Steven Branfman on thu 7 sep 00
Joyce and all,
Joyce asked some great questions that many beginners to raku have in her post
from 9/4. So for her and anyone else interested here are some (but not all
the) answers!
Q: Has anyone out there tried using gold raku glazes made with silver
nitrate? If so, what is your opinion on using these glazes?.... Also, in
looking through my Highwater and Axner's catalogs, I don't see silver nitrate
listed. Does anyone know where it can be purchased? Does anyone have a
recipe for a gold raku glaze that they have used and liked?
A: Gold raku glazes are popular and easy to achieve. Here's a recipe:
Gerstley Borate 80
Corn Stone 20
Tin Oxide 1
Silver Nitrate 2
Mix the glaze and screen it minus the silver nitrate. Dilute the silver
nitrate crystals in hot water and add it to the completed glaze. Fire to a
smooth gloss, remove the piece and quickly into your container for post
firing reduction. Smoke well.
Just because it's not in the catalog doesn't mean they don't have it. Silver
nitrate is available from many suppliers including Standard Ceramics in
Pittsburg, Clay Art Center in Tacoma WA, Great Lakes Clay in Carpentersville
IL.
Q:I would like to do some brushwork over my raku glazes, but everything I've
tried has changed color or run on the glazes. I wondered if anyone could
tell me what to mix with a black Mason stain so that I can use it to paint
with.
A: The reason that your brushwork runs is because most raku glazes are very
fluid and runny. Anything you apply over the glaze will also run. They change
color because the wash and the glaze are mixing. Try decorating under the
glaze instead. You can mix Mason stains with slips or make a wash with water.
Q:Has any one used lusters on raku? I have not heard of them being used in
this way, and I'm not familiar enough with lusters to really understand how
they work, and whether they would work at all with the raku process.
A: Yes, commercial lusters can be used in raku providing they are fired at
the very low temperatures specified with the particular luster. You need to
experiment with various methods of reduction including a reduction phase
during the firing and post firing reduction.
I hope this helps.
Steven Branfman
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