Skip to content
Ulster Ceramics Pottery Supplies
Home
Shop
Clays and Slips
Low Fire Clays
Earthenware clays were some of the earliest clays used by potters, and it is the most common type of clay found. These clays are highly plastic (easily worked) and can be sticky. Earthenware clays contain iron and other mineral impurities which cause the clay to reach its optimum hardness at between 950°C and 1150°C. Low-fire clay can be fired up to Cone 3, or sometimes a little higher. Unlike mid and high fire, it never shrinks much or gets really strong and dense even when fired to its maximum temperature. The main advantage to using a low-fire clay when low firing is that your glazes may craze less than if you used a Cone 10 or Cone 6 clay. As always, you have to fire your glaze to the Cone that is specified for that glaze, regardless what clay you use. Just make sure you use a clay rated at least as high as the glaze.
Mid Fire Clays
Mid-Fire Stoneware Clay Bodies are formulated to fire to maturity between 1160°C and 1225°C Mid-fire stoneware which are the Cone 3-6 clays, can also be used at low-fire or up to Cone 6, but not above their specified top temperature. Some of our clays overlap between low-fire, mid-fire and high-fire. Dinnerware for example it is best to use a Cone 5-6 clay if you fire to Cone 5-6. Remember, you have to fire your glaze to the Cone that is specified for that glaze, regardless what clay you use. Just make sure you use a clay rated at least as high as the glaze.
High Fire Clays
High-Fire Stoneware Clay Bodies fire to their mature hardness between 1200°C and 1300°C. Cone 10 clay can be used at low fire (Cone 04-06 or at Cone 6), but to reach its maximum strength it should be fired to Cone 10. That will cause the clay to shrink and become dense, and that is ideal, especially for dinnerware. You want as low absorption numbers on the stoneware and porcelain clay; for dinnerware, you want less than 3%. For sculpture you often want less shrinkage, and absorption doesn’t matter. So then firing Cone 10 clay at a lower temperature is ideal. Clays designed for sculpture have more “open” bodies so they don’t get as dense as other clays. An advantage of using Cone 10 clay is that you don’t have to worry about over firing your clay if you forget what Cone it is. For this reason, many schools and studios only allow Cone 10 clay. Cone 10 clay is also typically used for Raku, even though Raku is a low temperature process. Clays such as 1005 have good temperature shock absorption which is needed for Raku. Remember, you have to fire your glaze to the Cone that is specified for…
Air Dry Clays
Self-hardening clay, also known as air-dried, air-hardening or non-firing clay, is perfect for beginners or anyone without a kiln. It can be used for handbuilding, throwing and sculpting. Self-hardening clay usually dries hard within several days to a durable surface, which may be painted with acrylic type paints. It is important to remember that they are not meant to replace kiln-fired ceramic clay and cannot be used to produce functional products. The products produced with this clay are purely for decorative purposes only. It cannot be fired and cannot hold liquid unless sealed on the inside.
Powder Clays
Casting Slips
Decorating Slips
Glazes and Stains
Earthenware Glazes (1040°C-1080°C)
Glazes fire 1040°C-1080°C unless otherwise marked
U/C Earthenware Glazes (1020 – 1080)
Botz Brush on Earthenware Hobby Glazes
Mid Temp Glazes
Stoneware Glazes
U/C Stoneware Glazes
Botz Stoneware Brush On Glazes
Spectrum Stoneware Brush on Glaze
Raku Glazes
U/C Raku Glaze
Spectrum Raku Glazes
Medium and Resist
Stains
Underglazes
U/C Underglazes
Mayco Underglazes
General Use: Shake well. Apply to wet clay, greenware, or cone 04 bisque; use for design or solid coverage, firing range from cone 06 to cone 10. To intensify color or for use on dinnerware, apply clear or matte clear glaze. For use on clay or greenware, apply and allow to dry. Fire to shelf cone 04. If desired, apply clear glaze and refire to cone 06-05 for earthenware and cone 5-10 for stoneware (999° C–1285 °C). For use on bisque, apply to cone 04 bisque, apply clear glaze if desired and refire earthenware to cone 06 and cone 5-10 for stoneware. Do not spray apply. Apply 3 coats for opacity; fewer for design. Can be thinned for water-colour effect. Apply to bisque, wet clay or greenware. Color can be applied with brush or sponge. Use in sgraffito, majolica, spatter or burnishing techniques. Intermixable for custom colors. Apply matte or gloss clear glaze to intensify color or for use with dinnerware. Check each product label for cone 10 results.
Spectrum Underglazes
U/C Leadless Underglaze Pencils
Raw Materials
All Raw Materials
Ball and China Clays
Fluxes
Frits
Molochites & Silica Sands
Opacifiers
Oxides
Tools
Tool kits
Modelling and Sculpting
Ribbon and Turning Tools
Rubber/Metal Kidneys & Palettes
Sieves and Tongs
Slip Trailers
Needles and Cutters
Tile Cutters and Cutter Sets
Sponges
Rollers, Guides & Modelling Boards
Brushes
Wooden Ribs
Coilers
Hole Cutters
Relief Rollers and Texture
Knives and Cleanup Tools
Miscellaneous
Lamp Fittings
Bisqueware
Kilns and Accessories
Hobby Kilns
Front Loading Kilns
Top Loading Kilns
Rapid Fire Kilns and Raku
Refractory
Shelves
Props
Beadstands and Bars
Bricks, Fibre and Cement
Stilts
Tile Cranks
Cones
A pyrometer measures temperature, but pyrometric cones measure heatwork. They are made of the same ceramic materials as our wares, so cones respond to firing the same way our clays and glazes do. Cones are designed to respond at consistent intervals that, when the cones are used correctly, will remain consistent throughout the kiln and from one firing to the next. Pyrometric cones have several practical uses in the ceramics studio. As firing measurement, witness cones (viewed through a kiln spy/peep hole) are the most accurate measure of a kiln’s firing progress, and for deciding when to shut down the kiln. Since cones act like clay and glaze, some ceramic artists fire “cones only” (often for wood, salt, and raku)—no pyrometers, kiln sitters, etc. Cones are good safety nets in both computer- and sitter-fired kilns. In addition, they are important for calibrating your kiln sitters and customized firing schedules. Using cone packs throughout a kiln can give information about the evenness of the heatwork throughout the kiln, and stacking adjustments can be made to minimize cone differences. Even atmosphere and ventilation information can come from your cones (bloating, colour change, hardshelling). Always wear appropriately rated welding goggles when viewing cones…
Controllers and Handheld
Thermocouples and Wiring
Wheels and Accessories
Freestanding Wheels
Table Top Wheels
Kickwheels
Accessories
Whirlers
Equipment
Slabrollers
Pugmills
Blungers and Mixers
Extruders
Spraying
Scales
Storage and Furniture
Sedmentation Tanks
Vacuum Cleaners
Moulds and Foundry
Slip Cast Moulds
Hump Moulds
Press Moulds
Plaster and Rubber Compounds
Foundry
Resin and Fibre Glass
Waxes
Enamels, Glass and Lustre
Enamel/Glass Kilns & Accessories
Lustre
Onglaze Enamels
Health and Safety
Bookstore
Gift Voucher
Catalogue
Our Story
Workshops & Events
Repairs & Servicing
Firing/Decals
Makers Corner
My Account
Basket
Checkout
Contact Us
Home
Products
Moulds and Foundry
Waxes
Waxes
Showing all 4 results
Sort by popularity
Sort by average rating
Sort by latest
Sort by price: low to high
Sort by price: high to low
Sort by product code: low to high
Paraffin Wax
£
7.21
–
£
122.50
exc. Vat
Please Select
Microcrystalline Wax
£
10.30
–
£
179.00
exc. Vat
Please Select
Foundry Casting Wax
£
13.30
–
£
227.25
exc. Vat
Please Select
Wax Dye Pigment Crayon
£
1.80
exc. Vat
Please Select
0
Your Cart