Hi to everyone!! Thanks for reading my blog. Today's post is about Glaze components. One of the glazes that I often use for the inside of bowls and other utilitarian ware is called White Satin Matte (WSM). I also use WSM mixed with Mason Stains to achieve colors that I like to use for painting on bisque ware. One of the components of this glaze is Talc. Over the years I have used a very white Talc called Nytal Talc. However, recently I was told that Nytal Talc is no longer available and that Pioneer Talc could be substituted.  To my surprise I found that the Pioneer Talc  is grey in color. The material data sheet on Pioneer Talc received from the supplier indicated Pioneer Talc is white when fired. Since I use a lot of WSM and I mix WSM with Mason Stains for painting projects I decided to test fire some of these stains and the WSM formulated with Pioneer Talc to determine if Pioneer Talc would impact the color of the mixtures. You can see the results of these tests in the photograph below. As you will note by the results - I was pleasantly surprised!

The two half cylinders shown were  treated identically.  Horizontal Row 1) was given a single brush stroke with WSM only; WSM+yellow Mason Stain 6433 ; WSM+orange Mason Stain 6028; WSM+red Mason Stain 6025; or crimson Mason Stain 6003. Horizontal Row 2) was given two brush strokes. Horizontal Row 3) was given three brush strokes and Horizontal Row 4 was given four brush strokes of the same composition as described above for Hrizontal Row 1.