Mason stains are artificially produced inorganic materials. They were made to be stable at different ceramic temperatures. Before purchasing your stains you should go to this website and learn more about temperatures and ways to use the stains.
Masons tains are essentially powdered pigments made from a combination of oxides and frits that will create beautiful uniform rich colors. Add mason stains to a dry clear glaze recipe, a clay body, or slip recipe. Depending on how daring you are you could even buy white underglaze and add your mason stains to it as well.
Just a reminder the higher the temperature the less vibrant your stain may become. It is always a good idea to test with a 100 gram batch.
Stain Type | Color Result | Best used in glaze type |
Chrome/Tin Base | Burgundy, pint chrimson | Choose a glaze recipe that is high in whiting and tin,, no boron frit, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, dolomite, and or manganesium carbonate |
Chrome/alumina base | pink, crimson | Choose a glaze recipe that is high in zinc, with no whiting, domonite, boron frit, Gerstley Borate, and or lithium carbonate |
Manganese/Alumina | Pink | |
Alumina/chrome/iron compounds | Brown, amber | Glaze recipe that is high in zinc and clay, no whiting, dolomite, or tin oxide |
Titanium | Yellow | |
Praseodymium | Yellow | |
Vanadium/Zirconium | Green/blue green | Works well in any environment |
Chromium | Green | Choose glaze that contain whiting but no tin |
Cobalt/chrome/nickel/iron | gray, black | Choose glaze with no titanium dioxide, rutile, or zinc oxide |