silica

[Jean Benoit]

What is the right mesh size silica to use in a cone 04 glaze? Would  90 mesh work?

[liambesaw]

No, 200 or even better, 325 for low fire, 80 is pretty big to be melting at low fire temps me thinks.  You could always test it

[Min]

90 mesh is for use in claybodies . Finer the particle size the easier to get the mineral into the glaze melt. If not stated I would go with the 325 mesh.

[Mark C.]

325 all the way for glazes

[neilestrick]

220 will work, 325 is better. 90 mesh is find sand, for clay bodies.

[tinbucket]

I read recently (I think @glazenerd was citing someone else) that with improved grinding methods there is not that much difference between 200 mesh and 325 mesh. For glazes you want 200 mesh or 325 mesh. I think 200 is more versatile and the standard, if you have to choose one. The higher the mesh for any material, the smaller the grain size and the greater the surface area. For most (if not all?) materials this means they can melt more easily

[Mark C.]

You will find that one of the major differences in the finer grind is the glaze melt-that is the flow of the glass. In my rutile glazes you can tell the difference  between the two and how they flow. The finer particle size looks better as it has much more rabbits fur(thats the term I use on how it looks)

If you are into Matt glazes then the 200 could make more sense but for my past 45 years making glazes and using both grinds I prefer the 325.I gave my 200 mesh to a glassblower friend a few decades ago.

Some commercial glaze makers use 200 mesh due to minor cost differences .