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Comment by Norm Stuart on April 24, 2014 at 6:44pm

This is Western Pottery leaded ^05 Aztec Gold over a previously fired ^6 Ababi White. 

As you can see, while Aztec Gold is perfectly metallic gold over a previously fired black glaze . . . .

Aztec Gold over white becomes more of a shiny brown in bright sunlight as more light is reflected from under the Aztec Gold glaze.

Comment by Diane De Baun on April 20, 2014 at 12:32pm

Thanks for the info.  With a resale license at the very least you dont pay taxes.  I have bought from Clay King before and didnt know they offered a discount.  Also Calif. tax is 8.75.   I  am in Calif.  so the shipping isnt too bad from Aardvark so  those in Calif. may check it out.  Aardvark is also now in Nevada I believe.

What is your non profit organization, 

I tried the shimmer glazes at 05 (should be 06 so I will have to try that)  Not too impressed.  Many glazes I overfire to 04 and 03 (cone 05 and 06 glazes) because I use gold on the rims alot,  this works well often, sometimes the glazes are better but sometimes that one cone higher makes all the difference.  

Comment by Norm Stuart on April 17, 2014 at 12:53am

Clay-King in South Carolina provides a 25% discount on Aardvark's price just for buying there.  Plus with Aardvark we'd have to pay 10% CA Sales Tax which equates to a 32% discount on 4 oz or pints.  Regardless the resale license wouldn't work out for a 501c3 non-profit as it's mostly end-use.  Clay King - they're usually the low-price vendor, although 2,400 miles away from our studio.

Without seeing the Duncan Shimmer glazes in person I'd say they use Rabco Specs, like Mayco Jungle Gems or Amaco Crystaltex, mixed with glazes many of which are colored with Mason Stains rather than metal oxides.

http://www.rabcospecks.com/cart_product.cfm/cat/10881

Comment by Diane De Baun on April 16, 2014 at 10:53pm

Thanks,  I am going to buy some of their gold and maybe try one of the others.   I was going to buy a bunch but  after this conversation I will just try one and see.  The test tiles were exciting glazes, disappointing.

Have you seen the new shimmer glazes from Duncan.  Just order a few and will see how they come out.

http://www.aardvarkclay.com/products.php?cat=466

I buy from Aardvark Clay alot.  If you have a resale number you get 30 % off on pints and 40% on 4 oz. glazes.

Comment by Norm Stuart on April 16, 2014 at 2:28pm

My best test tile with Western Pottery Art Glazes was fired at Cone 06, with the glazes applied over a glossy Mayco Gem glaze.  You can see small sections of these glazes where application went directly on the bisque and it's kind of dull.  Maybe I need to apply far more - but I lost interest. 

Their Turquoise is a nice glossy translucent glaze, Jon's Bronze is ok, but Aztec Gold is a real winner - especially when applied over a previously fired layer of Cone 6 Glaze and fired to Cone 04 to Cone 05.  Basically the less porous the surface you apply Aztec Gold on, the more glossy and flawless gold the surface fires.

I'm no longer sure which is which, but these include:

Irish Isle;

Moss Meadow;

Silver Blue;

Moss Green; and

Sea Cucumber.

all applied over one layer of some Mayco Jungle Gems glaze.  Like their Aztec gold, the less porous the bisque, the better their glazes fire.  On this tile the glossy under-layer glaze seals the bisque so the Western Pottery glazes float on top.

Comment by Diane De Baun on April 16, 2014 at 12:17pm

No it doesnt look like the test tile!  too bad.  Well has anyone had any success, otherwise maybe I will just skip buying them.  The gold did look like it worked though

If I understand you added 4 heavier coats and fired to 05 to a piece that had been previously fired to cone 6 with one coat.  Have you any example of just firing to cone 05 only? Sorry if this is a dumb question and I am new to this discussion.

Comment by Norm Stuart on April 15, 2014 at 9:50pm

Incidentally the abstract cactus is Sea Cucumber is applied to Max's Paper Clay. 

I would have expected the excess brown in the glaze if I had applied it to a brown clay, as iron rich clays don't absorb excess iron in the glaze like white clays do.  But Max's Paper Clay is white with no measurable amount of iron.  I've also tried these glazes on New Zealand Frost Porcelain without success in duplicating the test tiles.

If you can figure out how to fire these glazes I'd love to know your secret.

Comment by Diane De Baun 4 hours ago

I was posting the difference in how glazes come out in different kilns partially because someone commented on how they couldnt get the beautiful Western Sea Cucumber glaze to turn out. I am going to buy some and try it in both my kilns.

Comment by Norm Stuart on April 15, 2014 at 9:44pm

Good luck to you with Western Pottery's "Sea Cucumber" glaze.

I've had very little success in firing Western Pottery Art Glazes to look like their sample tiles, especially "Sea Cucumber".  This is surprising since they're Low Fire glazes which are typically far less affected by cooling speed.  Most Low Fire glazes simply require a simple melt and cool as fast as you dare.

http://shop.clay-planet.com/western-art-glazes.aspx

My results with these glazes have been obviously too fluid, firing to their recommended witness cone 05.  I suspect they're lithium fluxed glazes with more than the usual amount of alumina.  At temperature these glazes flow considerably but when cool are typically very matte with a surface which feels like fine emery sandpaper.

I suspect duplicating their sample tiles requires a very thick four coats of glaze with a cooler than suggested firing temperature.  They are undeniably unique.

The body of the cactus sculpture below is "Sea Cucumber" fired to Cone 05.  I applied four layers after previously firing a single thin layer of "Sea Cucumber" to Cone 6, the same time the Cone 6 Praseodymium Yellow was fired.  Not very much like the tile in the photo below.

Comment by Diane De Baun on April 15, 2014 at 4:43pm

I was posting the difference in how glazes come out in different kilns partially because someone commented on how they couldnt get the beautiful Western Sea Cucumber glaze to turn out. I am going to buy some and try it in both my kilns.

Comment by Diane De Baun on April 15, 2014 at 4:40pm

You calling me a nut Jeff!!   :-)    Well I guess I am also,  hoarding leaded/toxic glazes.  Though I dont think these kind are much of a problem.  Wasnt too careful in the past,  had my lead checked recently after years of using these glazes and all clean.

 Norm:  the smaller newer kiln fires faster and cools faster and is actually better with many of the glazes.

So it doesnt seem to cool too fast.  I am just surprised at the difference on how glazes fire in each kiln.

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