My Recipes:
Below are a collection of recipes that I use regularly. I fire to cone 6 in oxidation. I have altered some of the original bases using Hyperglaze, a computer program which I recommend. Although I have been using some of these glazes for a couple years, you should always test them before using them for yourself.
Wonder Cone 6
40 Neph Sy
15 Gerstley Borate
3 Frit 3124
3 Frit 3134
10 Flint
10 Whiting
10 EPK
6 Titanium Diox
4 Dolomite
Variations:
Blue: .5 % RIO; 2 % Colbalt Carbonate
Yellow: 4 % Green Nickel Oxide
Pale Brown: .25 % Manganese Diox; .25 % RIO
Dark Green: 5 % Copper Carb
Pale Green: .25% Copper Carb
This is originally a glaze from Val Cushing’s book called “Wonder Glaze”. A very interesting and complex cone 6 base. I did extensive color testing with this base, and further tweeked the formula to make it better suit my needs. It MUST be slow-cooled, so if you are firing in an electric kiln, that means you have to program in a cooling cycle at about 150 degrees/hour until 1600 degrees. It runs if it is applied too thick, but it creates wonderful, varied crystals at its best.
Reitz Blue Cone 6
30.99 Frit 3124
28.94 Neph Sy
12.91 Whiting
16.57 Grolleg
10.59 Flint
Add: 2% RIO; 2% Colbalt Carb
This glaze is originally a cone 10 glaze, which I modified in the computer program for glazes, “Hyperglaze”, to lower the temperature to cone 6. Amazingly, it worked! And this version looks nearly identical to the cone 10 version. A very reliable, not-very-runny glaze which is a jeans-color blue. I have done a small amount of color testing with the cone 6 base, but have not come up with anything I truly love. I’m still looking.
No-craze Clear Cone 6
48.45 Gerstley Borate
20.62 EPK
27.84 Flint
3.09 Alumina
This is a very glossy transparent clear glaze with a very low thermal expansion. It has a high level of boron in it, so it will sometimes pool and turn that opalescent color typical in boron glazes. I use it to brush on the inside of my cups and bowls when I want them to be really functional, since my “wonder” glaze crazes and will cause staining over time.
Rhodes Slip: cone 04-10
25 EPK
25 Ball Clay
15 Neph Sy
5 Talc
20 Flint
5 Zircopax
5 Borax
This slip is originally from the Danielle Rhodes clay and glaze book. It is for wet application only and takes a variety of color additives which are worth playing around with. It has a nice brushability.
V.C. slip: cone 6-10
10 Velvacast
10 Calcined Clay
10 OM4
15 Neph Sy
10 Frit 3124
25 Flint
5 Borax
15 Zircopax
Variations:
1-5% cobalt carbonate will give a good range of light-dark cobalt blue color.
1-5% RIO will give a good range of browns.
3-8% copper carbonate is a good range for green.
I tend to reduce the borax to 2%, or eliminate it altogether if I want to avoid the slips from fluxing out a matt glaze I might be using.
This slip is originally from the Danielle Rhodes clay and glaze book. It is for wet application only and takes a variety of color additives which are worth playing around with. It has a nice brushability.
Orange Throwing Clay Body: cone 6
20 Redart
15 Hawthorn
20 Ball Clay
20 Neph Sy
15 Flint
This is a lovely warm brown in oxidation. I have not done testing on this clay body in reduction, but it’s bound to get even better. Hard, dense and a warm orange color. It throws reasonably well.
Endicott Supreme: cone 6
50 Endicott
10 OM4
10 Hawthorn
10 Ranger Red
10 Redart
10 Neph Sy
This is a clay body I developed while in grad school. Endicott is the common brick clay local to Nebraska. It is remarkably plastic and fine-particled. At cone 6 it is a rich dark brown, almost chocolate with a slight purple tinge. It reminds me of Xiing teapot colors. It throws well and handbuilds well. I have liked adding grog to this clay body, too, depending on what I plan to make.
Firing Schedule:
When firing in an electric kiln which is operated by a computer, one has the advantage of being able to easily control the rate at which the kiln cools. Many of my glazes are dependent upon a slow-cool to develop their opacity and crystals. This is especially true of my version of “Wonder Glaze”. It will look very shiny if the kiln is allowed to cool all on its own, but matt/crystalline when using this program.
- segments
- rate (degrees F/hr)
- temperature (F)
- hold
- 1
- 175
- 190
- 0
- 2
- 200
- 1050
- 0
- 3
- 100
- 1150
- 0
- 4
- 175
- 2160
- 0
- 5
- 50
- 2215
- 10
- 6
- 125
- 1600
- 30
Pete Pinnell has a great article about adjusting and applying glazes: Read Article.