How to Make Your Own Ceramic Slip

How to Make Your Own Ceramic Slip - Part 3 The Recipe: Date Added: 5 May 2017 About:

13.5 gallons water
2 dry ounces Soda Ash
1.5 dry ounces Barium Carbonate (optional)
50 pounds KT OM 4 or 2 bags of KT-1-4
50 pounds of KT #1 SGP
150 pounds of TALC 2882
6-9 liquid ounces of Sodium Silicate

and One Heavy Duty Mixer

More Details:

I strongly encourage you to read parts One and Two on How to Make Your Own Ceramic Slip before you attempt making your own. THIS RECIPE IS FOR LOW-FIRE SLIP 04-02 (max)

If you are going into mixing your own, you need to plan on doing it in fairly large quantities so here is a recipe for making 25 gallons at a time. This recipe is easily doubled. If you want to produce less, you can reduce the recipe, but you should convert your measurements to metric for accuracy. ACCURACY is critical.

Always begin with the water… it should be warm, the warmer the better.

Put 13.5 gallons of warm water in your mixer

Extract small amount of the water from the mixer and add 2 dry ounces of soda ash and if your water has minerals (like Artesian well water or added otherwise) or is salty (like soft water) add 1.5 dry ounces of Barium Carbonate. Mix well and then add to the mixer.

Turn your mixer on low and then begin adding your clays

50 pounds – one bag of KT OM4 or 2 bags of KT-1-4 (which is a premixed Ball Clay)

50 pounds – one bag of KT #1 SGP

As the mixture becomes thick, slowly add 6 to 9 liquid ounces of Sodium Silicate. Do not add all at once

Keep the mixer running, if needs be, increase speed slightly

Add 150 pounds – 3 bags of TALC 2882

If needed, turn off the motor and use a long prod or stick to help move the dry ingredients down into the mixer/vat. This part is the struggle, just keep pushing it down and mixing until it all becomes saturated and the motor can take over.

After all is mixed together turn up the motor and agitate it for about 8-12 hours. Let the slip rest over night to ensure that all of the clay particles have fully absorbed the water and so that any air pockets will have the chance to surface.

Something about the ingredients.

The Soda Ash and the Sodium Silicate make the clay particles repulse each other. (similar to two magnets when you try to connect both north poles). When done properly it takes less water to make the slip liquid and this helps keep your molds from getting too wet. This will help extend the life of your mold and save you money. These are deflocculant.

The talc is magnesium silicate and it is what makes your bisque white. It also helps keep glazes from crazing or falling off your bisque.

The other ingredients are all Ball Clays and your foundation.