Mayco Stoneware Washes

Mayco’s Stoneware Washes are a multi-purpose product with limitless possibilities. These Washes can be used alone for staining techniques, or with any glaze from low fire up to cone 10. They are beautiful in oxidation, or reduction, and can really expand the palette of the artist or teacher. Washes are metallic glaze colorants, which are formulated for ease of use and versatility.

Each Wash uses, as main ingredient, a ceramic pigment: Rutile, Manganese, Iron or Copper. These materials are very typical glaze materials and are likely found in your favorite glazes already.

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Mayco Stoneware Washes

SW-301 Iron Wash	SW-302 Rutile Wash	SW-303 Manganese Wash	SW-304 Copper Wash

Product Features and Attributes

• Can be applied to greenware or bisque
• Fire from cone 06 to cone 10
• Can be fired in oxidation or reduction atmospheres.

Staining Technique:

This staining technique will emphasize the tactile texture of the piece.

Apply a watered-down version of the Wash to the bisque fired piece. (This is especially nice for textured ware.) Allow the stain to get into all the low spots and then let dry thoroughly. (The ingredients in the wash will help it stick to the piece more effectively than a wash you may mix up in the studio. It also contains some flux that gives it a slight shimmer.)

After the piece is dry, use a wet sponge to wipe away the Wash from high places and let it remain in low places. You can fire without glazing to cone 06 and up to cone 10. Or you can apply a translucent glaze over.

Using Iron Wash as a stain is very popular on sculptures, outdoor pieces and other types of work that does not require a food safe surface. The surface mimics wood or leather and offers a very rich and beautiful finish.

Rutile Wash has a matte, orange-tan-ochre color. All Mayco Washes “stay put” when staining. Apply Rutile Wash as a stain using the same general technique mentioned for Iron Wash. Use the same technique as mentioned above for Iron wash as a stain.

As a stain Manganese Wash will show as a brownish, shiny, metallic surface. Experiment with amounts of added water, it is easy to wipe away too much when staining. Apply Manganese Wash as a stain using the same general technique mentioned for Iron Wash.

Copper Wash is a very active on any surface. Even without a glaze, it will flux on its own. Experiment with various thicknesses as a stain. A little can go a long way. Apply Copper Wash as a stain using the same general technique mentioned for Iron Wash.

Use OVER or UNDER your favorite glaze.

Iron Wash has the least amount of movement of all of the washes. If you use it in a brushstroke, (either over or under a glaze) you can create contrast and depth in the glaze, sometimes producing a new color.

Rutile Wash will really change the texture and color of an existing glaze. This Wash is not terribly active at low fire temperatures. It does not move, as it will at cone 5 and up. Edges will not create the feathered effect that occurs at higher temps.

Manganese Wash can produce many different hues when used with glaze. Colors range from rich cola colors to some really deep purples. I have also had some greenish/blue edges occur. It is very active on the glaze surface. Make sure you do some test tiles, try it full strength and with a little dilution of water. Manganese Wash used with low fire glazes create interesting raised crater-like textures when fired to cone 06 (it will also move a bit at low fire temperatures).

Copper Wash, like the Manganese Wash, will cause most glazes to move or flow in the kiln. These effects
are beautiful but need to be preceded by some test tiles. It is very important to do some experiments (preferably NOT on your favorite pieces!) with all of these materials. Keep both the Copper and the Manganese Washes away from the bottom of the pots if using them full strength. At low fire temps, the Copper Wash is by far the most active with and without glaze.

Additional Uses- (Always experiment and test first)
• Fuming.
Paint a wash on a kiln post and place that post close to a piece of your work in the kiln (use a clean piece
of old shelf under the post, in case of running). When the kiln reaches maturity, the colors in the wash may
FUME onto your piece. The result is a flash of subtle color.
• Tinting.
Use wash to tint an existing glaze, slip or Underglaze by mixing them before application.
• Image Transfer.
Apply Iron Wash to a black and white image from your home printer. The ink will resist the wash and you will
have a transferable iron picture to put on your piece. You can use a glaze as the vehicle to move the image
onto your piece. This technique is available in further detail in our Project Library.
• Create a Dendritic Slip.
As seen in Mochaware, a denrditic slip often uses vinegar and tobacco to create diffusion between the materials
when applied to a wet Underglaze or Engobe. Mayco Washes can be used to color the dendritic slip.

Directory of Mayco glazes, underglazes and specialty products for your ceramic project.

GLAZES & UNDERGLAZES: Mayco Stoneware Glazes