Spectrum Glazes : Series: CR01 to CR12 : Glaze Crystals
Spectrum Glaze Crystals are all lead-free and dinnerware
safe when fired to a minimum cone 06. These crystals are very versatile
and can be used successfully from cone 06 to cone 6.
They can be
used with any glaze in this firing range to produce a great variety
of different appearances. They can also be intermixed. Many beautiful
combinations of two or more colored crystals on your choice of glaze
background can be used. Please be aware that, due to varying expansion
coefficients, some of these crystals may cause crazing on some glazes,
particularly at stoneware temperatures. Please test for suitability
in your application.
One method of applying the crystals is to drop them onto the final
coat of glaze while the surface is still wet allowing the crystals
to stick to the glaze. If the glaze dries out before all the crystals
are applied try spraying a little water on the glaze surface to
help the crystals stick to it. In this way you can position the
crystals where you want them on the piece. Alternatively, you can
try sprinkling some of the crystals onto a piece of paper and then
dabbing your brush, already loaded with glaze, into the crystals
as you are applying the final coat of glaze. However, be aware that
these crystals will run a lot when fired up to cone 5 or 6 and should
not be applied near the bottom of the piece for stoneware firings.
This is not of concern at cone 06 or 05 as they will not move and
spread nearly as much at lower temperatures. These crystals can
also be mixed into a liquid glaze to be brushed on. However, one
of the reasons that we decided not to prepare pre-mixed crystal
glazes is that the crystals are large and heavy and tend to settle
to the bottom of the container. Therefore, you will need to stir
the glaze frequently if you choose to mix the crystals into a glaze.
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