Inspired by the recently published Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors, I have been testing low fire glazes. This post compares the G1619Q glaze vs the commercially available Duncan 1001 clear glaze.
G1619Q was developed by Tony Hansen of the website Digital Fire. In the Low-Fire Glazes book, author Ben Carter mentions that he and his students at the workshop renamed the glaze “Quigley Clear.” I happen to like Hansen’s numbering system, but maybe the Quigley Clear will stick.
In any case, it’s a simple recipe that contains 3 different frits and ball clay. I haven’t tested it yet, but I believe it will work well with stains.
I did test it with the oxides I recently mixed up for a low fire majolica test, and those test tiles are below. (Had similar mixed results on this clear glaze as with the white majolica glaze.)
To see how this stacked up, I also ran the same tests with the Duncan 1001 Envision clear glaze. On white clay, it was the same, but the Duncan clear had an interesting bluish cloudiness on the Standard 103 red clay. Just goes to show, you should test everything before you put it into production!
If you are looking for more low fire glaze recipes, definitely check out the book!
G1619Q "Quigley Clear" Low Fire Clear Glaze Recipe
| Ingredient | Percentage | 1000g batch |
|---|---|---|
| Frit 3195 | 65 | 650g |
| OM4 Ball Clay | 15 | 150g |
| Frit 3110 | 10 | 100g |
| Frit 3249 | 10 | 10g |
Instructions:
Weigh and mix the dry ingredients together.
Then, add the dry ingredients to water and mix to a specific gravity of 1.45.
G1619Q vs Duncan Envision 1001 tests
G1619Q glaze on top, Duncan Envision 1001 Clear on bottom. The Duncan turns a bluish hue on the red clay.
A closer look at the Duncan Envision test tiles.
Low Fire Clear tests with Oxide Washes
This image shows the G1619Q glaze on top and Duncan Envision 1001 Clear on the bottom, tested with oxide washes. These are the same washes from the recent test on low fire white majolica glaze. The oxide washes need some refinement, in my opinion (maybe more frit) but it’s what I had on hand so I ran the tests.
If you need a guide on mixing a glaze, click here. And this is a guide to the best glaze mixing tools and accessories.
You can also have a lot of success with commercial low fire glazes. Duncan Pure Brilliance is similar to the Duncan glaze used in this test, and Blick also makes an affordable low fire clear. There are a lot of other options out there too.
Duncan Pure Brilliance Low Fire Glaze
formulated for brushing (with gums) or dipping
Brushing pint: $9
Brushing Gallon: $35
Dipping Gallon: $31
Dipping 3.5 Gallons: $71
Blick Essentials Low Fire Clear Glaze
formulated for brushing
Pint: $8
Gallon: $31
Have you mixed a low-fire clear from scratch that you like? Let us know in the comments.
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