Slip mixture problems

[DanG]

 

 

I am using a locally made slip called MFQ (Medium Fire Quartz) and I cant seem to get it to mix evenly (see pic left).

 

 

 

 

Then I'm adding some stain to the slip and this problem with 'streaking' only seems to become more pronounced, such that the stain looks terrible! (see pic right). I am trying to achieve an even consistency and cant seem to do it.

 

 

 

 

I contacted the manufacturers and they thought there was too much deflocculant in the original mixture, and I should try adding some dried clay to soak it up.

 

 

 

 

I have tried adding a handful of two of pulverized dry clay into the slip (about 16 litres worth) and its not looking much different.

 

 

 

Any help appreciated!

[clay lover]

OOOOOOh, messy.

Have you sived it well?

 

I make slip from the clay I'm using, usually Highwater porcelain, don"t have that problem.

Good luck.

[DanG]

Have you sived it well?

 

 

Its a pre-made slip that I bought so I've only stirred it (well), but I'll try siving it too, see if that helps.

 

I was hoping that this 'scum' effect only sits on the surface but Im not sure thats the case as it seems to be forming on slip tapped from the bottom of the tub...

 

maybe I'd have better luck if I made it myself??

[Big Electric Cat]

Have you tried returning it to the manufacturer? Maybe if you brought it in to them and they saw it they could fix it, or how about this? REPLACE it with another gallon of new stuff, which might be from a new batch, or might not have this problem. I don't seee why you should have to be jumping through hoops to get their product working right; seems like poor customer service.

[Chris Campbell]

Yes, it's hard to fix someone else's mixture since you have no idea what they have used and/or what mistake was made. I would cut my loses and move on to making your own.

It's very easy to make your own slips with the matching clay body or a white clay that fires at the same range. Just use your studio blender to mix clay, water and colorants. If you find you need to adjust it for your uses, you can control floc/defloc too.

[clay lover]

Hi, Chris.

I've always made my slips and gotten good results. Can you help me understand why a slip would be deflockulated? or floculated?

I do know that the throwing water from some ^6 porcelains I have used set up in the bottom of the bucket of slop. But I don't use that clay for slip, the ones I use for my slip are Tucker ^6 MCS. no problems with it settling, so I haven't been forced to learn this. But it would be good knowledge to have.

I do understand flockulating glazes, but why would you de-flockulate slip?

[icyone]

You never mention how you are mixing it? Are you using something like the drywall mud mixer with drill? or just by hand?

[Christine]

Hi, Chris.

I've always made my slips and gotten good results. Can you help me understand why a slip would be deflockulated? or floculated?

I do know that the throwing water from some ^6 porcelains I have used set up in the bottom of the bucket of slop. But I don't use that clay for slip, the ones I use for my slip are Tucker ^6 MCS. no problems with it settling, so I haven't been forced to learn this. But it would be good knowledge to have.

I do understand flockulating glazes, but why would you de-flockulate slip?

 

 

 

Slip especially needs deflocculating to keep the clay particles separate so it pours well even though it contains a high density of clay - sort of fluid clay really

Hope this helps

Christine