Blog by @cilla_ceramics
Magic Water – what is it and why should you use it? As potters we have all had projects that have cracked or been accidently knocked. It is an alternative to slip and it can also be used for repairing cracks that occur in bone dry clay. Using magic water instead of slip or in conjunction with, can save your ceramic pieces from disappointing breakages. Magic Water can be used for any clay discipline i.e. throwing, hand building, slab, and coil work and can create a stronger bond. Join your pieces as normal by scoring and add the magic water to attach one piece of clay to another.
What Makes it Magical?
Magic Water is made from three simple ingredients: water, soda ash and sodium silicate. Soda Ash and Sodium Silicate mixed together create a solution that is a deflocculant. A deflocculant adds suspension to liquids.
- Water: composition of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H₂O), it is recommended to use distilled water.
- Soda Ash: sodium carbonate. Na2CO3 It is a white, odourless powder that readily dissolves in water, forming an alkaline solution.
- Sodium Silicate: Na2SiO3 Also known as water-glass, consisting of approximately equal parts sodium oxide and silica.
Magic Water Recipes:
Make Magic Water by dissolving soda ash into warm water, then mix in the sodium silicate. Suggested measurements:
- 1 litre water
- 2-3 teaspoons sodium silicate
- 1/4 – 1.5 teaspoon soda ash
Attach Clay With Care:
Using Magic Water creates a strong bond no matter the clay bodies used. It can be used with groggy, sandy, or paper clay. Magic Water reduces messy clean-up and helps prevent cracks from forming at the joints. Tips for attaching two pieces of clay together:
- When joining pieces, remember to always score the surfaces. Attach pieces together firmly after you have scored. Scoring can be vital when you join pieces of clay together. Serrated ribs, forks, toothbrushes, needle tools can all be used.
- You can also create Magic Water with clay slip.
Make responsibly:
If a piece does form a crack, is it worth keeping? After all you are creating something permanent! Keep in mind you can always remake a piece. If your piece has become vulnerable to cracking it may be good to start again and think of it as a learning curve. Remember that clay teaches us patience and have fun!