Resources
SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT
Offset printing blankets
In the slab rolling section, I mentioned using offset printing blankets as a great tool for rolling slabs and wedging clay. I source mine used from Amazon, eBay, or my local offset printing press. When you have a good supplier willing to let them go for free, you have hit the jackpot!
Hake brushes for slip transfer
I use Mandalay hake brushes from 3"–10" (7.6–25 cm).
Ram process
PRINTING RESOURCES
I order all my print media through Ryonet. Its customer service and quick turnaround times make it a great choice.
Screens: 156 mesh aluminum frame silk screens. I prefer 20" × 4" (51 × 10 cm) screens for 4" (10 cm) tile sets, or images up to 11" × 17" (28 × 43 cm), and 23" × 31" (58 × 79 cm) screens when printing 6" (15 cm) tile sets.
Emulsion: Water-based dual cure hybrid emulsion. I recommend only getting as much as you can use in a six-month period. One pint (473 ml) can do up to ten screens.
Film: Ryonet 11" × 17" (28 × 43 cm) laser film in packs of one hundred. Ryonet produces durable, high-quality, and long-lasting transparencies for any laser printer and are easy to splice together for larger images.
Squeegees: 70 durometer squeegee with a wooden handle that is 2" (5 cm) wider than the image you are printing.
Emulsion remover: Ryonet industrial emulsion remover
Scoop coater for emulsion: Ryonet scoop coater
Screen tape: Low adhesive, solvent resistant, 3” (7.6 cm) tape, 55-yard (50 m) roll
TILE SETTING
Make tile grout for standard grouting applications: Prism Color Ultra-Performance Cement Grout.
Injectable caulking style grout: Polyblend Ceramic Tile Caulk. (Great for any moveable applications, such as wall hangings.)
Epoxy grout: CEG-Lite Solid Commercial Epoxy Grout. (Best for wet areas such as showers, tubs, busy kitchen backsplashes, and so on.)
TILE ADHESIVES
Mosaics: AcrylPro Professional Tile adhesive.
(For mosaics and movable wall hangings; also good for wet areas [premixed].)
Mortar: CustomBlend Economical Non-Modified Thin-Set Mortar (Great for tile and cement board.)
Sealer: 511 Impregnator Sealer or TerraNano tile protectant and sealer.
Grout haze remover: Aquamix Cement Grout Haze Remover or Aquamix Non-Cement Grout Haze Remover.
BOOKS ON GLAZE
Cushing’s Handbook, Val Cushing.
Clay and Glazes for the Potter,
Daniel Rhodes
The Complete Guide to High Fire Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cone 10, John Britt
The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cones 4–7, John Britt
Glaze: The Ultimate Ceramic Artist’s Guide to Glaze and Color, Brian Taylor and Kate Doody
BOOKS ON IMAGE TRANSFER
Ceramics and Print, 3rd edition, Paul Scott
Graphic Clay, Jason Bige Burnett.
Image Transfer on Clay, Paul Andrew Wandless
BOOKS ON PLASTER MOLD MAKING
The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting, Andrew Martin
Mold Making for Ceramics, Donald E. Frith.
THE ULTIMATE SOURCE FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING HANDMADE TILE
The Tile Heritage Foundation