Firing Advice:
This stain is an encapsulated or inclusion stain. This means it uses the chemical matrix of the zirconium to stabilise it. We would advise not going higher than 1200°C. Zinc could affect the colour; use host or base glazes without zinc.
General Advice:
Visit our Knowledge Base for more information on how to use stains.
As you will see from the display photos, there will be variations with the same stain at different firing temperatures; in general, they will be brighter at lower temperatures than at higher.
With some refractory stain colours, red, orange and yellow they may develop micro-bubbling in a glaze, but this can be reduced with a little stain enhancer (2% of the dry weight of powdered glaze). It will not only make the colour more intense but bubble free.
Be aware that certain colours can affect the melt of a clay body or glaze. For example, the blue contains cobalt which will act like a flux, so make sure you test and protect your shelves and kiln against glaze/clay dribbling.
The advice above suggests that before you commit to buying and working with stains, please test. We sell the stains in 50g and 100g amounts. The stain enhancer and underglaze frit are available in 100g amounts.
When used in conjunction with a host glaze, do check and test for compatibility. If you are glazing wares that will be in contact with food or drink, then use stains to the minimum % and with a host glaze that is very shiny. It is possible for ingredients within the stain to leach if the host glaze is not compatible. If you are selling to the public then we advise you get your wares and glazes tested, see our food safety advice.
