chiefman3d Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Just getting back into pottery after a 20 year "too busy to enjoy life" absence and am having a great time. Mixing my own glazes from recipes I have found online and in books and trying to be economical as possible. I have read several places that Zircopax can be substituted for Tin Oxide at a 2:1 ratio. My question is, Will the glaze come out close to what it is supposed to look like, or do I just have to bite the bullet and spend the big bucks for Tin Oxide? Thanks in advance for any responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Several times in the past, I have tried Zircopax/Tin Oxide comparisons while developing glaze recipes. I have always been disappointed with the Zircopax tests. Too bad, because I was hoping to save some money too. But for me, it's not worth it. Tin Oxide makes a very clean crisp white, Zircopax is a little murky. When combined with other colorants, again Tin Oxide makes crisp colors while Zircopax makes colors a little murky. Maybe it wouldn't seem that way if I wasn't holding the test tile right next to a Tin Oxide test tile, but when the tests are next to each other it's pretty obvious. But what I dislike the most about Zircopax is the flatness of the opacity. Looks a little plastic. It's doesn't interact with edges or surface textures, it's just looks flat. Tin Oxide glazes will play up surfaces textures and edges, and overall has a more natural, slightly undulating opacity. I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a glaze. This is just one potter's opinion, that Tin Oxide is worth the price. Lucky for me I only use it in small amounts. Mea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffCenter Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Several times in the past, I have tried Zircopax/Tin Oxide comparisons while developing glaze recipes. I have always been disappointed with the Zircopax tests. Too bad, because I was hoping to save some money too. But for me, it's not worth it. Tin Oxide makes a very clean crisp white, Zircopax is a little murky. When combined with other colorants, again Tin Oxide makes crisp colors while Zircopax makes colors a little murky. Maybe it wouldn't seem that way if I wasn't holding the test tile right next to a Tin Oxide test tile, but when the tests are next to each other it's pretty obvious. But what I dislike the most about Zircopax is the flatness of the opacity. Looks a little plastic. It's doesn't interact with edges or surface textures, it's just looks flat. Tin Oxide glazes will play up surfaces textures and edges, and overall has a more natural, slightly undulating opacity. I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a glaze. This is just one potter's opinion, that Tin Oxide is worth the price. Lucky for me I only use it in small amounts. Mea Thanks for that info. I use a couple of glazes that use tin and had considered substituting zircopax. I may still do that or do a combo of the two but the info you provide above is very helpful. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefman3d Posted February 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Several times in the past, I have tried Zircopax/Tin Oxide comparisons while developing glaze recipes. I have always been disappointed with the Zircopax tests. Too bad, because I was hoping to save some money too. But for me, it's not worth it. Tin Oxide makes a very clean crisp white, Zircopax is a little murky. When combined with other colorants, again Tin Oxide makes crisp colors while Zircopax makes colors a little murky. Maybe it wouldn't seem that way if I wasn't holding the test tile right next to a Tin Oxide test tile, but when the tests are next to each other it's pretty obvious. But what I dislike the most about Zircopax is the flatness of the opacity. Looks a little plastic. It's doesn't interact with edges or surface textures, it's just looks flat. Tin Oxide glazes will play up surfaces textures and edges, and overall has a more natural, slightly undulating opacity. I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a glaze. This is just one potter's opinion, that Tin Oxide is worth the price. Lucky for me I only use it in small amounts. Mea Thanks Mea, I will order some Tin Oxide as I have several glazes that I substituted zircopax for that just came out of the new kiln this morning and I was not happy at all. I will post those questions on how best to fix them under another heading. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSmartCat Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 @ ChiefMan 3D.....what temp are you firing to? I work between ^05-^03. It does not seem to make much difference whether I use tin or zircopax.....actually I use superpax, which seems to be a little finer than zircopax. I also add a *very* small amount of rutile to my base glazes. It gives them a creamy look, sort of like old lead glazes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefman3d Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 @ TheSmartCat... All the recipes I am using are ^6. Have not done any low fire recipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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