Electric Mid&Hi Fired Ceramics
Potters & Sculptors - Making Rock from Mud
Need some engobe help please.
Hi everyone! I've been working with clay for a little over a year now and my husband and I have decided that commercial glazes are becoming way too expensive. I would like to start experimenting with some engobe decoration.
My question is this, for example, if I am using a porcelain clay body and decide to liquify that same clay body to add a Mason stain to it, wouldn't it be compatible since the slip/engobe is the same as the clay used to make the piece? I would then mix up a clear coat to apply over the design after bisquing and fire again to make it food safe? I am new to mixing my own glazes and would like to know if anyone knows of a food safe clear coat recipe that is not too glossy, but more of a subtle sheen?
Any advice and help is greatly appreciated. I've been reading many articles and books, but just trying to find the most economical way to proceed with my work. Thanks!
Dora
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by George Lewter on
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Making slips/engobes from your own clay is generally accepted as a good way to go. You are practically guaranteed a good fit to the body. There is a possibility that unusually large additions of colorants or additives could change the fit, but you are on the right track. What you want to do will give you the cheapest glaze possible. You could mix up a 45 gallon batch and glaze a small child! There is a 4 ingredient clear on this network that I recommend.
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Permalink Reply by Dora Anderson on
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Thanks George for your input! I was hoping I was on the right track. I ordered some stains yesterday and the gentleman at Columbus Clay recommended sodium silicate and frit 3134 to mix in with my slip at approximately 3-5% off each? Thanks for guiding me to the clear glaze recipes. I am creating a recipe book of those I might mix in the near future. This is exciting!
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Permalink Reply by Nadine Mercader on
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James Chappell's book The Potter's Complete Book of Clay and Glazes is a great resource for learning more about engobes and slips...
ISBN: 0-8230-4203-0
Nadine
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dora, have you continued in this search for making your own slips. I would be interested in knowing how thinks have turned out for you. I am interested in producing a black slip using mason stain and my cone 6 clay body. -carl
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Hi Carl. I have a cone 10 recipe for a "Metallic Black Slip" If you add the colorants to your clay maybe it would give you a black slip this was from a 100 gram batch. Mang Dioxide 5, iron 4, Cobalt Carb 2, Chrome 2, Copper carb 2, the rest of the slip is Goldart 70, Barnard Clay 15. This was for cone 10. Maybe it is something you could start from. Happy firing and have a great Christmas.
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