SLIPS
AND
GLAZES






Slip

 Liquid
clay
body
containing
clays,
flux
and
filler.

It
is
used
for
joining
2

pieces
of
clay
together
and
for
decoration.



Colorants
are
added
to
slips
to
give
it
color
for
decoration.





 Application
 Apply
in
layers
allowing
each
layer
to
dry
before
adding
the
next.

Depending
on
consistency
of
slip,
apply
1‐3
layers
(brushed)



Slips
are
formulated
for
a
specific
stage
of
clay.
Most
of
the
time
slips
are

applied
at
the
leatherhard
stage,
but
formulas
for
bone
dry
and
bisque

also
exist.
Be
sure
you
are
putting
the
right
slip
on
your
piece.




If
you
do
not
match
the
appropriate
slip
to
the
wet/dry
state
of
your

object,
it
may
flake
off.




 Firing
 Slips
are
formulated
for
specific
temperatures.
Never
over‐fire
a
slip.

Slips
fired
too
hot
may
turn
to
glass
and
melt
off
your
work.



Over‐fire
‐
firing
to
a
temperature
above
its
maturation
–
firing
too
hot



Slips
may
be
under‐fired
(fired
to
a
temperature
lower
than
maturation)




 Engobe/
 An
engobe
is
a
slip

Under­glaze
 

An
underglaze
is
also
a
slip
but
generally
manufactured
commercially

and
applied
at
bisque



Glaze
 
 Glaze is the name of the "liquid clay/glass" coating applied to bisqueware to
create the desired surface effect. Glazes are primarily silica (glass) combined
with other material to get the desired color and surface texture.

It has been said that there are no "Bad" glazes, only poor application of the
glaze being used. Also that 80% of the success ratio in glazing is due to
application. Since glaze is not an air temperature pigment the fired color and
surface quality is emitted when the glaze recipe (chemical components) are
heated to the correct temperature for maturing the melt of the materials in the
mixture.

Test tile samples are often used and are available to you in our glaze lab to
aid in selections made for surfacing.



 Application
 It is important to have an adequate thickness of the coating of glaze applied
to the piece. On the average the glaze coating should be the thickness of a
playing card or approximately 1/32 of an inch. Thickness of applied glaze
can be checked when the glaze dries completely (five minutes on the
average) by scratching through the glaze with your finger nail. This will
reveal the thickness of the wall of glaze.



 Application
 Dipping
 Spraying
 Sponging

Techniques
 Pouring
 Brushing
 




 
 Considerations when you are applying glaze:
*The thickness of the glaze liquid will vary and must be taken into
consideration when glazing. If the glaze is applied too thick then
your glaze may run or flake off. Too thin and the work may look
as though it was never glazed or the color may not be what you
expected.

*The length of time that the ware is dipped/poured into or over the
ware will determine thickness. Submerging ware in a glaze for 10
seconds will be thicker than 5 seconds.

*The thicker the wall of the piece the more glaze it will absorb.
Conversely, thin walled pieces can become over saturated with
the glaze liquid. This will cause thinner application and problems
in drying the glaze on the surface.

*Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.




 Firing
 All glazes are formulated for a specific firing temperature. It is crucial that
the glaze reach that temperature without being under or over-fired.

An over-fired glaze may loose its color and run off the piece and onto the
shelves making a huge mess

An under-fired glaze may not melt at all and become bisqued on. This is
usually not attractive. It is dry and lumpy.

See firing sheet for information on types and temperature of firing.

Over­glaze
 Overglazes are applied after the glaze firing and over the glaze. Once an

 overglaze is applied, the work is fired again at a much lower temperature.
Some artists will fire their work 5-10 times all the while building their
surface with over-glazes.


 Types
 China Paint

Enamel
Luster