Clear Glaze for Mason Stains

[Chantay Poulsen]

Hi All, I am looking for a clear glaze to use with Mason Stains.  There are a number of glazes on Insight but I would like to start with something that at least someone has tried already. 

Thanks for any responses.

[Norm Stuart]

We simply mix 1/3 Mason Stain with 2/3 Gerstley Borate to create a tint / under-glaze which melts enough to adhere completely at low or high fire.

This is not compatible with Mason stains which are Chrome-Tin, colors like 6000 Shell Pink, 6304 Violet, .6376 Robin's Egg Blue.

Following are two ^6 clear glazes compatible with Chrome Tin Mason Stains, and probably all Mason Stains.

But our studio found it easier to not purchase Chrome Tin stains.

33.33%	Color Bottle - Shell Pink 6000
9.30%	Ferro Frit 3134
8.45%	Silica
6.28%	Whiting / Calcium Carbonate
5.92%	Kaolin / EPK
3.38%	China Clay
3.33%	Mason Stain 6000 Shell Pink
66.7%	Water
	Mix and Sieve, then pour into bottle
100.00%	Color Bottle - Shell Pink 6000
32.00%	Ferro Frit 3134
23.00%	Feldspar Custer Potash
22.00%	Silica
16.00%	Kaolin / EPK
7.00%	Wollastonite
7.00%	Mason Stain 6000 Shell Pink
66.7%	Water

[Chantay Poulsen]

Thanks Norm,

I am not planning to use any Chrome Tin stains at the moment.  No need to complicate things further.  So, is this clear good to use for a liner glaze?  I don't see any problem ingredients. 

I was thinking of you the other day as I despaired about my studio situation.  Just thinking about your outdoor situation make my issues seem small.  Hope you have a Merry Christmas or Happy Hannakka.

[Norm Stuart]

It seems like a fine clear glaze. 

I'm a fair weather ceramics worker, which is often being that this is Los Angeles. There are some at our studio who are dedicated regardless of the weather so long as it's not actively raining.  I stopped by today for a few minutes to say hello to everyone, including my husband - but of course I could have hello to him later.

Besides I'm spending more time swimming after having a lateral meniscus repaired with an amazing new tool which required only two tiny 1/4" long incisions. (see the bottom photo)

This is the Glossy Base 2 recipe from Mastering Cone 6 Glazes, but it doesn't support Chrome-Tin Mason Stains very well.  But you can see the ingredients and proportions are fairly similar.  I'd guess the magnesium in the Talc may be what disrupts chrome tin stains..

100.00%	Glossy Base Glaze 2
26.0%	Ferro Frit 3134
26.0%	Silica
22.0%	Feldspar G-200 Potash
17.0%	Kaolin - EPK
5.0%	Talc
4.0%	Whiting - Calcium Carbonate Novostich Suture Passer for meniscal repairs.

[David Changar]

Hi Chantal,

 I started working with Mason Stains about 15 years ago to get reds, yellows and orange (all of these are zirconium encapsulated stains), although I have with a number of other stains as well. The most consistent gloss glaze I have used is Chappell's Floating Blue.

Neph Sy 47.3

Gillespie Borate (this works better than Gerstley ever did)    27

EPK    5.4

Silica 20.3

Mason stain of your choice 8.0

titanium dioxide 4.0

If you substitute or add percentages of tin, zinc or zircopax it will change the hue of the color. Otherwise you can use this recipe and get a color close to the Mason color swatches. 

If you have any problems feel free to contact me!

Warm Regards,

David

[Chantay Poulsen]

Thanks so much David. 

I like the only five ingrediants.  I used this glaze long ago at a class but don't remember it.

I will give it a go as soon as I get the Gillispie Borate.  I have been meaning to get some anyways and start switching all of my recipes with Gerstley.

[David Changar]

Your Welcome!

Once you understand how to use Mason Stains, you should be able to use any base glaze and get decent results. 

[Pamela Kohler-Camp]

Hi from the NorthEast Georgia Mountains! I just started using Phoenix from Highwater. To me, the surface begs to be painted with underglazes. Any sure-fire (get it?) glazes to cover the piece well and not be opaque over the designs? Would love to hear from several about their glaze recipies and techniques, Thanks in advance.

[Ian]

Testing is part of the fun,

get a dozen mason stains they are cheap, 2-3$ for 1/4 lb

& keep a log on % 

[Norm Stuart]

The percentage of Mason Stain varies by color to achieve the same intensity. As much as 15% for red, orange, yellow, and black. But blues, greens and browns achieve the same look at 1/4 or 1/2 that amount.

If I use 40 grams of Mason Stain I also add 10 grams of Zircopax (white zirconium silicate).

Based on experience with paint you expect adding white Zircopax to Red Mason stain would create pink, and it does look like that before it's fired.  But after firing the glaze, the 25% white zircopax merely makes the red color more intensely bright red - the same with other Mason Stain colors as well.  Some believe you achieve more color enhancement by using Tin Dioxide rather than zircopax, but Tin triple the price.

Initially I didn't add the white zicrcopax to Best Black Mason stain, but when someone mixed refills they didn't understand that, so I discovered that even the Best Black Mason stain is blacker when the zircopax is mixed in. So it's a constant learning process.

As mentioned earlier Mason stains which are Tin-Chrome pinks and purples, such as "Robins Egg Blue", "Shell Pink", "Alpine Rose", "Crimson", "Deep Crimson" and "Violet" "Pansy Purple" "Blackberry Wine" will turn grey or brown if the glaze they are mixed with does not support Tin-Chrome chemistry.

For these Chrome-Tin Mason stains I use this base from "Mastering Cone 6 Glazes" for making the Chrome-Tin Raspberry glaze. The percentage of calcium has to be within a narrow range.  For all of the other colors we use any glaze available, ferro frit, or gerstley borate.

Another Chrome-Tin friendly glaze base

9.30%	Ferro Frit 3134
8.45%	Silica
6.28%	Whiting / Calcium Carbonate
5.92%	Kaolin / EPK
3.38%	China Clay
3.33%	Mason Stain 6000 Shell Pink or other Chrome-Tin Color