Blue Guppy - 4-oz Mayco Jungle Gem Crystal Glaze

Description

CG1008 – Blue Guppy (4-ounce) Jungle Gem Crystal Glaze

Cone 06 oxidation: Blue Guppy is a semi-translucent teal base with black and variegated olive metallic crystals. 

Cone 6 oxidation: Base glazes darkens; crystals cascade. Enhanced mobility. Surface issues may occur.

Jungle Gems Crystal Glazes transform in the kiln when the small pieces of glass frit burst into color and intricate patterns during the firing process. Artists use these beautiful glazes to add dramatic, colorful effects to their creations.

When Fired to Cone 6:  Base glaze fades - crystals fade and melt. Enhanced mobility. Surface issues may occur.

Drama! Excitement!  

These beautiful glazes transform in the kiln when small pieces of glass burst into color and intricate pattern during the firing process. Use alone for stunning effects, in glaze combination blending with Stroke & Coats Foundations or Cobblestones or simply as an accent to your design.

General Use

Crystal glazes were designed to mature at cone 06/05. Apply to shelf cone 04 bisque. Shake jar well and stir during the application process. Apply 3 coats with a fan brush, allowing to dry between coats. Avoid placing crystals towards bottom of ware to keep them from flowing onto the kiln shelf during firing. Crystal Glazes can be fired to higher temperatures. Review individual color label for cone 6 firing results. The crystals in the glaze will melt when fired, which may create a textured surface. As that surface may be difficult to properly clean if in contact with food, we recommend crystal glazes to be used on decorative ware. Jungle Gems and Crystalite glazes are certified AP nontoxic, with the exception of CG 707 Woodland Fantasy and CG 713 Peacock Green which require a caution label, CL, due to soluble copper. Please refer to label for specific information

Helpful Hints

·         Left-over crystals? Just add a complimentary Foundations glaze.

·         May use a complimentary Foundations as a base glaze in order to make your crystals go further.

·         We recommend a soft fan brush, such as CB-604 #4 or CB-618 #8 Soft Fan, for glaze application.

·         Stir frequently as crystals tend to settle in the jar due to their weight.

·         Store upside down with lid on securely to allow easy mixing and even dispersion of crystals.

·         As crystals tend to flow at higher temperatures, we recommend limiting the number of crystals on bottom third of vertical piece to avoid glaze running onto kiln shelf.

·         Re-distribution of crystals may be required during the final coat. Where you see the crystal is where you will see it bloom.

Application Recommendations

The following application recommendations are based upon the original product development intent and use for the product. Information on alternative application methods is listed in the section Usage Variations and FAQ's

·         Shake well prior to each application coat. The reason for this recommendation is that the crystals will settle to the bottom of the jar in a short period of time. If you notice the crystals settling during an application, you can either dip your brush to the bottom of the jar to re-dispense or attach the lid and shake vigorously.

·         During the application of the third coat of glaze you may find it necessary to re-distribute crystals, or add crystals, on your piece to assure balanced coverage. Use your brush to push crystals onto thinly covered areas or dip your brush into the jar and gather crystals onto it, then "pat" them on the sparsely covered areas.

·         We recommend a broad, soft brush, such as a CB-604 #4 or CB-618 #8 Soft Fan Brush, to apply crystal glazes. The fan brush may help more in the even disbursement of the crystals, thus creating a more pleasing pattern in the fired glaze.

·         Crystalite and Jungle Gems were designed to fire to cone 06. Higher temperature firings will change the colors from cone 06 results and movement and flow WILL increase.

Usage Variations & FAQs

Q: What advice to do have for firing Crystal glazes at higher temperatures?

A: Crystal glazes, already prone to move, will move much more at higher temperatures.  The crystals will lose some of their definition and act more as a blending agent.  You'll want to be careful about placing glaze too close to the bottom of your piece - in addition to stilting you may want to put a tile or a piece of scrap bisque beneath the piece to prevent glaze from running onto your kiln shelves.

Q: What are some of the ways I can use Crystal glazes in my design work?

A: Simply apply the crystalites in the pattern and apply as the above directions stated. Several rings of the Crystalites placed in varied patterns are also attractive. Interesting patterns may be obtained by placing several rings of crystals in a necklace-like placement around the piece. The glaze may need to be strained in order to separate the crystals for this procedure. The crystals are then applied using a brush or small spoon in a linear necklace-like ring around the piece. This can be several rings in sequential order or in a zigzag pattern to produce the most pleasing effect.

Q: Your label states that Crystalites and Jungle Gems are "Food Safe", yet you also include the statement "May not be suitable for food surfaces due to surface characteristics?

A: Food Safety is determined by standards established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  ASTM method C-738 and C-927-80 are "leach tests"; the tests involve measuring the chemical composition of an acidic food before exposure to a glazed surface and the chemical composition after a several days.  If the levels of glaze materials found in the food are below the established limits, the glaze can be marketed as "Food Safe." Glazes that create dimensional surfaces also create crevices and nooks that can trap food - even after washing.  This food can develop bacterial growth and cause health issues. Our policy is to discourage the use of textural glazes on ware that is intended for food usage even though the glaze has met all food safety criteria.

Q: Can I mix leftover crystals into other glazes?

A: Yes. Foundations Sheers would be a good choice as these glazes will allow the crystals to expand much like the base glaze of Crystalites and Jungle Gems