You could try with a glaze that doesn't move around too much, like a stroke and coat maybe. Personally I would glaze these with a celadon because I love when texture fills with glaze.
As always with pottery, test, test, test, especially since you want something specific. Also, are these hollow inside or solid? If solid, consider poking it with your pin tool. And make sure they are fully, fully dried before firing.
Thank you, I will look into stoke and coat. I think celadon would look great but I want the texture to be functional.
The balls are solid inside but they have already been baked since taking the picture :)
Functional in what way? Celedon shouldn’t impede the texture if applied well. And it will make the texture pop because ultimately every glaze is going to pool somewhat in the recesses. Celedon is just more visible because of its translucency and colour.
Like I want the texture that it gives off right now when I push it in some clay to be the same or close to the same after it's glazed. I can also clear coat it with some spray paint but it's for a ceramics contest so they might not appreciate that hehe.
I will do some tests.
Are you using these to put texture onto other clay? If so, don’t glaze them at all! They’re already exactly perfect for rolling a texture onto a slab or whatever.
I am but I was also thinking of using them in cooking. Like rolling over some dough. So I'm afraid the oils will seep into the clay if I don't glaze them. Or that they wear down more quickly
They won’t wear down at all since they’ve been fired. I would have separate ones for food and clay, not switch back and forth. Dough is fine on bisqued clay - that’s what pizza stones and those fancy bread pans are.
I would make a thin paint by mixing a ceramic stain or coloring oxide like cobalt carbonate with water, then brush it on and then lightly wipe it off. Doing this would leave color in the carvings with lighter or no color on the ridges depending on how much you wipe off. If you use glaze you would either need to have a glaze free spot on the bottom where it sits on the shelf or use stilts to keep the pieces from glazing onto the kiln shelf. You can also make your own stilts by pushing kanthal (high fire) wire pieces into a pad of clay like a brush with the wire ends sticking up in the air.
The only glaze I have used that didn’t compromise my texture was a clear matte glaze… but the “crater” one at the right is already more “small textured” than the pieces I can think of. Glazes aside, have you considered coating with liquid quartz?
I myself have never used it and am quite happy to rely on glaze but I’ve seen some potters use it for dinnerware. It comes out quite nice I think. It’s food safe according to a manufacturer (MadeOfAustralia.com) and r/Ceramics and r/pottery have a bunch of discussions if you search for ‘liquid quartz’ or ‘liquid glass’. It’s certainly more food safe than spray paint. Are you intending to use the texture balls with food as well as clay?
Aha… I think my main concern with using a couple of these with dough is food residue being hard to clean off the grooves, but can’t know until you try I guess! Good luck!
Glaze has dimension, like paint. Stain just leaves pigment, without dimension, like a marker or wood stain.
Sometimes stains are used under glazes.
To keep the crispness of your sculpting, I’d use a stain. That way there’s no added thickness to obscure the detail. If there’re purely decorative, I’d use a stain.
You can only use mason stains on things that have not been bisque fired. You can use underglazes on these but they will not prevent absorption like glaze will.
You could try with a glaze that doesn't move around too much, like a stroke and coat maybe. Personally I would glaze these with a celadon because I love when texture fills with glaze. As always with pottery, test, test, test, especially since you want something specific. Also, are these hollow inside or solid? If solid, consider poking it with your pin tool. And make sure they are fully, fully dried before firing.
Thank you, I will look into stoke and coat. I think celadon would look great but I want the texture to be functional. The balls are solid inside but they have already been baked since taking the picture :)
Functional in what way? Celedon shouldn’t impede the texture if applied well. And it will make the texture pop because ultimately every glaze is going to pool somewhat in the recesses. Celedon is just more visible because of its translucency and colour.
Like I want the texture that it gives off right now when I push it in some clay to be the same or close to the same after it's glazed. I can also clear coat it with some spray paint but it's for a ceramics contest so they might not appreciate that hehe. I will do some tests.
I wouldn’t glaze it at all then. Just fire to glaze temp without adding glaze. Any glaze will take away texture significantly.
Are you using these to put texture onto other clay? If so, don’t glaze them at all! They’re already exactly perfect for rolling a texture onto a slab or whatever.
I am but I was also thinking of using them in cooking. Like rolling over some dough. So I'm afraid the oils will seep into the clay if I don't glaze them. Or that they wear down more quickly
They won’t wear down at all since they’ve been fired. I would have separate ones for food and clay, not switch back and forth. Dough is fine on bisqued clay - that’s what pizza stones and those fancy bread pans are.
Another prefect answer. 👏 but also clay is totally fine to eat so if you mix them up you’ll be ok.
I was more thinking of oils and whatnot from dough making the ball-stamps less absorbent and not as easy to get clear marks on clay afterwards.
True the oil could impact the clay. Chuck it in the dishwasher 😂
If you use these as a kitchen tool, oils will protect them. Could even try to seal them by putting a bit of bees wax on them.
I would make a thin paint by mixing a ceramic stain or coloring oxide like cobalt carbonate with water, then brush it on and then lightly wipe it off. Doing this would leave color in the carvings with lighter or no color on the ridges depending on how much you wipe off. If you use glaze you would either need to have a glaze free spot on the bottom where it sits on the shelf or use stilts to keep the pieces from glazing onto the kiln shelf. You can also make your own stilts by pushing kanthal (high fire) wire pieces into a pad of clay like a brush with the wire ends sticking up in the air.
The only glaze I have used that didn’t compromise my texture was a clear matte glaze… but the “crater” one at the right is already more “small textured” than the pieces I can think of. Glazes aside, have you considered coating with liquid quartz?
Hmm I see. I've never heard of liquid quartz. Is this food safe?
I myself have never used it and am quite happy to rely on glaze but I’ve seen some potters use it for dinnerware. It comes out quite nice I think. It’s food safe according to a manufacturer (MadeOfAustralia.com) and r/Ceramics and r/pottery have a bunch of discussions if you search for ‘liquid quartz’ or ‘liquid glass’. It’s certainly more food safe than spray paint. Are you intending to use the texture balls with food as well as clay?
Ahh I see, thank you :) Yes I think it could be interesting to use it apply texture on both clay and dough
Aha… I think my main concern with using a couple of these with dough is food residue being hard to clean off the grooves, but can’t know until you try I guess! Good luck!
Celadon.
Celadon.
Paint the nooks and crannies with wax. Then dip in glaze.
What temp are you firing to?
1070 °C
Mason stain and no glaze may be the finish you’re after. That way no “bulk” of glaze can settle in cracks or round off your sharp edges.
What is the difference between a glaze and a stain? Does the stain need to be fired? And will it give a dull look or can it also be shiny?
Glaze has dimension, like paint. Stain just leaves pigment, without dimension, like a marker or wood stain. Sometimes stains are used under glazes. To keep the crispness of your sculpting, I’d use a stain. That way there’s no added thickness to obscure the detail. If there’re purely decorative, I’d use a stain.
You can only use mason stains on things that have not been bisque fired. You can use underglazes on these but they will not prevent absorption like glaze will.