Wax Resists

NEW! Mr. Mark's Removable Wax Off Resist
Mr. Mark's Removable Wax Off Resist is a wax we have created for potters and decorative artists. It is designed to be painted on like regular wax, but can easily be peeled away. The removal is simple and can be done in a short period of time. This allows for endless possibilities in design as well as layering. Our Wax Off! Resist dries in 5-10 minutes depending on how thick you put it on. It dries darker than it appears when wet (so you know when it's ready). It can even be applied to spots on your bisque ware that have already been dipped in glaze without lifting away the glaze. On top of all that it's affordable! You will never have to be afraid of dripping wax on your pots and being stuck with a waxing mistake again: now you can just peel it away!

Helpful Hints: By resting your brush in soapy water while you are working with Wax Off, you will preserve the life of your brush. Clean your brushes with soap and water after use. Dish soap works great. Do not allow wax to freeze.

Aftosa Wax Resist
Popular blue-green wax especially good for application over already glazes areas for “double-dipping” and “overlapping color” techniques. It also can be used as a general resist on foot rings etc. but requires a fairly heavy application and a 6-8 hour drying period for best results. Aftosa wax can be thinned with water for detail work. Store in a closed container and do not allow wax to freeze. Always pour a small amount into a separate container to be used (do not dip brush directly in the jar) and throw away any leftover wax. DO NOT return used wax to the main storage jar as contamination is likely.

NEW! AFTOSA Black Wax Resist
Fabulous for detailed work. Outline your designs and fill in with glaze. The wax separates your colors during application and leaves a black line after firing. Black color holds up to Cone 8. Cover with clear glaze to intensify color.

Michelman Wax
A clear to white colored wax with excellent brushing properties for easy application to bisque. Resists extremely well after only a short drying period: 30 mins. is usually sufficient, This wax can be colored with food dye to improve visibility if desired and thinned with water if necessary. Michelman Wax does not adhere well to raw-glazed surfaces. Store tightly covered and do not allow to freeze. Keep wax in use separate to avoid contamination.

Deflocculants

To create and maintain fluidity in casting slips. Three types are offered:

1. Sodium Silicate - All purpose for Low or High Fire Slips.

2. Darvan® No. 7-N - For Low Fire white and Hobby Slips. Darvan® No. 7-N is an excellent deflocculant/dispersing agent in glazes to be applied by spraying, providing increased fluidity without the addition of excessive amounts of water, and keeping the materials evenly-dispersed in the glaze while you work.

3. Darvan 811 - For Low Fire Red and High Fire Slips. Darvan 811 can also be used in glazes as a deflocculant/dispersing agent to improve working properties during spray application

Click here for for detailed descriptions.

Menders

Magic Mender (Low Fire)
Used to repair broken or cracked Low-Fire greenware or bisque. Stir jar and apply to both sides of the crack or break and hold together until set. Allow to dry completely before carefully cleaning excess mender from the repaired area. Always fire (or re-fire if already bisqued) a mended piece before applying glaze to be sure the repair holds. Our customers report a high success rate with this product. Packaged in a 4 Oz. Jar.

Aztec Mender (High Fire)
A special product specifically for use on High Temperature green-ware or bisque. Aztec Mender appears as a clear gel to which you add slip or slurry from the clay body you wish to repair and mix thoroughly, Apply this mixture to both sides of the crack or break and hold together until set.

APT II Products

APT II Enhancers are available in two formulas: Ceramic Enhancer for Low-Fire (C/06-3) Slips and Clay Bodies Porcelain/Stoneware Enhancer for Mid-High Fire (Cone 4-10) Slips and Clay Bodies.

These unique products can be used as:

1. a Mender (for greenware or bisque)

2. a Plasticizer for moist clays and

3. a Conditioner for underglaze & glaze colors.

1) Mender
When mixed with the appropriate slip (Low or High Fire) both Enhancers create superior menders equal to the original slip in color, hardness and green strength. Both allow you to mend, attach and build onto either greenware or bisque. All mended/altered forms should be bisqued (or re-bisqued) after APT II work has been done. The resulting mends and additions accept glaze as well as the original clay itself without “hard spots” or “crawling” problems.

2) Plasticizer
When the appropriate APT II Enhancer is added to a moist clay body, it plasticizes the clay, reducing stress cracks and greatly improving green strength. The resulting clay is more elastic excellent for sculpting, and accepts add-ons & repairs with ease.

3) Conditioner
The addition of the appropriate APT II Enhancer to a glaze or underglaze gives smoother application, improved adhesion to the clay and better coverage for less streaking with fewer coats. Glazes, especially Lead-Free ones, fire out to a noticeably smoother surface, with fewer pinholes, streaks and other surface blemishes.

Both Enhancers come with complete instructions for these as well as many other uses. These are truly amazing formulas that you owe it to yourself to try!

Mend-A-Mold
Also from APT II Products, Mend-A-Mold is the ideal adhesive for repairing and restoring plaster molds. Apply to both pieces and press firmly or band together sets in minutes: dries completely in one hour. Can also be applied to molds to allow the addition of fresh plaster, with excellent adhesion, for rebuilding and restoring seriously damaged molds. Unlike white glues, Mend-A Mold allows normal absorption of water from the slip into the mold. Water passes through the mended area without loosening its bond. Mend-A-Mold does not create “hard spots” or interfere with mold release of caste objects in any way.

Spectrum Glaze Additives

Spectrum Glaze Thinner
Glaze Thinner is a solution of sodium hexametaphosphate in water. It is a very powerful thinning agent and should be added very sparingly. For example, 2 or 3 drops in a 4 oz. jar should have a significant effect. It is a useful product for thinning glazes, underglazes, etc. when you do not want to dilute the strength of the glaze by adding water.
Available in 2 sizes.

Spectrum Brushing Media
A simple gum solution that can be added to any glaze, to improve its brushing characteristics. Spectrum’s Brushing Media helps glazes adhere better to the brush and dry more slowly during application allowing time to work out brush strokes and create a smooth even coat. Brushing Media can be used to convert a dipping or spraying glaze into a brushing glaze. Start by adding 5% of the volume of the product being adjusted: do not add more than 10%. Brushing Media contains water and adding large quantities of it may dilute the original glaze. Also note that Brushing Media will help to keep glazes in suspension: it may not be necessary to add additional suspending agents when Brushing Media is used.

Other Liquid Glaze Additives

Flocs (Glaze Suspender)
A simple, effective glaze suspender, Flocs will keep glazes suspended for longer working time than other methods and prevent settling during storage periods. It is completely organic and burns out at approx. 400 degrees F. Use sparingly as too much will thicken the glaze: 1 Tsp. is sufficient to suspend approx. 4-5 Gals. of glaze. If thickening occurs, add a little more water until correct consistency is reached. Flocs is best added during initial glaze mixing, but can be added to already mixed glazes if necessary. If Flocs crystallizes, add a small amount of warm water and shake well. Avoid freezing.

Dry Glaze Additives

Mold Release

Mold Soap Concentrate
Parting agent for quick easy release of objects being caste in plaster when making molds. Comes as a concentrate: mix 8 parts distilled water to 1 part mold soap concentrate.

PLEASE NOTE: None of the products on this page are recommended to ship during the winter months as long-term freezing may adversely effect them. No Refunds can be given on these items if damaged by freezing during shipment.

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