Amy's Magic Slip for B-mix and Stoneware (Dry Material)
Description: This is the Magic Slip that's formulated to be applied to B-mix and Stoneware. It's always best to do a few tests for compatibility before applying this (or any unfamiliar slip) to a lot of work. Allow it to dry naturally on your work. Do not cover it with plastic. Just keep it out of a draft. Works in reduction and oxidation. And, fires from cone 6 to cone 10.
Mixing: To mix it super-thick I barely add enough water to make it like super-thick mud. Then, mix it with a mixer paddle on a drill. I then force it through a 60 mesh bowl screen 2 times with my hand to scoop it and push it through. If you want the slip thinner for spraying add more water.
Application: As a thick slip it works best when you apply it to work that's just been thrown and ribbed. Do not cover the work with plastic to slow down it's drying! That's what makes it crack. You need to allow the water to evaporate off of the porcelain. Or, it sits and saturates the porcelain which is what causes it to crack. Just keep any breezes or drafts off of the work. Some people take a ware cart and cover the outside with plastic so it just keeps air off of the work, but the plastic isn't sitting directly on the work and the slip.
Apply as a thin coat dipped: This is when the slip is mixed to a 50 consistency on the hydrometer. When the pot is about leather-soft you can dip the pot quickly into the slip and let it set up.
Apply a thin coat as a spray: Mixed to the consistency of about 45 on the hydrometer you can spray a coat on the work that's bone dry. Let it dry, then bisque fire. We really recommend bisque firing all 'porcelaneous stoneware' to ONLY cone 08 so it's porous enough to absorb the glaze). A bisque firing to cone 04 is the worst thing you can do. Email me at [email protected] for more info.
Bisque Fire on: Then, it's optional to dip or spray Ceramist Underglazes. And, or your favorite glazes.
Fires: From cone 6 to cone 10.
Note: Remember to run a few tests before applying any unfamiliar slip or glaze to lots of work. Take notes. Find the correct application for your work with the way your kiln is being fired.