So you think you want to make your own slip. Maybe it is because you want the control, perhaps because finding ready made slip has become a burden, or maybe it is a cost factor. Yes, it is less expensive to make your own, but you need to have a supplier close by who will sell you small amounts of chemicals and clays unless you plan on major production and can have your components shipped direct to you.

CLAY is heavy, it is not cheap to ship.

I have written about this subject in three separate articles breaking it down as a simple process. I do hope you read all three before you jump in and begin throwing ingredients together.

Part One - the Basics: This gives instruction on how to determine if you have good slip and how to test it.

Part Two - The mixer: This gives ideas on how to make your own mixer or where to buy one.

Part Three - The recipe: This gives you the ingredients and tells you how to put it together.

To read more, click on the linked titles above.

Primarily, ceramic slip is clay that has been thinned down with water and sometimes additional chemicals to be used for various purposes in the field of clay arts. It is clay mixed with water to a smooth gravy-like, liquid consistency.

In pottery, it is used for decorating or coating the crafted items as well as acting like a glue or paste to adhere parts together.  In ceramics, it is used to cast plaster molds creating images and shapes as well as various finishing techniques.

It is called slip because of its smooth, slippery consistency… a texture without roughness, smooth to the touch.  The term comes from Middle English: slime, from Old English: ‘slypa’ or ‘slyppe’ and also has Indo-European roots: sleubh. Just step in the middle of a puddle of it on your floor and you will understand completely. It is well named.

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