Terracotta Clay Is So Messy ----

[graybeard]

Hi again y'all

If I found a dark red or an orange mason stain (I think that is what they call

the powder they mix with brick mortar)

And mixed it with a white clay would a glaze that looks great on terracotta claylook ABOUT the same? Would a under glaze work?

I just make too much of a mess when I work with terracotta.

 

graybeard

[Babs]

SO what makes you think you'll work cleaner with stained clay??

Will end up much more expensive...

[bciskepottery]

Why not just make a terra-cotta colored slip and apply it to your white vessels, then glaze?  Wedging in a stain to the clay body is a lot of work; slips are less so. 

[Benzine]

Why not just make a terra-cotta colored slip and apply it to your white vessels, then glaze?  Wedging in a stain to the clay body is a lot of work; slips are less so. 

 

Yeah, this seems like the best option.  I don't seem working stain into the clay, then throwing, as a less messy option.

 

Applying a colored slip would be way easier, and less messy.  Underglaze would be just as easy, and can be applied at any stage of dryness.  The only downside to underglaze is they are more expensive than a colored slip, which you can easily make yourself.

[Marcia Selsor]

I love terra cotta. I don't find it messy. I love the building power in a good groggy terra cotta. 

If you was the color , I agree, just add the mason stain.

Marcia

[Rae Reich]

I thought Mason Stains were named for a person named Mason (John Mason?).

 

Isn't terra cotta color mainly RIOx?

[Chris Campbell]

I don't know what you mean by messy .... or how a different version of red clay would be less messy.

Could you explain?

[GiselleNo5]

I love terra cotta. I don't find it messy. I love the building power in a good groggy terra cotta. 

If you was the color , I agree, just add the mason stain.

Marcia

 

I have a deep dark iron red clay from Laguna and it is soooooo messy, I have to have a Hawaiian Red week then wash everything. But oh, I love that clay. I adore it more every time I use it. Nothing ever cracks, splits or separates. I can re-wet it infinitely and keep working on it. Love that clay. 

[Roberta12]

I agree with Giselle.  It really is fun, I use SB Red by Laguna on occasion.  I love how some of my glazes look on that dark clay body.  And it is fun to work with.  But....gotta scrub everything afterward and slowly morph my way back to white clay. But it does stain my hands........

 

Roberta

[Chris Campbell]

I know that feeling exactly ... I take a break from porcelain and just have so much fun with a luscious, groggy clay body that just does what it is supposed to do!

[GiselleNo5]

I agree with Giselle.  It really is fun, I use SB Red by Laguna on occasion.  I love how some of my glazes look on that dark clay body.  And it is fun to work with.  But....gotta scrub everything afterward and slowly morph my way back to white clay. But it does stain my hands........

 

Roberta

 

Roberta, try throwing one white pot after you're done with the red. It gets rid of 90% of the stain. My friend figured that out and it really does work. 

 

I know that feeling exactly ... I take a break from porcelain and just have so much fun with a luscious, groggy clay body that just does what it is supposed to do!

 

Yessss. No babying it along. Love it. 

[oldlady]

used red iron oxide in a glaze this weekend.  used it last because of the mess.  needed three towels, two after i had washed my hands and arms with Dawn.  the red did not leave until i shampooed my hair.  red brown clay is fun, just messy...............

[Babs]

Or is it just more visible and the white dust et is there in same quantities but you're just not seeing it????

[Chilly]

Or is it just more visible and the white dust et is there in same quantities but you're just not seeing it????

 

Babs, I think you've nailed it.  It is there just invisible.

[Callie Beller Diesel]

In college there was a clay body recipe that a few people used that had 5% red iron oxide added to it. It was a.maz.ing. In any kind of wood/soda atmosphere, but it looked like there was a serial killer loose while it was being used on the wheel. I think adding any kind of stain or oxide like that to a clay would probably be messier than the terra cotta. A slip would likely be less invasive in your studio.

 

And having made the switch in the last year from a white stoneware to a red, I think Babs's observation is quite correct. I've been mopping more regularly in the last few months because I can see the residue better.

[oldlady]

the difference is in the wrinkles in my skin.  red goes deep and stays there until forced to leave.  the white is there but gives up more easily.  what gets on the surfaces of the studio is much more work if it is red iron oxide based.