Spectrum Raku Glazes

(850 - 891): Spectrum Raku Glazes were developed for firing in either electric or gas kilns. Click here or scroll down to see the firing process for these glazes.

• Seven of the Raku glazes are lead-free and non-toxic (850, 851, 854, 856, 882, 883 and 884).
• All of the rest are lead-free, but are over the threshold limit for copper and are therefore not non-toxic in the liquid state.

Spectrum Raku Glazes are set up for brushing application. They can also be poured or dipped on pieces, although they should probably be thinned with a little water for this type of application.

Due to the many variables involved in Raku firing, particularly during the reduction phase, our chip charts and printed color charts should be used only as approximate guidelines. Your results may vary greatly.

	850 Raku Clear	851 Raku White	852 Turquoise	853 Cobalt Blue	855 Emerald
856 Muddy Waters	871 Raku Yellow	873 Raku Red	860 Flash	861 Metallic Flash	862 Galaxy
863 Nebula	864 Sunspot	865 Mars	866 Deep Space	880 Armadillo	872 Raku Orange
870 Star Night	875 Algae Bloom	878 Cosmic Copper	881 Oxblood
882 Orchid Pink	883 Amethyst	884 Aqua	885 Blue Topaz	887 Neptune	891 Northern Lights

Raku Firing:
Spectrum Raku Glazes can be fired anywhere from 1600 °F up to cone 06 (1850 °F) in either an electric or gas kiln. Spectrum recommends firing 850 to 859 to a peak of 1700 - 1750 °F and 860 to 866 to a peak of 1600 - 1650 °F. The glazes pieces should be allowed to cool in the kiln to 1600 °F. Different combinations of peak temp and reduction starting temp will produce different results. While still red hot they should be transferred as quickly as possible into a reduction bin (typically a lidded metal garbage can or small metal container that has been lined with organic material, such as newspaper and/or sawdust, etc.). As soon as the pieces are in the bin the lid should be put on to keep oxygen from entering the container, in order to develop the reduction atmosphere. The pieces should be allowed to cool in the bin for at least 20 minutes. When the red hot pieces go into the bin the organic material ignites producing flames and smoke so this part of the firing, particularly the opening of the reduction bin, should be done outside.

Firing Tips:

• Try to size the reduction bin to the size of the piece.
• Establish a good seal to the reduction bin so that air is not entering and smoke is not leaving the bin.
• Position the organic material ( newspaper, sawdust, etc.) and the piece so that the flames can get all around the piece
• Different organic materials may produce very different results, for example a glaze reduced in newspaper could be a beautiful blue color and the same glaze reduced in sawdust could have a metallic copper appearance.
• Pieces should be cleaned immediately with water and a hard bristle brush.
• After cleaning, warm the pieces in the kiln to evaporate any water from the piece. This helps to set the colors more permanently.