alberta Slip amber base


This picture has its own page with more detail, click here to see it.

These two mugs are made from a dark red burning stoneware and fired in a cool-and-soak firing schedule. A white engobe (L3954A) has been applied on the inside and half way down the outside. Both are glazed inside with G2926B whiteware transparent glaze. The outside glaze on the left is the same transparent with 4% added iron oxide. It has been sieved to 80 mesh. Notice the iron agglomerates and still produces specking (an effect that may be desired, but difficult to keep consistent). Interestingly, that iron is producing a clear amber-colored glass about equal in color to the Alberta Slip GA6A base glaze (80% Alberta Slip, 20% Frit 3195) on the mug on the right. Neither has the micro bubbles that mar a typical clear glaze on bodies like this.

GA6A Alberta Slip base using Frit 3249 and 3195 on buff body


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The body is buff burning Plainsman M340 (cone 6). The amber colored glaze is 80% Alberta Slip (raw:calcine mix) with 20% of each frit. The white engobe on the inside of mug 1 is L3954A (also glazed inside using transparent G2926B). These frits are producing an amber gloss glaze of high quality. On the outside of mug 1 we see the 3195 version on the white slip until midway down, then on the bare buff clay (the other has the 3249 version). These mugs are fired using a drop-and-soak firing schedule. A couple of caveats: Frit 3249 has a very low thermal expansion, use it on bodies that craze other glazes (like Plainsman P300), it could shiver on stonewares like this. Both of these frits prevent the formation of bloating blues (with additions of rutile or titanium).

Worst case scenario for handle joins and successful drying


Leather hard mugs with waxed handles

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These M390 mugs had progressed to stiff leather hard (after handles were applied, using just slip, and bases trimmed). A white engobe was then applied to the inside. It significantly softened the bodies of the mugs (to re-dry them to the point of being able to turn them over takes 4-6 more hours). This process sets up a big moisture differential between mug and handle. "Even drying" is the key to success, so slowing down the handles is obviously needed. How? I apply wax emulsion (actually I like Reed Wax), leaving just the inside handle-curves bare. That slows down drying enough to keep them even with the body of the mug. This method works so well that these do not even need covering during drying (even in our desert climate). Even drying is the goal - fast and even drying is much better than slow and uneven.

Stage 1 of engobing a cone 6 red stoneware mug


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On the right is what it will look like when fired with a clear glaze on the inside and amber-clear on the outside. On the left it has dried and is ready for a little fix-up before bisque firing.

Cone 6 engobe becomes super white with 20% zircon added


Engobe with 20% zircon.

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Engobes were applied to the insides, and up over the rim, of these M340 pieces at the leather hard stage. They were then bisque fired, clear glazed and fired to cone 6. On the left is L3954B, no zircon was added. The one on the right is L3954S2, in has 20% Zircopax. These are part of a fitting effort to match the firing shrinkage of the body, M340, to a base engobe (and colored versions of it).

Dark Umber-Stained Engobes on M340 at cone 6


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This is the standard Plainsman L3954D white engobe recipe with the 10% Zircopax switched for Burnt Umber. The result is a dark, rich, ultra-gloss brown (almost black). The engobe is applied inside and half-way down the outside. The mug on the left is glazed inside and out with the base GA6A Alberta Slip cone 6 recipe (but uses Ferro Frit 3195 instead of 3134). The one on the right has the same glaze on the outside but the G2926B clear transparent on the inside (it is micro-bubbling). This engobe works even better with a black stain.

A cone 6 black-burning stoneware with a porcelain surface. How?


A black stoneware mug

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Black-burning bodies are popular with many potters. This one is stained by adding 10% raw umber to a buff-burning stoneware. Umbers are powerful natural clay colorants, they have high iron and also contain some manganese oxide. Could a white engobe produce a porcelain-like surface on such a clay body? Yes. L3954B engobe was applied during leather-hard stage to this Plainsman Coffee Clay mug (on the inside and partway down the outside). After bisque, transparent G2926B glaze was applied inside and GA6-B outside. Notice the GA6-B over the engobe fires amber but over the black it produces a deep glossy brown. The engobe was mixed into a thixotropic slurry, as explained on the page at PlainsmanClays.com (see link below), and applied in a relatively thin layer. This porcelain-like result is a testament to the covering power of a true engobe. It is no wonder they are so popular in the ceramic tile industry - a red-burning body can be turned white as a porcelain, which enables all the marvellous glazing and decorating they can do.

A black engobe transforms the floating blue glaze over it


Floating blue over black engobe

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This is M340 stoneware fired to cone 6 using the C6DHSC schedule. The L3954B engobe fires deep black (it has 10% Mason 6600 black stain). The engobe was applied by pouring and dipping at leather hard stage (inside and partway down the outside). After bisque firing, the piece was glazed inside using the base GA6-B Alberta Slip amber base. The outside glaze is Alberta Slip Rutile Blue GA6-C (you are seeing it on the bare buff body near the bottoms and over the black clay surface on the uppers).

Absolutely Jet-Black Cone 6 Engobe on M340

This could also be super white


A buff stoneware mug with black engobe

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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. A lot of development work went into producing a recipe that 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 importantly, adjusting its maturity, and thus reducing firing shrinkage, is documented. 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 pieces made from these clays as white hotelware.

Can an engobe block manganese speckle at cone 6?


Engobe blocking manganese speckle

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Yes. If it is a true engobe. This is L3954B fired at cone 6 on Plainsman M340S, it is fire-shrinkage-fitted to this clay body and opacified with Zircopax. The cover glaze is G2926B transparent. The opacity that this engobe is able to achieve here is because it is vitrifying to the same degree as the body, no melting is occurring and that is why it is completely opaque (even though it is applied as a very thin layer at the leather hard stage). This same performance could be expected in reduction firings to block the iron speckle (using the L3954N and variations recipes).

Thickly applied slips must fit the body and each other


Pottery slips are flaking off during drying

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Fit? It has to stick well. And stay stuck during drying (and shrinking). And the bond has to survive shrinkage that happens during firing. This potter is doing thick applications of each slip (actually that makes them engobes). She uses stains, that's wise, metal oxides bring baggage when used to color slips (e.g. their decomposition can affect the bond, they can gel the slurry, flux the fired product thereby increasing the firing shrinkage of the slip). Stains are better because they affect slurry and fired properties less. But there are still enough issues that each colored slip deserves testing. This potter first slaked B-mix as a slip (it is highly plastic), using it at a runny yogurt consistency. But it bubbled when fired hotter than a cool cone 6. A switch to porcelain slip (which is non-plastic) is shown here. It flaked off as it dried (even in a damp box for 24 hours), also after bisquing to cone 08, and sometimes even after firing to cone 6. This signalled a drying mismatch between body and slip, the bond that managed to survive drying was weakened enough to fail on firing.

The solution was an engobe recipe that is super plastic and sticky. The popular Fish Sauce recipe is an example, it contains 10% bentonite and is unbelievably sticky. L3954B was formulated with this in mind. It adheres well to leather-hard clay and doesn't flake off (misfit is instead evident by surface cracking if its shrinks more than the body). And it is not highly vitreous, keeping its fired shrinkage low enough to match stoneware bodies. Mixing your own recipe also enables compensating the amount of feldspar if the stain affects the slip's degree of vitrification, and therefore fired shrinkage (e.g. blues, oranges, yellows).

Links

URLs https://insight-live.com/insight/share.php?z=uiqNgtxwws
White Cone 6 Engobe, New Alberta Slip glazes, Firing Schedule

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XML to Paste Into Insight-live

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By Tony Hansen
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