March 30, 2001, Newsletter Issue #31: Earthenware Glaze Recipes

Tip of the Week

Glazes
Liquid: You can purchase commercial glazes and underglazes in liquid form, which are usually formulated for brushing. All you need to apply the glaze is a brush. Some glazes are difficult to brush on smoothly, you will see brush marks. Others will melt enough to erase the brush marks.

Dry: You can purchase commercial glazes in dry form, which are usually formulated for dipping, pouring, or spraying. In addition to a brush, you will need a bucket, some water, something to stir with, and a mask to avoid breathing the dust. The advantage of dipping is that you get a more even coating of glaze, and you can do interesting things you can’t do with a brush, such as double dip to get different colours on the same piece. Spraying is usually done by more advanced people since it requires good ventilation, a gun, a compressor, a booth, etc.

Make your own: This is the most advanced form of glazing. Using recipes, you buy raw materials and mix them. In addition to the other things, you will need recipes, which may be obtained from many books and web site. You also need the chemical, which make up your glaze, a scale, a sieve, and a temprement which allows experimentation. Sometimes your glazes won’t turn out quite right. You will have to learn how to modify those glazes to solve whatever problem you’re having. Other times they will be stunning.

Earthenware Glazes
Maiolica Glaze
Cone 07-06
Oxidation
Ferro Frit 4364 (Lead Bisilicate!)
Ferro Frit 3271 (Borax Frit)
Kaolin
Tin Oxide 31.5
68.5
10
10
Bleu de Sorel (Sorel blue)
Cone 04
E.P.kaolin
Frit #3134
Bentonite
Zircopax
Cobalt carbonate 20%
78%
2%
18%
4%
View an example of this glaze!
Thank you to Edouard Bastarache
for supplying glaze recipe and image.
Bleu de Ginette (Ginette´s blue)
Cone 04
Hardwood ash(washed)
Custer spar
Frit #3134
E.P.kaolin
Lithium carbonate
Bentonite
Ultrox
Cobalt oxide 35%
14%
25%
14%
12%
2%
15%
5%
View an example of this glaze!
Thank you to Edouard Bastarache
for supplying glaze recipe and image.
Edouard´s Vert jade cendré (Jade green ash glaze)
Cone 04
Hardwood ash(washed)
Custer spar
Frit #3134
E.P.kaolin
Lithium carbonate
Bentonite
Ultrox
Black copper oxide 36%
14.5%
23%
14.5%
12%
2%
15.5%
3.5%
View an example of this glaze!
Thank you to Edouard Bastarache
for supplying glaze recipe and image.
Maiolica Glaze
Cone 04
Oxidation
Ferro Frit 4364 (Lead Bisilicate!)
Kaolin
Whiting
Silica
Tin Oxide 74
10
2
4
10
Clear Gloss
Cone 08 - 04
Oxidation
Ferro Frit 4110
Whiting
Kaolin 85.0
5.0
10.0
Clear Gloss
Cone 04
Oxidation
Ferro Frit 3124
Ball Clay 85.0
15.0
Comments: Goes well to 1120 C. Apply thinly or may go milky.

Clear Gloss
Cone 04
Oxidation
Frit 4064 (Lead Bisilicate!)
Kaolin
Silica
Whiting 78.0
13.5
4.5
4.0
Not suitable for tableware!

Matt Clear E/W
Cone 04
Oxidation
Potash Feldspar
Silica
Colemanite
Whiting
Barium Carbonate (Toxic!)
Zinc Oxide 46.8
10.0
11.0
13.0
13.0
4.0
Not suitable for tableware!

Semi Opaque Tan/Cream E/W
Cone 04 - 03
Oxidation
Calcium Borate Frit
Lead Bisilicate (Toxic!)
Rutile
Bentonite
Silica
Potash Feldspar 8.0
60.0
8.0
4.0
4.0
16.0
Not suitable for tableware!

Aqua Blue Dry Glaze
Cone 2 - 4
Oxidation
Nephelene Syenite
Barium Carbonate (Toxic!)
Ball Clay
Zinc Oxide
Black Copper Oxide 40.0
30.0
15.0
5.0
4.0
Comment: Fast cooling helps preserve color.

Transparent Flowing Glaze
Cone 04
Oxidation
Lead Bisilicate (Toxic!)
Kaolin
Nephelene Syenite 76.5
8.0
15.5
Comment: variations can be achieved by adding small amounts of oxides and carbonates (2-5%).
Not suitable for tableware!

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