L4170 Cone 04 Terra Cotta Casting Body, Glaze, Firing Schedule

Project Name

Casting strong and durable terra cotta at cone 04

Project Codenumber

UnAssigned

Notes

Terra cotta is being discovered by many potters (and hobbyists with interest in production) as being capable of much more strength and durability than they thought. Terra cotta clays fire much stronger than white-burning clays. Why? Because they are impure. But iron is not the only impurity, they are also loaded with K2O, Na2O, CaO, MgO, etc. These are all fluxes, they make the clay vitrify at a much lower temperature. Many people use white burning bodies with a terra cotta slip or engobe, it makes much more sense to use a terra cotta with a white engobe.

Low firing is so much easier and faster than for stoneware. And the colours available are much brighter than at high temperatures. It seems there are thousands of commercial glaze products for use at cone 06-04 (most can be fired considerably higher with no issues). And it is just as easy to mix your own glazes. We are working on a white engobe to fit this also. "Fit" means it has the same firing shrinkage at the target temperature.

Plainsman Clays makes a body named L215, we are attempting to make a casting body that fires to similar colours, of similar maturity and working with the same glazes. The L215 datasheet points people who want to do casting to this page.

But there are two big obstacles for those interested in production: The expense of the jars of glaze and the time-consuming process of painting them on. What if you could mix buckets of your own base clear and white glazes that rival or exceed the quality of commercial products? And dip ware to get even coverage? And at a fraction of the cost. Then use commercial paint-on products to decorate the ware? Then later, if you ramp up your production, you could buy stains and make your own decorating products.

Note that this page, unlike anything else you will find online, has the data. The charts at the bottoms of the columns show our measurements and the calculated fired shrinkages and porosities that come from them. These numbers indicate how vitrified a body is. They are important in matching the engobe. There are pictures to indicate what works and does not work. Pictures from firings at many different temperatures. To make terra cotta work as a functional body will not happen by accident, you will need to pay attention to technical issues much more than with stoneware. But the rewards are worth it!

L215 Terra Cotta Casting #1

Total:144.96

Notes

*Note: This recipe is superseded by L4170B, a 90:10 blend of Redart/Ball Clay to get faster casting and adapt it as a plastic body if needed. However the notes below are still applicable.

I have tried many terra cotta casting recipes in the past but decided to start over with the simplest recipe I could think of: 100% RedArt! RedArt is a fabulous red-burning terra cotta widely available in North America, it is redder than any other clay I know and has been consistent for decades. And it matures at a very low temperature. As it turns out, it is not plastic enough to have the strength to pull away from the mold. So I added 20% ball clay. The result is something amazing! I can cast 3 mm thick in 10 minutes and have the piece out of the mold in another 10. A dry in front of the fan in another 20. The KT1-4 ball clay is not slowing down casting, yet adds so much to the leather hard handling strength and dry strength. If you do not have a large particle ball clay and have to use OM4, for example, then consider using a 90:10 ratio instead (otherwise casting might be too slow).

So far, this has proven to work well with my G1916Q clear glaze. I have used a simple firing schedule that ramps up to 1830 quickly, then slows down to 108F/hr to 1920, holds for 10 minutes, then shuts off (you would need to use a cone in your kiln to discover at what temperature it reaches cone 04). I will graduate this to a drop-and-hold firing schedule if it becomes necessary. I will also be testing more at cone 03. For thinner ware there is a tendency for some shapes to warp, so that is a signal that the body is firing to good strength there. But I am suspicious that cone 04 will be best production temperature for me.

The fired strength of this body at cone 04 is excellent. It is not a stoneware, but it far stronger than a white-firing body of the same temperature range. I think there would be very few utilitarian tasks this combination would not be up to the challenge for. And the warm red color is outstanding. The potential for volume production of ware with this body, the G3879 glaze and cone 04 firing is tremendous.

This recipe very easy to mix, I just added the Darvan to the water, poured in all the powder and it mixed in 20 seconds. Read the paragraph below, this recipe is a suggestion. "Listen to your slip" rather than this page if it is not deflocculating right.

2000g of powder produces about 1.8 liters. It is best to mix the slurry to a workable consistency first (not too thin). Then work with it until it gels and remix, adding a little more Darvan. You may need to do this on several occasions before it stabilizes. I used Darvan 811, it is supposed to be better for high iron slurries (to prevent gelling), but I am not convinced that it actually works better than regular Darvan.

Pictures

G3879 transparent at cone 1 on L4170 terra cotta

This combination qualifies as a stoneware, the body has less that 2% porosity at this temperature.

G3879 Clear on L4170 TerraCotta Casting

The clear glaze is G3879. The white on the outside of the one on the left has 10% added zircopax. The overglaze colors are Spectrum Majolica colors.

L4170 TerraCotta with G3879 zircon white

The insides of both are done with a 10% zircopax-added version of G3879. I compared it with Spectrum Majolica white (on the outside of the one on the right, it had to be painted on), the potential to get a much more even coverage is there because we can dip-glaze this one.
The outside color tests on the left are Crysanthos Underglazes.

L4170 at cone 06, 02, 1 (bottom to top)

Cone 1 is stoneware strength. Cone 02 is the warmest color. But cone 04 (not shown) is also pretty good.

Fired Redart, Tuckers, M2 bars cone 02, 04

Top to bottom:
L4170 Redart casting body
L4183 Tuckers terra cotta
L4184 M2 throwing body

Terra Cotta Casting

Total:144.96 (R)

Notes

*This reduces the amount of ball clay in L4170 to speed up casting time. The casting behaviour is still good and release is quicker. This body is a real testament to the quality of Redart as a material.

We are testing a variety of glazes and underglazes on this with good success. We have found that typical low temperature glazes are working well at cone 06-04 (of course, 04 will give ware of better strength). At cone 04 this has a little less thermal expansion than Plainsman L215 plastic terra cotta, so compared to it glazes are less likely to shiver, more likely to craze).

This is producing an amazing stoneware starting around cone 02. To make a plastic version we are adding 3% bentonite. It is much more thermally stable than typical terra cotta bodies. It does not bloat on over firing and fires to porcelain density by cone 4, producing remarkable strength. Most terra cottas turn an ugly brown when fired toward maturity, but with this one the color gets even richer. Remarkable. By cone 5 it is continuing to densify (reaching zero porosity), so that means it will survive to cone 6 and possibly beyond. We have never seen a terra cotta that can do this. This actually makes it look possible that one could make stoneware at cone 02 using standard commercial low fire glazes!

Pictures

L4170B bars fired cone 06-8 (bottom to top)

No sign of bloating even at cone 6. But it is clearly melting by cone 8. The front-sides of the cone 5-7 bars have some solubles salts that are glossing edges.

G3879 transparent at cone 1 on L4170 terra cotta

This combination qualifies as a stoneware, the body has less that 2% porosity at this temperature.

Cast L4170B pieces fired at cone 04, 2

Very dense and strong at cone 2, it’s fired surface is almost velvety, very pleasant to touch.

L4170B terra cotta at cone 02 with G1916Q

Very strong piece, no sign of crazing a week later. It appears as pieces are fired to cone 02 or more, crazing ceases to be an issue.

G1916Q on L4170 cast pieces

G1916Q on L4170 cone 04

Thin application is clearly the way to get the best transparent. The glaze eventually craze where application is thicker.

Handles are L215 P6877 pugged clay

Handles are L215 P6877 pugged clay attached to mugs with the L4170B slip which acts like glue, a minimal amount required to attach handles. No cracking evident anywhere around handles.

L4170B Terra cotta fired at cone 3 with G1916Q

The glaze is clouding and micro-bubbling but the body is showing no signs of bloating.
At cone 4 Cloudiness is worse that cone 3 and it is over fired.

L4170B with G1916QL, G3879V, G1916Q

G1916QL and G3879V at cone 04 had not crazed after months.
G1916Q at cone 1 has not crazed either, even though it was thick.

L4410G, L4170B cone 2 spectrum low fire glazes

Spectrum low temperature 753 yellow, 754 orange glazes are bubbling at cone 2.

Cone 03 with Spectrum 753, 754 glazes

They are working well. No crazing after months.

L3685Z5 engobe at cone 03 on L4170B

Incredibly whiter, better than the Amaco white underglaze.
L3685Z5 is the same as L3685Z2 but it adds 3% Ferro Frit 3110 to get a little more fired hardness.

Z2 White Engobe Base

Total:120.00

Notes

*This is the product of a long development program that culminated in the realization that a super-white engobe requires using super-white kaolins and bentonites and plenty of zircopax. Initially I did work attempting to apply this to bisque ware (adding 3% VeeGum, 1% CMC gum, double the water) but found that was misguided (since the engobe must fire-shrink and the body has already done so). Instead this became a base to which I added small amounts of frit to increase firing shrinkage to match a body, it can be matched to bodies from low to medium temperature.

The opacity of this is exceptional. When made as a brush on version one coat and no brush strokes are even visible!

As with other engobes, make this thixotropic this using vinegar or Epsom salts. To make it go on thick deflocculate it with Darvan. For a thin application add VeeGum, that will gel it enabling the addition of more water.

This recipe looks so good because it promises to enable the strength of terra cotta with the whiteness of porcelain. This, in turn, promises to provide white surfaces for brush work and transparent overglazes that produce brilliant gloss and colors not achievable at high temperatures.

Below is data on the fired shrinkage of this at ten temperatures! How do you use that data? An example: To fire at cone 2 the body needs to have around 3.6% fired shrinkage. We retested this engobe with 5% frit 3110, L3685Z4, that increased maturity more than expected. A 2.5% fritted version increase firing shrinkage by 2%, that turned out to be good for the L4170B terra cotta.

Pictures

Cone 1-6 (bottom to top), cone 01, 02 at top

L3685Z1 and L3685Z2 at cone 04

Z2, this improved version, is much whiter. On Plainsman L210. Fit is amazing for Z2.
And it is incredibly white.

L4170B with L3685Z2 engobe

With the gum additions, it applied very evenly to the bisque (using a pour-in pour-our technique). The layer was very thin yet covers very well. This was an experiment to get even coverage, we recommend application of engobe to leather hard ware.

Cone 04 L3685Z2 white engobe on L4170B

The colour as amazingly white, even when thinly applied. And it is fitting very well even though we are dipping pieces, like a glaze.
G2831K was crazing after months. G3879 was not.

L215 with L3685Z2 engobe at cone 04

Although a very thin layer it completely covers terra cotta L215 and L210. Color is whiter than paper! Clear glazed surface is as white as porcelain. Used G1916Q and G3879 and clear overglazes, one fires more blue-white, not sure which.

On L215 cone 03+ shivers on rim

Z2 White Engobe + 5% frit

Total:125.00

Notes

*This adds 5% Frit 3110 to the Z2 engobe recipe. From the data below you can see how much of a difference this makes in the firing shrinkage (compared to Z2). We have another recipe, L3685Z5 which has 3% frit, that seems to fit L4170B terra cotta the best at cone 04. The point is that you can fine-tune the amount of frit to get the exact fired shrinkage you need for this engobe.

For mixing instructions see the notes for L3954B.

Pictures

L3685Z3 fired bars

G1916Q crazed after some months on Z3

It did not craze on Z4 black.

G1916QL on L3685Z4, Z3 at cone 04

After months no crazing on Z4, crazing on Z3.

Cone 05+ Expansion Adjustable Gloss Base

Total:100.00

Auto Unity Formula + Analysis

Notes

*Although similar to the previous G1916M, this recipe provides greater thermal expansion adjustability. It combines a middle-of-the-road thermal expansion frit with a very low and very high expansion frit (they cancel each other out but increase gloss of the otherwise silky Frit 3195). The frits in this recipe are common (the 3249 less so but it deserves to be common because of its utility). We adjusted this in a later version, G1916QL1, it employs a kaolin for better clarity and more frit 3249 for glaze fit on more bodies.

This melts well from cone 05 and is stable to cone 2 or higher.

Do not assume the glaze fits because a piece emerges from the kiln without crazing or shivering. Thermally stress it (by two minute boiling-water and ice-water immersion cycles). We refer to this as the 65:10:10:15 recipe.
If this crazes, try 65:20:15 (3195:3249:EPK).
If it shivers, use 65:20:15 (3195:3110:EPK).
If the problem persists reduce the 3195 and increase the other (e.g. 55:30:15).

The ball clay also imparts good working properties and it has a lower LOI than EPK (to generate less micro-bubbles in the glaze).

Add 2% iron oxide to this when using on terra cotta bodies to enhance their red, the iron particles also act as a fining agent to remove the microbubbles they produce.

Because this employs ball clay, it the glass will have a slightly amber color (from the Fe2O3 in the clay). If that is an issue, try using a kaolin instead (we recommend New Zealand or Grolleg, the G1916Q2 and G1916Q3 variations do this).

Although drop-and-soak firing schedule helps clarity of transparent glazes at higher temperatures this glaze will produce crystal clear results with fast firing. However, it is high boron, normally such glazes have more issues with bubble clouding. But we have found that this one, if not applied too thick, fires crystal clear (likely its high Al2O3/SiO2 is the reason).

We find that 3800 water for 4000 powder produces ~1.44SG. The slurry gels more than with EPK, Grolleg or NZK.

Pictures

G1916Q at Cone 01 on 3D+iron

Very nice results on L3724E red body at cone 01. Piece is very strong.

1916J and Q fired to 1450F

These glazes are starting to melt, the surface having reached the consistency of a porcelain and have densitfied to very low porosity. Notice the iron in the ball clay really shows up at this stage (it will be less evident later).

G1916Q Cone 04 using 04DSSC schedule

Counterclockwise: L212, Raku, Buffstone, L213, L210, L215
Crazing out-of-the-kiln on Raku and buffstone.
Bisque 04-03.

G1916Q and J fired 1650-2000F

Ten-gram balls melted and flattened as they fired. They soften over a wide range, starting well below cone 010! At 1650F carbon material is still visible (even though the glaze has lost 2% of its weight to this point), it is likely the source of the micro-bubbles that completely opacify the matrix even at 1950F (cone 04). This is an 85% fritted glaze, yet it still has carbon; think of what a raw glaze might have! Of course, this is a thick layer, so the bubbles are expected. But they still can be an issue on a piece of ware. So to get the most transparent possible result it is wise to fire tests to find the point where the glaze starts to soften (1450F in this case), then soak the kiln just below that (on the way up) to fire away as much of the carbon as possible.

Success with cyrstal clear glaze cone 03

Uses Cone 03 soak-soak-slow cool schedule.
Left: P6282 with 3685U slip and 1916Q. Clear and very good. Glaze is thicker than the other two. Shivering on lip, the slip is not fitting the body.
Center: P6282 with G2931F Ulexite clear. Better clarity even though it is applied very thin. Shivering on lip, the slip is not fitting the body.
Right: L3724F with 3685U slip. No shivering. Very good coverage of the glaze, very clear, the best I have seen yet!

G1916Q on L215, L212, L210, L213, Buffstone at cone 03

All exited from the klin without crazing. The L215, L213, L210 and L212 samples subsequently survived a 300F/Icewater test without crazing, but the Buffstone did not. The L213 would not likely survive a cold-to-hot test without shivering.

1916Q cone 04, 03

Both were slow cooled. While the cone 04 version is glassy and ultra-gloss, it has significant clouding of micro-bubbles. The cone 03 version, right, is completely transparent.

G1916Q on L210 fired at cone 04

Has survived for a year without crazing.

G1916Q+2%Iron on L212 talc body fired at cone 05

This will likely shiver over time. But the speckle that happens on white bodies is clearly visible.

G1916Q applied thickly on L215 fired cone 04

No crazing after 2 months.

G1916Q on L4170 cone 04

Thin application is clearly the way to get the best transparent. The glaze eventually craze where application is thicker.