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coloring slips

updated wed 15 mar 00

 

TRAVIS KRAUSE on sun 12 mar 00

I want to color stoneware and porcelain slip and clay with mason stains.
I've read to start off with between .5 and 1% but I'm not sure if that
is for dry or wet clay/slip. Can anyone give me some pointers?

Wade Blocker on mon 13 mar 00



----------
> From: TRAVIS KRAUSE
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: coloring slips
> Date: Sunday, March 12, 2000 6:39 PM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I want to color stoneware and porcelain slip and clay with mason stains.
> I've read to start off with between .5 and 1% but I'm not sure if that
> is for dry or wet clay/slip. Can anyone give me some pointers?


Travis,
For slip or glaze start with 5% Mason stain. If it is too dark you can
lower the percentage and if too light increase it. The percentage of stain
that you will use depends on the stain and also your judgement-namely what
color intensity you prefer. Using less than 3% of a pastel colored stain
results in a washed out look. The darker the stain the less you will need
to use. Mia in ABQ

Paul Lewing on mon 13 mar 00

TRAVIS KRAUSE wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I want to color stoneware and porcelain slip and clay with mason stains.
> I've read to start off with between .5 and 1% but I'm not sure if that
> is for dry or wet clay/slip. Can anyone give me some pointers?

Asking what's the right amount of colorant to put in slips or glazes is
like asking what's the right amount of cream to put in your coffee. The
answer is, it depends on what you want it to be like.
But, to answer your question more specifically, if you're talking about
percentages, it usually means you're working with dry weights for both
slip and stain.
And, in a glaze, 0.5% to 1% of stain will usually give a noticeable but
pale color. With most stains, 3% to 6% will give an intense color, and
over about 8% is wasted. However, to get the same intensity of color in
a clay body or slip takes much more colorant than glazes.
Paul Lewing, Seattle

Craig Reid on tue 14 mar 00

Usually most percentages are based on dry mix. But you can use wet or dry,
you just have stay consistant with your method of mixing.

TRAVIS KRAUSE wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I want to color stoneware and porcelain slip and clay with mason stains.
> I've read to start off with between .5 and 1% but I'm not sure if that
> is for dry or wet clay/slip. Can anyone give me some pointers?

Jeff Campana on tue 14 mar 00

Here at whitewater, we tested all of our mason stains in engobes at many
concentrations,, and found that we were unhappy with all but the black. We
then did a series of about 60 or so combinations and different concentrations
of combos of oxides, and the difference is striking. Whereas the more
expensive mason stains looked watery and manufactured, the oxides were rich
and deep stunning colors with glaze interaction. Also, with a little copper,
they actually turned our celedon into a decent copper red with some nice blue
chun effects OVER the red! Great Stuff! Anyway, message being, i would shy
away from the mason stains unless you need a really hard to get color, or
want to use toxic stuff and need it fritted. I really am not impressed by
the mason stains, and besides, being comfortable with oxides is a valuable
skill, as it applies to glaze and clay bodies, and is cheaper.

Wade Blocker wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> ----------
> > From: TRAVIS KRAUSE
> > To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> > Subject: coloring slips
> > Date: Sunday, March 12, 2000 6:39 PM
> >
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > I want to color stoneware and porcelain slip and clay with mason stains.
> > I've read to start off with between .5 and 1% but I'm not sure if that
> > is for dry or wet clay/slip. Can anyone give me some pointers?
>
> Travis,
> For slip or glaze start with 5% Mason stain. If it is too dark you can
> lower the percentage and if too light increase it. The percentage of stain
> that you will use depends on the stain and also your judgement-namely what
> color intensity you prefer. Using less than 3% of a pastel colored stain
> results in a washed out look. The darker the stain the less you will need
> to use. Mia in ABQ

David Hewitt on tue 14 mar 00


Paul is quite right when he says it all depends on what you want it to
be like.
One can't send images to Clayart, but if you are interested in seeing
the % oxides and stains that I use in my slips and coloured clays you
can see these on my web site. See 'How I make Agateware' for coloured
clays and 'Making Slips' for slips and examples.
http://www.dhpot.demon.co.uk
David
In message , Paul Lewing writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>TRAVIS KRAUSE wrote:
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> I want to color stoneware and porcelain slip and clay with mason stains.
>> I've read to start off with between .5 and 1% but I'm not sure if that
>> is for dry or wet clay/slip. Can anyone give me some pointers?
>
>Asking what's the right amount of colorant to put in slips or glazes is
>like asking what's the right amount of cream to put in your coffee. The
>answer is, it depends on what you want it to be like.
>But, to answer your question more specifically, if you're talking about
>percentages, it usually means you're working with dry weights for both
>slip and stain.
>And, in a glaze, 0.5% to 1% of stain will usually give a noticeable but
>pale color. With most stains, 3% to 6% will give an intense color, and
>over about 8% is wasted. However, to get the same intensity of color in
>a clay body or slip takes much more colorant than glazes.
>Paul Lewing, Seattle
>

--
David Hewitt
David Hewitt Pottery ,
7 Fairfield Road, Caerleon, Newport,
South Wales, NP18 3DQ, UK. Tel:- +44 (0) 1633 420647
FAX:- +44 (0) 870 1617274
Web site http://www.dhpot.demon.co.uk