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. Three recipes are included here to show our development process. L4170F seems to be the one of choice.
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
|
Code # L4170 |
| Materials | Amt |
|---|---|
| Redart | 80.000 |
| KT #1-4 Ball Clay | 20.000 |
| Additions | |
|---|---|
| Water | 44.000 |
| *Darvan #811 | 0.960 |
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
Testdata
SHAB - Shrinkage/Absorption
| DLEN | FLEN | FWT | BWT | CONE | DSHR | FSHR | ABS | |
| 6 | 94.42 | 88.73 | 48.05 | 49.84 | 2.2 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 3.7% |
| 5 | 94.34 | 89 | 47.29 | 49.53 | 1.0 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 4.7% |
| 4 | 94.46 | 89.45 | 47.7 | 50.12 | -1.0 | 5.5% | 5.3% | 5.1% |
| 2 | 94.38 | 89.9 | 48.34 | 51.45 | -2.0 | 5.6% | 4.7% | 6.4% |
| 3 | 94.3 | 91.29 | 48.78 | 53.53 | -4.0 | 5.7% | 3.2% | 9.7% |
| 1 | 94.38 | 93.64 | 48 | 55.07 | -6.0 | 5.6% | 0.8% | 14.7% |
XML (to paste into Insight)
<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="L215 Terra Cotta Casting #1" id="155277" key="rQZgW3bD" date="2024-11-19" codenum="L4170"> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Redart" amount="80.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="KT #1-4 Ball Clay" amount="20.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Water" amount="44.000" added="true"/> <recipeline material="Darvan #811" amount="0.960" added="true"/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>
Born: 2019-03-20, Modified: 2024-11-19 02:10:10
Terra Cotta Casting #2
|
Code # L4170B |
| Materials | Amt | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Redart | 90.000 | GM |
| KT #1-4 Ball Clay | 10.000 | GM |
| Additions | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 44.000 | GM |
| *Darvan #7 | 0.960 | GM |
Total:144.96 (R)
Notes
The original L4170 recvipe was 80:20 Redart:Ball Clay. This change was done to speed up casting time (since ball clay slows it down). However casting rate is still pretty slow. But other qualities are still good.
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 a stoneware starting around cone 02. To make a plastic version we are adding 3% bentonite. It is more thermally stable than typical terra cotta bodies. It does not bloat on over-firing and fires to porcelain density by cone 4. Most terra cottas turn an ugly brown when fired toward maturity, but with this one the color gets even richer. By cone 5 it is continuing to densify (reaching zero porosity).
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 white, better than the Amaco Velvet white underglaze.
L3685Z5 is the same as L3685Z2 but it adds 3% Ferro Frit 3110 to get a little more fired hardness. L3685Z8 has 2% Frit 3110.
Testdata
SHAB - Shrinkage/Absorption
| DLEN | FLEN | FWT | BWT | CONE | DSHR | FSHR | ABS | |
| 12 | 94.33 | 88.51 | bloating | 8.0 | 5.7% | 6.2% | ||
| 10 | 94.23 | 87.97 | 42.47 | 42.48 | 7.0 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 0.0% |
| 9 | 94.35 | 87.66 | 41.24 | 41.24 | 6.0 | 5.7% | 7.1% | 0.0% |
| 8 | 94.34 | 87.7 | 41.14 | 41.16 | 5.0 | 5.7% | 7.0% | 0.0% |
| 1 | 94.35 | 88.08 | 39.13 | 39.46 | 4.0 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 0.8% |
| 2 | 94.59 | 88.71 | 40.08 | 41.11 | 3.0 | 5.4% | 6.2% | 2.6% |
| 3 | 94.63 | 89.15 | 38.97 | 40.3 | 2.0 | 5.4% | 5.8% | 3.4% |
| 4 | 94.33 | 89.19 | 39.69 | 41.42 | 1.0 | 5.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| 5 | 94.26 | 89.44 | 39.28 | 41.23 | -1.0 | 5.7% | 5.1% | 5.0% |
| 6 | 94.2 | 90.18 | 39.69 | 42.23 | -2.0 | 5.8% | 4.3% | 6.4% |
| 11 | 94.15 | 90.72 | 42.08 | 45.12 | -3.0 | 5.8% | 3.6% | 7.2% |
| 7 | 94.33 | 92.21 | 39.94 | 44.21 | -4.0 | 5.7% | 2.2% | 10.7% |
| 13 | 94.42 | 93.89 | 40.2 | 45.6 | -6.0 | 5.6% | 0.6% | 13.4% |
XML (to paste into Insight)
<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="Terra Cotta Casting #2" id="189412" key="8zkcpwXB" date="2024-05-08" codenum="L4170B"> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Redart" amount="90.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> <recipeline material="KT #1-4 Ball Clay" amount="10.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> <recipeline material="Water" amount="44.000" unitabbr="GM" added="true"/> <recipeline material="Darvan #7" amount="0.960" unitabbr="GM" added="true"/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>
Born: 2019-03-20, Modified: 2024-05-08 20:17:09
Terra Cotta Casting #3
|
Code # L4170F |
| Materials | Amt | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Redart | 80.000 | GM |
| OptiKast Kaolin | 20.000 | GM |
Total:100.00 (R)
Notes
This employs Opticast Kaolin instead of ball clay (to try to speed up casting). Read the notes for L4170 and L4170B for a history on the formulation and reason for this body.
4000 powder, 1500 water, 17.5 Darvan.
Deflocculates extremely well, very fluid despite less water than normal being needed. Casts fast, dries fast in the mold. This is so much better than L4170.
Second batch: 8000:3000:35
Pictures
L3695Z5 engobe on L4170F
The L3685Z5 thixotropic engobe was applied at leather hard stage (by pour-in, pour-out and then rim dip). Coverage is very even - this will produce a porcelain color under a clear glaze. I plan on outside glazing using a lead bisilicate transparent.
Freshly cast mug
Slip needed about 20 minutes in mold. It stiffened within minutes after pour-out and I was able to extract the piece with 10-15 minutes.
XML (to paste into Insight)
<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="Terra Cotta Casting #3" id="256937" key="KQkktiqS" date="2025-06-25" codenum="L4170F"> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Redart" amount="80.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> <recipeline material="OptiKast Kaolin" amount="20.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>
Born: 2019-03-20, Modified: 2025-06-25 02:34:28
White Cone 04 Engobe for L4170B (3% frit)
|
Code # L3685Z5 |
| Materials | Amt | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Nepheline Syenite | 20.000 | GM |
| New Zealand Kaolin | 55.000 | GM |
| Silica | 25.000 | GM |
| Additions | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Ferro Frit 3110 | 3.000 | GM |
| Zircopax | 20.000 | GM |
Total:123.00 (R)
Notes
This is based on the L3685Z2 recipe, this adds 3% frit 3110 to increase the firing shrinkage to make L4170B at cone 04/03. We did another test with 5% frit but that increased the maturity too much.
Pictures
L3685Z5 engobe at cone 03 on L4170B
Incredibly white, better than the Amaco Velvet white underglaze.
L3685Z5 is the same as L3685Z2 but it adds 3% Ferro Frit 3110 to get a little more fired hardness. L3685Z8 has 2% Frit 3110.
L3685Z5 engobe fired bars from cone 8 down to 4
L4170B white engobe bowl fired at cone 04
The engobe is L3685Z5. It was applied at the leather hard stage. The bowl was bisque fired and the fish are tissue transfers (not applied very well!).
URLs
Testdata
SHAB - Shrinkage/Absorption
| DLEN | FLEN | FWT | BWT | CONE | DSHR | FSHR | ABS | |
| 8 | 94.31 | 83.47 | 36.4 | 36.42 | 8.0 | 5.7% | 11.5% | 0.1% |
| 7 | 94.11 | 83.36 | 35.52 | 35.62 | 7.0 | 5.9% | 11.4% | 0.3% |
| 6 | 94.04 | 83.48 | 32.79 | 36.12 | 6.0 | 6.0% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 5 | 94.13 | 83.52 | 35.79 | 36.08 | 5.0 | 5.9% | 11.3% | 0.8% |
| 4 | 94.12 | 83.83 | 37.18 | 37.77 | 4.0 | 5.9% | 10.9% | 1.6% |
LDW - LOI/Density/Water Content
| WWGT | DWGT | H2O | LOI | DENS | |
| 1 | 11.15 | 6.71 | 39.8% |
XML (to paste into Insight)
<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="White Cone 04 Engobe for L4170B (3% frit)" id="195434" key="xkMrnAs5" date="2025-02-11" codenum="L3685Z5" email="robcartelli@gmail.com"> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Nepheline Syenite" amount="20.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> <recipeline material="New Zealand Kaolin" amount="55.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> <recipeline material="Silica" amount="25.000" tolerance="" unitabbr="GM"/> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3110" amount="3.000" unitabbr="GM" added="true"/> <recipeline material="Zircopax" amount="20.000" unitabbr="GM" added="true"/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>
Born: 2021-03-08, Modified: 2025-02-11 17:09:40
Cone 05+ Expansion Adjustable Gloss Base
|
Code # G1916Q |
| Materials | Amt |
|---|---|
| Ferro Frit 3195 | 65.000 |
| Ferro Frit 3110 | 10.000 |
| Ferro Frit 3249 | 10.000 |
| No. 5 Ball Clay | 15.000 |
Total:100.00
|
Si:Al: 6.3:1 6.8 (Molar:6.8) 1.4 |
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 (or similar ones) are common. 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.
If you can't get Frit 3249: Try 3195 by itself. If it shivers, add frit 3134 until it passes stress testing. If it crazes, use Frit 3124 as the base and add a little talc.
As is, 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 (e.g. ICWT test).
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 can produce crystal clear results with fast firing.
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.
XML (to paste into Insight)
<?xml version="1.0"?> <recipes version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"> <recipe name="Cone 05+ Expansion Adjustable Gloss Base" id="56565" key="TPaEKZ9i" date="2025-04-06" codenum="G1916Q"> <recipelines> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3195" amount="65.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3110" amount="10.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="Ferro Frit 3249" amount="10.000" tolerance=""/> <recipeline material="No. 5 Ball Clay" amount="15.000" tolerance=""/> </recipelines> </recipe> </recipes>
Born: 2014-03-04, Modified: 2025-04-06 20:39:52
