docweathers Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Where have you found the best prices on dry glaze material? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perkolator Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 that's easy - at my local ceramics supplier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I've found prices (including shipping) at U.S. Pigment to be quite good . . . actually cheaper than the local supplier; the key is to buy enough to fit one of the USPS flat rate boxes they use for shipping. I recently restocked my oxides and colorants and saved close to $100. But for bulk items, like a full or half bag of dry clay or minerals, your local supplier should be the price to beat. If you are just looking for 1/4 lb. of one item, your local supplier is probably best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 I agree with Bruce about US Pigment being good. I order my cobalt carb from there, $20- lb. If I buy it locally its $58- for 500 grams. I found the strength of coloring oxides varies, got some "high purity" RIO from Seattle Pottery Supply that was awful, still have 10 lbs of it taking up space, also bought 5 lbs of cobalt carb from Tacoma Clay Art that wasn't nearly as strong as US Pigments, After those 2 experiences I usually order a small amount of coloring oxides/carbonates to test before placing a large order and asking for the lot number. Larry, I noticed you were in Spokane, don't know if you ever shop at Seattle Pottery Supply but if you are planning on it get price quotes in an email or phone call since their online prices are outdated most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Local supplier for me is in Pittsburgh, two hours away. So when I order, it is usually a palette of materials. Sometimes this is clay, and chemicals. On the occasional missing oxide or such, I order from there also and they ship it with lowest shipper, which is sometimes USPS. Low price means nothing if shipping eats up the price break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Pigment prices can vary widely, but for most glaze materials where you need larger quantities- feldspars, silica, whiting, etc- buying local is probably your best bet. It can get pricey to ship full bags of material. Always try to buy full bags so you can get the best price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docweathers Posted October 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 I will have to try negotiating more with my local supplier. To date, they seem to believe there selling gold oxide. I will have to get a current price list from Seattle pottery supply. I did not realize that their online list was not up to date. I have ordered from US Pigments was before. I will have to check them out again Thanks for all of the guidance Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terraforma Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Stumbled across this topic, compared prices to my local supplier, and—WHOA! GARGANTUAN savings. Love my local supplier, but money is tight so I will buy the pricey materials from U.S. Pigment. Thank you enormously for this information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 For me US pigments for some items-the discount is also for 70s and up on UPS from there in full bags-Some colorants are best here. Some/most materials including red Iron-custar whatever in 50# bags come with my yearly Laguna clay order- I ship it all up and manage the group buy-we fill a truck with 48,000 lbs (24 tons) we get best truck rates and bulk buy. I do use my local supplier on extra clay and things I run out of during the year.It justs costs 40% more. The key for me is bulk buying-it does not work for everyone I realize. There are a few other places for more savings on colorants but the minimum order is 55 lbs which excludes may-It was the last place I got cobalt Carb. from-sold 1/2 to my local supplier and got a great deal on the rest. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yedrow Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 US Pigments is about the cheapest I've found. However, their customer service is horrible. They double shipped a three pound order I made for cobalt oxide and despite producing computer proof that I didn't make a second order of cobalt three days after the first, they refused to pay the return shipping and were a bit insulting in their refusal. Joel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J. Posted November 20, 2013 Report Share Posted November 20, 2013 +1 for US Pigments. Always helpful and accommodating. Prices with freight can't be touched by local suppliers.. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manamoo2 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I've learned so much in the last day and a half from this site! Have had so many disappointments with glazes that had work well for me in the past, then one by one, 4 of my most trust-worthy glazes began failing me. Waterfall Brown, licorice, Variegated Blue, and another glaze (Straw glaze) not from the MC6G book were all turning my pieces a dark ugly brown instead of the beautiful mottled and textured colors that I had grown to love. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what was going on. I haven't changed kilns - same firing schedule. Nothing made sense to me. After reading through page after page of comments in this forum, I am now wondering if it has to do with the brand of RIO that I purchased last fall (all the glazes that have failed me contain RIO). I just zipped over to the US Pigment site for the first time ever and ordered some high purity RIO. Fingers crossed! Carole Update: Just looked up where I purchased my last order of red iron oxide and, lo and behold, I got it from Axner.com. At the bottom of my receipt it says "a division of the Laguna Clay Company". Thank you Norm Stewart for your post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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