10.27.23 - Please note: we had heard reports of recent loads of EPK showing black specks in the firing. We tested the batch we received last month and found no black specks or any other contaminants. E.P.K. stands for Edgar Plastic Kaolin, and is a kaolin mined in Edgar, Florida. This material fires white and is loved for its stickiness when wet and thixotropic properties. 15-20% will make a glaze slurry gel and allow bisque ware to be dipped in the glaze. While this material is good for casting, it does not have enough plasticity to be good for throwing clay bodies on its own. In that case, more plastic kaolins or a plasticizer can be added to the body.  Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database. 50# bag; brown bag, black text EPK Pulverized Kaolin

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Foundry Hull Creme is a fairly refractory stoneware that is very similar to ball clay but has a much lower drying shrinkage and much higher firing shrinkage. It is most commonly used in stoneware clay bodies.  50# bag; brown bag, red text HC Spinks and Foundry Hill Creme on top and bottom

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Grolleg is a blended English kaolin typically used for making translucent porcelain clay bodies. The material has a low shrinkage rate and fires to a blue/white color. It has moderate plasticity and a low titania and high flux content. A glaze or clay body will almost always specify Grolleg if Grolleg is necessary. If it just says china clay or kaolin, other kaolins are a more cost-effective option. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database. 55# bag; white bag, blue text Imerys Quality China Clay

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Helmer Kaolin is mined in Helmer, Idaho from a kaolin deposit found there. The most common use for this kaolin is for wood firing because of its amazing flashing properties. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database. 50# bag; brown bag, no text

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KT 1-4 Ball clay is a coarse and fast casting ball clay. It is a specific blend of SGP1 and OM4. This ball clay is most used in artware, low fire, brightly colored pieces. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database 50# bag; brown bag, black text KT #1-4 printed on side

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OM-4 Ball Clay, which stands for Old Mine #4 located in Mayfield, KY, is a very popular, fine ball clay. It has amazing plasticity and strength and is used in many clay bodies as well as glaze recipes. In glazes, it helps with suspension aid of the slurry.  Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database. 50# bag; brown bag, red text OM4 printed on side

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Redart is an earthenware material that fires red and is fired to low temperatures (cone 06-3). It has low plasticity and low shrinkage. In clay bodies, it needs bentonite added to impart more plasticity. This material makes a good casting slip but may also need the addition of bentonite to help it pull away from the walls of the mold without tearing.  Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database. 50# bag; red bag, yellow text Redart with green tree

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OptiKast is a coarse grained kaolin. It's primary use is in casting slips because of it's fast casting and deflocculation properties, which also make it useful in pressure casting systems. Optikast is the recommended substitute for Velvacast kaolin. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database.

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SGP #1, also known as Tennessee Ball Clay #1, is a coarse grained ball clay with medium plasticity and strength. It is an industry standard for casting due to its fast casting properties and can be used as a suspender in glaze slurries.  50# bag; brown bag, TN #1 SGP printed on side

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Newman Red is a red burning fireclay. It has low plasticity and low dry strength and is loved for its very strong staining abilities. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database.

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New Zealand Kaolin is considered to be the whitest kaolin sold globally. In porcealin bodies, it fires whiter and more translucent than bodies made with grolleg. However, it is a less plastic material and makes a less vitreous clay body than grolleg. In glazes, New Zealand Kaolin will suspend and dry harden slurries. It produces very clear glazes because of chemical composition. This material is very sticky in clay bodies and glazes. In glazes, it is important to sieve the slurry made with NZK to properly disperse the clumps of material that will be made. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database.

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G-200 Feldspar is a high quality potassium / sodium / calcium aluminum silicate ground to 200 mesh for ceramic applications. Carefully beneficiated and controlled for quality, G-200 offers high potash content and low iron oxide per unit of alumina.

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Silica is the main glass former in ceramics. It is added to clay bodies and glaze recipes when the other materials do not add enough silica to the mix. The material is sold in two different meshes, 325 and 200 mesh. This product is 200 mesh which is typically used for clay bodies.  There are multiple bag designs for this product, it depends on the manufacturer 50# bag; brown bag, #90 printed on side

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Silica is the main glass former in ceramics. It is added to clay bodies and glaze recipes when the other materials do not add enough silica to the mix. The material is sold in two different meshes, 325 and 200 mesh. This product is 325 mesh which is typically used for glaze recipes.  50# bag; brown bag, #45 printed on side

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Silica shot, also known as silica sand, can be used as an additive to clay bodies instead of grog or in addition to it. Silica shot will reduce the firing shrinkage and warping of a piece. It may also be used under pieces in a kiln on the shelf to help the pieces move as they are firing and helping to prevent cracking. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database and The Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques by Frank Hamer. 100# bag; brown bag, Silica Shot written on many places

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Minspar Feldspar is a soda feldspar that replaced NC-4 and Kona F-4. As of right now, Minspar is not available due to the mine being impacted during Hurricane Helene. 50# bag, white bag, red text "Minspar 200" and "K-T Feldspar Corp"

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Nepheline Syenite is a powerful flux used in many clay bodies and glaze recipes. While it is similar to feldspar in chemistries, Nepheline Syenite contains no quartz. This material is so loved because of its white color it adds to clay bodies and for its use in low temperature clay bodies to increase their thermal expansion. Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database.

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