The secret of the higher gloss glaze on the right? A lead frit addition.

Tuesday 23rd June 2015

These insight-live.com/glossary/119">cone 04 glazes have the same recipe (a version of Worthington Clear sourcing B2O3 from Ulexite instead of Gerstley borate). But the one on the right is more glassy, more transparent. Why? It has 10% added lead bisilicate frit. Lead bisilicate produces dazzling transparent glazes. no other method matches it. While potters gasp at the thought of using lead consider this: They thrive on unstable flux-deprived, glass-deprived and alumina-deprived base stoneware glazes with additions of large percentages of toxic colorants like chrome and manganese!

Pages that reference this post in the Digitalfire Reference Library:

Lead Bisilicate Frit, Fired slipware, a UK tradition of terra cotta and lead glaze, Lead bisilicate frit data sheet claims high resistance to leaching, Insight-Live.com share for Worthington Clear with Lead, Lead in Ceramic Glazes, Transparent Glazes

This post is one of thousands found in the Digitalfire Reference Database. Most are part of a timeline maintained by Tony Hansen. You can search that timeline on the home page of digitalfire.com.