Cindy Bracker on tue 3 apr 07
I get the Clayart Digest from Yahoo, and I've seen a lot of e-mails
concerning this subject, but I'm not sure what order they've been
posted in. I've seen some correct information and some not-quite-
right information, so I thought perhaps I could clear up the mysteries.
AMACO makes a line of glazes that they call "lustre and
metallic" (The L-series glazes) This line consists of 5 glazes
designed to give the appearance of an actual luster application
without the third firing. All of them are available in 4oz jars,
only the L-518 Gold is available in a pint. They have come that way
as long as I can remember. 3 of them are AP Non-toxic (Lustre Brown,
Midnight Blue & Sparkling Burgundy) and two bear a cautionary label
(Lustre Green & Lustre Gold) Only the Lustre Gold is considered to
be food safe. Lustre Gold DOES contain lead, but it is likely in a
fritted state or in small enough quantities that it passed the
standards of lead release to be considered dinnerware safe. REMEMBER
that any time a glaze company that lists something as dinnerware
safe, it means that it was dinnerware safe under the conditions that
they fired it. If you are producing dinnerware, you should always
have your glazes tested again due to firing variations and so forth.
Lustre Gold does need to be applied thickly, fired fast and in a well-
vented kiln for best results, otherwise it has a tendency to fire out
black or gun-metal looking. Spectrum also has a similar glaze both
at low-fire (145 Bronze) and at cone 5/6 (1190 Gold). Duncan has a
couple as well, though I can't remember the numbers right now.
Hanovia Lustres and Metallics are the traditional products that AMACO
is trying to mimic. These are applied after the glaze firing and
then fired again to around 018. You can buy gold, platinum, copper
etc in the metallic line (The N-Gold is actually pure gold in liquid
form with some suspension agents) They are quite expensive (around
$15-$20 for about 2 gm) but they are "the real thing" The Lustre
part of the line also fires to 018 and consists of products like
Mother of Pearl, Opal, Green, Iridescent Light Blue, etc. Those are
less expensive ($4.00-$8.00 for 1/4oz). There's also the line of
Halo metallics and lustres which leave a little Halo of the color and
are really neat (IMHO)
I hope this clears up some confusion!
Cindy
Cindy Bracker Sturm
Bracker's Good Earth Clays, Inc.
888-822-1982
http://www.brackers.com
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