Today was a nice and sunny so it was a good excuse to make up our first batch of ceramic casting slip for pouring. It takes a 50 pound sack of powered white clay, a few chemicals and three gallons of water. The brand in use is Xtra White Casting Slip. The suggested cone firing temperature is 04 to 06.

Mixing was easy using a five gallon bucket from Home Depot. However, it would have been better to use a larger container. The mixed contents came almost to the top. Perhaps a nice plastic 10 gallon container will be on my list. And having one person mix while the other adds the powered clay is a good plan.

Home Depot had the perfect stirring device. It fits on a 1/2 inch electric drill and is used for mixing heavy liquids. The all steel Husky spiral mixer runs six dollars even here in Alaska. It can be found in their paint department. However, other types are also used for mixing wallboard mud.

The casting slip is available locally at Sheila's Ceramics. Considering the weight, it would be costly to ship one sack from Seattle. Sheila buys the material by the ton which is shipped up by barge in pallet load lots.

Keep in mind that the weight of the completed slip will be in the 75 pound range. So plan ahead, as moving a full container requires some effort.

Suggestions are to not use the slip for one week. The idea is to have the material "ripen" prior to use. In our case, it is setting by the door. Close for use and out of the cold weather. Later next week some molds will be poured to test the newly made slip.

Then there will be a new batch of greenware to fire to cone 04. It then will be called bisque, glazed and fired once again but this time to cone 06 for a finished product.