Processing
BOTZ glazes are available in jars of 200ml and 800ml – ready to use. Every glaze is finely tuned and has its individual consistency. If an opened glaze turns too solid: just add some water and stir well until it feels right again.
APPLICATION:
Stir the glaze thoroughly and apply the first coat on clean, dust-free biscuit ware with a brush. Apply a second coat when the first is dry. Depending on your individual application thickness you might apply a third coat. The glaze can soon be touched. Then you can move your glazed piece of pottery to the kiln.
FIRING:
For best results allow the glaze to dry for a day. The ideal firing temperature for nearly all BOTZ glazes is about 1050°C (earthenware), 1250°C (stoneware). Soaked for 10–20 min. (stoneware: 30 min.) the glazes become smoother and many effects come out more strongly.
IMPORTANT:
- Specific advice in addition to the general glazing instructions are given on the individual pot label.
- Keep the firing-room well ventilated while firing is in process. The fumes from the kiln should go straight outside.
- We advise not to use matt, strong metallic or craquelling glazes for tableware. They could harbour bacteria or influence the taste of the food or drinks served in them.
- Don’t eat, drink or smoke while working with ceramic materials. Wash your hands with care after glazing. Children should only glaze under the supervision. Glazes should be stored out of children‘s reach
Tableware
Can I use BOTZ glazes for tableware?
Yes, if you consider the following: We recommend all colours showing the respective pictogram for use with tableware, these glazes have passed the mandatory acid/alkaline solution tests and thus are suited well for the inner parts of dishes, mugs, etc. Other BOTZ glazes are also non-toxic, but the surface is not entirely smooth and closed. Hence it can be affected e. g. by aggressive cleaning agents or food residue. We recommend cleaning all handmade ceramics by hand.
When is my ceramic ware waterproof?
The impermeability of ceramic pieces is actually determined by the clay, i.e. it is supposed to be fired “tight” (= sintered). You can ask for the crucial sinter temperature of each type of clay at your local ceramic dealer or directly at the clay manufacturers. In earthenware firing (1020–1100°C) the sinter temperature is usually not reached, so the clay still absorbs and emits water. Therefore, we recommend not using these ceramic wares with liquids (at least not for too long) and not leaving outside when temperatures are below zero.
Are all high-fired objects suitable for tableware?
We recommend almost all BOTZ Stoneware and BOTZ PRO glazes (from 1200°C) for tableware. In high-firing, clays are almost always sintered and hence the dishes are suitable for food. Manufacturers and sellers of ceramic tableware bear the responsibility for the food suitability of the fired items. As a glaze manufacturer we are happy to provide safety data sheets regarding our glazes on request.
BOTZ BROCHURE
