Diane Puckett Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 I made a batch of Opulence Bamboo cone 6 glaze from their dry mix. I have tried it on numerous clays, and it always has pinholes, enough that the pieces are ruined. It has been thoroughly sieved several times. I have tried firing at cones 5, 6, & 7, with and without holds. I have tried refiring, which only makes more pinholes. I have tried bisquing at 08 and 04. Nothing has helped. I will probably end up throwing the glaze away but figured I would ask for suggestions first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucille Oka Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 What company's glaze is this? Do you wet down your bisque before glaze application? Try applying a thinner coat of glaze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 Made by Mid-South Ceramics . . . http://www.midsouthceramics.com/MidSouthCeramics/products-and-supplies/view/category/virtuemart_category_id/33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucille Oka Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 If this is the Mid-South Ceramic Supply Company's 'Opulence Bamboo 815' the description text has a few bits of information that can help you achieve the same results as the manufacturer. Here is the text- "Opulence Envirocolors have a satiny matte surface with 10 earthy colors available. They are compatible with Opulence Gloss and Reduction-Look glazes. The Envirocolors do not flow when used alone, but give a color variation with textured surfaces. Designed for Cone 6 electric firing, we have had success with tests in C/10 gas reduction and C/10 wood firing. They are completely barium and lead-free and are microwave and dinnerware safe." The manufacturer stated the glaze was 'designed' for cone 6 electric. If you can fire to cone 10 gas reduction or cone 10 wood firing you may achieve the same success. Don't throw it out, go higher, get to Cone 10 in the electric kiln if that is your only firing option; see what you get and post your results. Find out the clay body the manufacturer used in their tests and try to obtain a small sample amount. Duplicating the manufacturer's results should ensure you the same success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 I use several of their glazes, what clay are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Puckett Posted October 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 I use several of their glazes, what clay are you using? I have tried it on Highwater Brown Stone, Ellen's Buff, Trina Buff, Little Loafer, Riverside Grit. I have used several other Opulence glazes with no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Puckett Posted October 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 If this is the Mid-South Ceramic Supply Company's 'Opulence Bamboo 815' the description text has a few bits of information that can help you achieve the same results as the manufacturer. Here is the text- "Opulence Envirocolors have a satiny matte surface with 10 earthy colors available. They are compatible with Opulence Gloss and Reduction-Look glazes. The Envirocolors do not flow when used alone, but give a color variation with textured surfaces. Designed for Cone 6 electric firing, we have had success with tests in C/10 gas reduction and C/10 wood firing. They are completely barium and lead-free and are microwave and dinnerware safe." The manufacturer stated the glaze was 'designed' for cone 6 electric. If you can fire to cone 10 gas reduction or cone 10 wood firing you may achieve the same success. Don't throw it out, go higher, get to Cone 10 in the electric kiln if that is your only firing option; see what you get and post your results. Find out the clay body the manufacturer used in their tests and try to obtain a small sample amount. Duplicating the manufacturer's results should ensure you the same success. I like this glaze but not enough to fire to cone 10. I will try layering it with other glazes and see what it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 If the glaze is a satin matte that doesn't flow at cone 6, and also works well at cone 10 in a wood kiln, then it is under-fired at cone 6. Under-firing is the least desirable method of obtaining a matte surface because it does not develop good glass formation and results in poor durability. Crystal growth is the best way to develop a matte surface since the glaze melts more and the glass is fully developed. SO, my guess as to why it is pinholing is because it is not melting well enough to seal over completely. It may take going all the way to 10 to solve the problem. That would require different clay bodies, wouldn't be compatible with your other glazes, would and be way more trouble than it's worth. Since you have the dry mix, make some 100 gram test batches and try adding Gillespie Borate or Frit 3134 in 2% increments and see if that helps. It may gloss up a little bit, but hopefully is will flow a little more and seal over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Puckett Posted October 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 If the glaze is a satin matte that doesn't flow at cone 6, and also works well at cone 10 in a wood kiln, then it is under-fired at cone 6. Under-firing is the least desirable method of obtaining a matte surface because it does not develop good glass formation and results in poor durability. Crystal growth is the best way to develop a matte surface since the glaze melts more and the glass is fully developed. SO, my guess as to why it is pinholing is because it is not melting well enough to seal over completely. It may take going all the way to 10 to solve the problem. That would require different clay bodies, wouldn't be compatible with your other glazes, would and be way more trouble than it's worth. Since you have the dry mix, make some 100 gram test batches and try adding Gillespie Borate or Frit 3134 in 2% increments and see if that helps. It may gloss up a little bit, but hopefully is will flow a little more and seal over. Thanks. That explains a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Oz Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 I've used opulence glazes from the same family, and they look like they may be using strontium carbonate to produce mattes, which can have pinhole problems, One thing that's recommended is to try a thinner glaze coat. Maybe you just got a bad batch of glaze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darla Posted October 25, 2012 Report Share Posted October 25, 2012 I really like several opulence glazes..... French Bleu is cool, but you need to make sure its on thick enough -- I have to double dip. Smokey Mist is really nice... its my favorite. I like Blue Monday, Celedon, galaxy, and denim blue too. I tried Meadow and Pebble Beach, and they are nice enough, they are just pale in color and I'm currently using a dark clay. But haven't tried Bamboo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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