June 5, 2009, Newsletter Issue #347: Recipe: cone 06-04 Ceramic Slip

Tip of the Week

Recipes
The recipes given here are not ´cast in stone´. Use them as starting points. Try to understand the reason for each material´s presence so you can adjust the body as needed.
A Typical cone 06-04 Ceramic Slip
Talc 50.0
BallClay 50.0
Water 45.0% of dry amt
Soda Ash 0.05-0.1% of dry amt
Sodium Silicate 0.2-0.4% of dry amt
Variations of this basic recipe include the use of more talc and less ball clay, the addition of whiting to prevent crazing, the addition of a small amount of barium carbonate to precipitate soluble salts, or the addition of kaolin to improve permeability of water. In general, this recipe is very forgiving and easy to use. But beware, it won´t fire white unless you use a white burning talc and ball clay (sometimes not easy to find). Part of the success of the hobby casting market is the tremendously robust nature of this simple recipe and the fact that almost anyone can cast it successfully. However, at the typical cone 06-04 this material fires to produce ware that is very weak and porous; often easily torn apart with your bare hands. Burn to cone 03-02 if possible, but don´t go too high as it melts suddenly around cone 6 and becomes brittle long before melting temperature.

About LifeTips

Now one of the top on-line publishers in the world, LifeTips offers tips to millions of monthly visitors. Our mission mission is to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Expert writers earn dough for what they know. And exclusive sponsors in each niche topic help us make-it-all happen.