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the making of slips

updated fri 8 may 98

 

Fabienne on fri 1 may 98

Hello :)

I just discovered that I absolutely LOVE working with slips and engobes,
and I would like to make my own, but I don't know the first thing about
them. Can anyone think of some articles to read in CM about the making of
slips? They have about 15 years worth of them at the library.

Besides all the questions in the world about slips, would the dry clay
matching the one I use to throw ware be my best choice to make a slip
specific for my ware?

Feel free to shower me with information about slips and engobes :)

TIA
--
Fabienne | Yes, I have learned from my
http://www.vivelafrance.org | mistakes...
| I can reproduce them exactly.

MiltonsLin on sat 2 may 98

Greetings, Fabienne!
I have been using slips to create my abstract ceramic art for many years.
One slip I use is quick to make, and requires little in the form of expensive
ingredients. I bisque fire my greenware at cone 06, and glaze at cone 6 oxy.
When I use Navajo Wheel clay, I simply let the left-overs (table scraps,
etc) dry out. Then, I crush the scraps, making a fine amount of particles. I
mix 1/2 parts NW clay with 1/2 parts Barnard clay. Add water slowly, and stir
until the texture is liquid enough to dip a brush into without too much
dripping.
This recipie can be used on whiteware, for a reddish-brown result. I
sometimes use it on Rod's Bod clay, and have tried (with fair results) on
Soldate 60.
If you vary the amount of NW clay, you will get a redder result (75% NW,
25% Bernard). Accordingly, a 75% Barnard, 25% NW produces a crisp brown-red
result.
The "50-50" NW-Barnard combo slip can be fired to cone 10. Reduction
firing intensifies the red of the NW clay.
Apply this slip liberally on leather-hard greenware. Good luck!
PS...NW clay on its own produces a good slip, too. However, NW clay may
"flow" and create a mess above cone 6.
Milton Yucca Valley, CA MiltonsLin@AOL.COM

Fabienne on thu 7 may 98

Hello again :)

Thank you to all the wonderful people out there who once more shared their
knowledge with me about slips and engobes. As it turns up, I am not the
only one interested in engaging in this new venture. If anyone else is
interested in this topic, email to me privately and I'll forward the
information to you.

Cheers,

Fabienne