Stroke & Coat, also know as “The Wonderglaze,” is the industry’s most versatile product. It can be applied on wet clay, earthenware bisque or stoneware bisque, fired from cone 06 to cone 10, in oxidation or reduction and used in every decorative way imaginable.
THE CREATIVE CHOICE FOR POTTERY GLAZE
Stroke & Coat is a heavily pigmented, viscous glaze line that can be used for brush strokes or opaque coverage. Use these glazes to create intricate, detailed designs and butt up to one another without colours moving. When used in a majolica process, Stroke & Coat will not move nor blend with the colours beneath. Stroke & Coat colours are intermixable, allowing artists to create custom shades. Thin with water or media to create a “wash” or watercolour style of design. Because the liquid colour is consistent with the fired colour, artists will have no trouble visualizing finished results as they create.
A HIGHLY VERSATILE GLAZE
Stroke & Coat can be the star of your work or play a supporting role to other glazes. Stroke & Coat glazes are the ideal product of choice for studio, classroom, potter or fine artist.
GLAZE COMBINATIONS
Layer Stroke & Coat colours when applying or use in combination with other glazes, such as Foundations, Jungle Gems, Elements & Elements Chunkies, Designer Liner, Stoneware, or Cobblestones to create unique looks. When used in a majolica technique, Stroke & Coat will not move or blend with surrounding colours.
LIGHT OVER DARK
Lighter colours can be used over dark colours, remaining bright and opaque, and will not blend with the colours underneath.
ON GREENWARE/CLAY
Apply Stroke & Coat glazes directly on wet or leatherhard clay, allow to dry, and fire to cone 04. Colours remain glossy and vibrant and save you time by removing the bisque fire step! As an alternative, you could also use Stroke & Coat in a wash technique, add a coat of clear glaze and fire to cone 04. For application on clay, we recommend leaving an area unglazed, such as the back or bottom of the ware, to allow for out-gassing of water and organic materials during the firing process.
GLOSS WITHOUT CLEAR GLAZE
Stroke & Coat will fire glossy without addition of a clear glaze. Clear glaze can be added if additional glossiness is desired or Stroke & Coats glazes have not been applied in a consistent, overall coverage onto unglazed ware.
1, 2, 3 COATS
One coat of Stroke & Coat glazes result in a translucent effect with additional coats adding opacity. Stroke & Coat glazes are heavily pigmented and will not streak, no matter the number of coats.
WIDE FIRING RANGE
Many Stroke & Coat glazes perform well at mid-range (cone 5/6) and higher temperatures (cone 9/10). Darker colours such as red, orange, yellow, blue and green may darken compared to their cone 06 results. Lighter colours such as tan, purple and pink will fade. We recommend testing at your preferred firing temperature prior to use. Cone 6 performance is noted on each colour’s label.
GENERAL USE
One coat of Mayco Stroke & Coat will create a translucent finish with subsequent coats adding opacity. We suggest 2-3 coats for full opacity and all over coverage.
Let dry between coats. Stroke & Coat glazes will fire to a gloss finish without clear glaze. However, if desired, a clear glaze (such as NT-CLR Clear One Dipping Glaze or S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing) can be added.
For application on wet or leatherhard clay and firing to cone 04, colours will retain their vibrancy with huge time savings. We recommend leaving an area unglazed, such as the back or bottom of the unfired piece, to allow for out-gassing of the clay during the single-firing process.
Stroke & Coat glazes have been formulated to mature at cone 06/05. Most Stroke & Coat glazes will maintain their colour at higher temperatures, especially reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and blues. Their performance at cone 6 is noted on each individual product label with any changes. We recommend testing on your clay and in your kiln prior to use.
Stroke & Coat glazes are certified AP Non-Toxic, Food Safe and Dinnerware Safe when used according to manufacturer’s directions.
HELPFUL HINTS
Can be applied with a brush, a sponge, a detailer bottle, mats, or silkscreens.
Marbleizing technique can be achieved by thinning Stroke & Coat or Foundations and by moving the ware side to side, using gravity to allow the glazes to flow together.
For a more traditional and painterly approach, dilute glazes with water to create a thinned watercolour-like glaze. Use these tints to layer for seamless blending. To preserve the integrity of a design, use AC-302 Wax Resist overtop.
SC-13 Grapel, SC-33 Fruit of the Vine and SC-85 Orkid are formulated with chrome-tin pigments and can be sensitive to non-toxic clear glazes – namely, a milky/cloudy haze may form over the colours. Test by adding a light application of the clear glaze to these colours. These colours will not fade when used with Mayco’s Clear One Dipping (NT-CLR) and Clear One Brushing (NT-BR).
SC-70 Pink-a-Dot is more translucent than other Stroke & Coat glazes. Additional coats (more than 3) may be necessary to achieve opacity.
Stroke & Coat glazes do not move or blend when used with other glazes. You can apply side-by-side or layer without losing the integrity of the design.
If you apply one coat of Stroke & Coat on top of a matte glaze, the Stroke & Coat fires matte. By applying 2-3 coats, the Stroke & Coat fires glossy.
Applying Matte Transparent Clear Glaze (C-300) will not make Stroke & Coat matte.
USAGE VARIATIONS AND FAQS
Do I have to use clear glaze to achieve a glossy finish?
Stroke & Coat fires to a gloss finish and does not require a clear glaze. Clear glaze may be used to enhance the glossiness of the fired finish. Apply the clear glaze according to manufacturer’s directions over the unfired Stroke & Coat and fire once. Note: The amount of non-toxic glaze deposited can affect the fired results. If too much glaze and clear glaze is applied you may experiences dull or “milky” fired finishes. If this occurs, adjust the number of glaze layers applied, lighten the amount of glaze on your brush, etc. – whatever is needed to reduce the total amount of glaze placed on the ware. For pieces already fired – you may improve the fired finish by re-firing either at shelf cone 06 or cone 05 and adding a hold/soak time at the end of the firing cycle (10-15 minutes).
Are Stroke & Coat glazes lustre compatible?
All Stroke & Coat colours are lustre compatible, even with clear glaze is applied over the top.
How can I create dimensional effects with Stroke & Coat?
Stroke & Coat will remain moderately dimensional when applied in a concentrated area. To create a raised line with a brush: layer 4 to 6 coats, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. You may also use a detailer bottle or slip trailer to create raised lines: apply 2-3 layers, again allowing each layer to dry between applications.
How do I achieve best results when applying Stroke & Coat to greenware/clay?
Gases and moisture will escape from the greenware during firing, so it is best to leave a portion of the ware unglazed – for example: the back of a tile, the foot of a vessel – to avoid pin-holing or craters. If you do completely glaze a greenware piece you may also experience a dulling of the gloss finish. If this occurs, you can apply a clear glaze and re-fire to cone 06 or cone 05 to get a gloss finish. Always test to see if Stroke & Coat will work on your specific greenware project.
What are the guidelines for firing Stroke & Coat to higher temperatures (cone 6-cone 10)?
Many of the Stroke & Coat colours perform well at mid-range (cone 5-6) and high (cone 9-10) temperatures. Darker colours – green, red, blue, orange, purple – will maintain much of their original colour value (they may darken a bit compared to cone 06 results). Lightly pigmented colours – pink, yellow, tan, lighter purples – will fade. Always test to see if this application variance will work on your specific project. The cone 6 colour information is found on the left-hand side of the label for each Stroke and Coat colour (under “Special Notes”). Mayco recommends testing for clay body compatibility prior to use on work.
Can Stroke & Coat be used with other products?
Stroke & Coat glazes are compatible with all Mayco glazes and with many alternative brands of glazes. It is not recommended to design on top of the fluid, moving glazes, such as Jungle Gems, Pottery Cascades or Elements, as then work may become distorted.
What makes Stroke & Coat glazes different from other glazes?
Stroke & Coat is a heavy-bodied glaze that levels out and heals imperfections during the glaze application process. It can withstand over firing without fading and it is tolerant of many types of bisque and clay bodies. It is not fluid like many gloss glazes – it behaves more like a traditional underglaze as it “stays put” where it is applied. It’s like having 4 or 5 different glazes in one bottle – a Wonderglaze for bisque and clay.
Can I mix Stroke & Coat glazes to create a custom colour?
Yes, Stroke & Coat is intermixable, keep track of the quantities to be able to recreate or make a large enough batch to complete the project and Mayco recommends testing. It is perfect for creating your own colour theory project
