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Mon-Fri: 8am-4.00pm
Closed: Noon-12:30pm

We will be closed Friday March 29 and Monday April 1 for the Easter Holiday

Closed all provincial and federal holidays

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Clays

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Materials

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Glazes

  Spectrum Opaque Gloss Low Fire Glazes
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  Potter's Choice Cone 5/6 Glazes
  Celadon Cone 5/6 Glazes
  Amaco Satin Matte Glazes
  Liquid Brights

Underglazes

  Amaco Velvet Underglazes

Enamelling

Equipment

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Tools

  Brushes
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  Wood/Bamboo Tools
  Rollers/Stamps
  Decorating Tools
  Glazing Tools
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  Tool Kits
  Unclassified

Accessories

  Miscellaneous Accesories
  Corks/Stoppers
  Cork Pads
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  Teapot Handles
  Bisque Tiles

Plainsman Liner and Base Glazes

Available premixed as powders.

Food Safety

These are base glazes, they do not contain hazardous ingredients. We find them resistant (as bases) to leaching tests in our circumstances. However when you fire them and you add stains, opacifiers, variegators then you are creating something different. Please do your own leaching test.

Before using any of these on a kiln load of ware: Read this documentation. Test first on the clay you intend to use it on.


When mixing, screen them to assure a good surface.

About These Glazes

  • Make quality functional surfaces that are resistant to crazing, cutlery marking and leaching.
  • Only a water addition is required, they are easy-to-use, they do not settle in the bucket, they dry quickly, harden to a durable dry layer and cover well.
  • Each glaze is well documented, we sell them as powders and you can even get the recipe.
  • You can use these are base glazes: add stains and opacifiers (as shown). Add a little Ferro Frit 3124 (or 3249 for lower thermal expansion) if a stain reduces melting.
  • At medium and high temperatures, transparent glazes are often not attractive on brown or red burning bodies (for M390, for example, we recommend the GA6-A Alberta Slip base, visit the cone 6 glazes page at albertaslip.com for more information).
  • Click here for QR Code labels for packaging.

Variegating Colored Surfaces

It is usually possible to variegate a colored glaze by adding some rutile or titanium (2-5%). Since the former contains iron, it can muddy lighter colors.


Click image for larger view

Cone 6 Tranlucent Matte Base

G2934

A dolomite matte for cone 6. Like a cone 10R dolomite matte, the surface of this is very silky and it resists cutlery marking well (in our firing at cone 6). This is not a white matte, it is translucent, it has no opacifier. If you want white, add Zircopax (start with 5%). Keep the zircon at a minimum (it contributes to cutlery marking).

However, almost certainly, the degree of matteness will not be quite right for you. If this is too matte (most likely), blend in some of either of the clear glossies below (click the link below to see a picture of an example). This is an excellent color base and works particularly well with inclusion stains. However, each different color you create using this base will also likely require fine tuning of the degree of matteness. It is already quite matte so you will not likely want any more (since this could make it stoney and non-functional). We intend that you blend in some of either of the glossy recipes on this page to tune the degree of matteness (click the link below to see its recipe and a picture of a line blend with a glossy).

This likely does not have the degree of matteness you want, click the adjoining link to see how to blend some glossy clear.

This recipe also has very good suspension and application properties. We find a specific gravity of about 1.4 to be good. Glaze samples shown here are porcelain. For more detailed information (e.g. the recipe, mixing your own, more pictures) click here to see the recipe itself at the Digitalfire Reference Library.


Click image for larger view

Cone 6 Transparent - Stoneware

Cone 6 Clear Glaze - G2916F

This is an industrial tableware glaze recommended by tech support at Fusion Frits. It not only fires hard and crystal clear but has outstanding suspension and application properties. In addition, it works well with most stains.

The magic for the way this glaze fires and its hardness and durability lie in the variety of fluxes in contains and the very low boron content coupled with high SiO2 and Al2O3. The fluxes most likely to create micro-bubbles at this temperature are sourced in a frit. It has the traditional CaO and KNaO, but the talc adds MgO and the frit adds SrO plus a tiny bit of BaO. This mixed-oxide effect produces a very well melting glaze yet having excellent body (considering it has only 18% of a low-boron frit).

To prepare the transparent glaze for use mix equal weights of water and powder to produce a specific gravity of 1.45 (1 kg powder produces about 1.3 liters of glaze). If you have already mixed it or are topping up a previous mix, measure the specific gravity and adjust as needed. Screen through 80 mesh (there are tiny agglomerates that will not break down without screening). Add a flocculant (like vinegar or Epsom salts) to gel the glaze until it has a viscosity such that the motion of the slurry stops in about two seconds, after stopping vigorous stirring, and then bounces back slightly (that bounce back is called the thixotropy). At this gelled consistency you should be able to evenly glaze bisque or dry ware with a 1-2 second dip, it will hang on in an even layer without dripping. This will work whether bisque has been fired to cone 06, 04 or 02 (hotter bisques will dry slower of course).

For more detailed information (e.g. the recipe, mixing your own, more pictures) click here to see the recipe itself at the Digitalfire Reference Library.


Click image for larger view

Cone 6 Transparent - Whiteware

Cone 6 Clear Glaze - G2926B

Intended for use on M370. It has the lower thermal expansion necessary to fit (without crazing). It sources boron from a frit instead of troublesome Gerstley Borate (you need to see and use this side-by-side with a Gerstley Borate based glaze to appreciate how much better this is). This glaze has good suspension and very good application properties if it is the correct consistency (in our studio about 1.45 specific gravity, which is about 45% water or 2.04 kg of water for each 2.5 kg bag of premixed glaze). If the specific gravity is too high it may settle out.

To prepare the transparent glaze for use, adjust the amount of water so you have a specific gravity of 1.45 (see link below). Then add vinegar (if needed) to gel it. You can tell if it is gelled by stirring and then stopping and watching it. It should continue moving for a few seconds, then stop and bounce back slightly (that bounce back is called the thixotropy). For a gallon of glaze it might take 5 cap fulls of vinegar, but stir after each one to see if there is an effect (be careful not to put too much). When it is right you will be able to dip a piece for 1-2 seconds, withdraw it and get an even layer without dripping. Adjust your bisque temperature to get more porosity (if the glaze dries to slow) or less (if it dries too fast).

Still getting crazing, perhaps on P300? Check G3838A

Compatibility with stains is shown on this sample board. It does not work as well as the M340 Transparent for chrome-tin stains.

For more detailed information (e.g. the recipe, mixing your own, more pictures) click here to see the recipe itself at the Digitalfire Reference Library.

Ravenscrag Slip Glazes

Please visit the cone 6 glazes page ravenscrag.com for many ideas.

Alberta Slip Glazes

Please visit the cone 6 glazes page albertaslip.com for many ideas.

Plainsman Clays Ltd., 702 Wood Street, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 1E9
Phone: 403-527-8535    FAX: 403-527-7508