Creo Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Hello! Returning to ceramics after a short break, well 15 years I am convinced that I used to use a Stoneware clay, fine grained, that fired to a grey body colour. Not buff, not white, or off-white, best I can describe it is a light to medium grey with maybe a very slight silvery hue to it. But looking around the suppliers I cant find anything that looks the same. Now I am wondering if my old memory is playing tricks on me! So, may I ask, is there a readily available stoneware clay that will fire to a light to medium grey? Thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeble Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Creo, where are you? Here on the west coast, I have used Laguna's "Morocan Sand" clay and their LB-6, both of which are cone 5 clays and they fire to a mid-tone gray. I'm pretty sure they're both widely available, I've picked them up from a couple different suppliers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creo Posted March 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Creo, where are you? Here on the west coast, I have used Laguna's "Morocan Sand" clay and their LB-6, both of which are cone 5 clays and they fire to a mid-tone gray. I'm pretty sure they're both widely available, I've picked them up from a couple different suppliers. Thanks. I am in the UK. I need to be able to fire to a sufficient stoneware strength as the items will have to be frost-proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 In your prior potting, did you fire in oxidation or reduction? Many white stonewares turn grey when fired in reduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creo Posted March 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Just a hobbyist potter, firing in an electric kiln, no frills, with just a kiln-sitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffCenter Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Creo, where are you? Here on the west coast, I have used Laguna's "Morocan Sand" clay and their LB-6, both of which are cone 5 clays and they fire to a mid-tone gray. I'm pretty sure they're both widely available, I've picked them up from a couple different suppliers. Thanks. I am in the UK. I need to be able to fire to a sufficient stoneware strength as the items will have to be frost-proof. Temp doesn't determine strength. Some cone 10 or 13 clays are not as strong as some cone 4 or 5 clays. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creo Posted March 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Ok, thanks. So what clay do I need to use at what cone to get a silver/grey body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeble Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 You'll have to wait until someone UKish chimes in, I'm afraid I haven't got any idea whats available there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trina Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 Have a look at www.sio-2.com. that should be available in all of the EU. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicAxe Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 stoneware in reduction will turn grey as the iron in the clay reacts to the lack of oxygen. In an electric kiln, it's an odd setup to do reduction that can damage elements from some degree. as for a grey clay, ... just wedge 1% black mason stain in there ... instant grey in a standard electric kiln firing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelly Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 stoneware in reduction will turn grey as the iron in the clay reacts to the lack of oxygen. In an electric kiln, it's an odd setup to do reduction that can damage elements from some degree. as for a grey clay, ... just wedge 1% black mason stain in there ... instant grey in a standard electric kiln firing. Dear Potter, Pottery Supply House in Oakville, Ontario, Canada makes a great grey stone ware. Really rich. Shows off iron glazes extremely well. Nelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 hope you find the clay you are looking for. since you are in the UK could you tell me what "crank" clay is? i get all the books our library system has and some mention things i have never heard of including "T material" ?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayjay Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 hope you find the clay you are looking for. since you are in the UK could you tell me what "crank" clay is? i get all the books our library system has and some mention things i have never heard of including "T material" ?????? Crank is clay with a high proportion of grog usually used for Raku. T Material - Description below taken from Bath Potters (a supplier), it's quite expensive @ over £40 per 12.5 kilo - standard buff stoneware is 25% of that (or less). Extremely resilient and tolerant off-white body. Superb for large sculpture and hand building use. Well suited for high quality Raku pieces. Low thermal expansion. Low shrinkage and good warp resistance. Very refractory. Coarse Texture.Off-White. Firing Temp.1200-1300 deg.C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicAxe Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 stoneware in reduction will turn grey as the iron in the clay reacts to the lack of oxygen. In an electric kiln, it's an odd setup to do reduction that can damage elements from some degree. as for a grey clay, ... just wedge 1% black mason stain in there ... instant grey in a standard electric kiln firing. Dear Potter, Pottery Supply House in Oakville, Ontario, Canada makes a great grey stone ware. Really rich. Shows off iron glazes extremely well. Nelly Yeah, that is a grey mason stain clay. All black mason stains contain iron in them, so depending on the percentage of iron, you can easily get things like iron spotting and iron rich clay body effects with a black mason stain. You can do the same with just wedging black into the clay and save on the shipping from canada if you are in the states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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