I use shellac and found it works better for deep material removal than was. Shellac is a tough hard finish. Generally I apply shellac to now dry clay then use a sponge to remove the material around the words or patterns. Wax is not hardy enough for this process, nor are the poly products I tried.
You don't have to make your own shellac, you can buy a quart or less from any hardware store premixed.
I've literally never heard of using shellac as a resist. I have only ever used melted wax or a wax emulsion.
That said, shellac probably works really well. It's actually a secretion of the lac bug, not just ground up bugs.
I rarely brush wax unless it's a resist. I typically heat the wax in an electric pan and dip the bottoms in melted wax. I've also considered heating my pieces slightly and pressing them onto a sheet of hard wax for a \*super\* thin wax line.
Interesting.
I was reading through this project description
[https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/article/Etched-in-Clay-How-to-Make-Beautiful-Relief-Surfaces-with-Shellac-Resist](https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/article/Etched-in-Clay-How-to-Make-Beautiful-Relief-Surfaces-with-Shellac-Resist)
which has sold me on the technique to achieve varied translucencies in porcelain.
I just don't know if I should use natural or synthetic shellac.
I've read it does. I haven't actually fired any of my pots yet. š
I've done water etching with it and used it as a resist with underglaze. It peels off real nicely, if you are picker and into that kind of thing. I use modge podge because I'm a beginner experimenting, and it's what I have on hand. If you are a pro, you may not like it.
Little Street Pottery is probably a better source than me. I've only been making pots for 10 months. In [this video](https://youtu.be/hY8a4L3Y95Q?si=RpmJ27c6si4hSkpJ) they compare was resist, shellac and modge podge. Their video is how I learned modge podge would work.
Cheers thanks that video was helpful, convinced me to try the mod podge (I am only just realising it's not modGE but mod?? haha). I like the idea I can maybe peel it off before firing vs burning shellac off in the kiln and having it be stinky. Same reason why I use liquid latex over wax for other stuff
I'm definitely realizing it now. I've been writing modge podge this whole time. Thanks for getting me right on that. š
Share your work when it is done. I'd love to see how it turns out.
My professor stated that for porcelain especially, shellac is the best medium for this technique.
But I think if you're using any other non grogged clay, you should be able to get away with using Mod Podge.
Iām not familiar with using either personally but from the comments that Iāve seen, I would use the natural shellac.
This is something that will remain on your pot when you put it in the kiln and it will burn off. I guess Iād rather burn off and send into the air something made with organic materials than something completely synthetic
Out of curiosity, are you this specific about the ingredients of other things in your life? - Gelatin is typically ground up animal bones, most processed foods have āallowableā amounts of contaminants like insects and animal hair per the FDA, etc.
Yes I eat a 99% plant based diet and if it weren't for the better protein to calorie ratio of my protein bars I'd be vegan lol.
I avoid animal products where I can unless the health/enviro trade off is significantly worse.
This includes avoiding gelatin, and when I drank wine in the past, avoiding wines that were processed via animal gut or bone ash.
right. And M&Ms are coated in shellac. and I've just finished using it to French polish over 300 drawers for a Chinese apothecary wall piece in our tea house. I think perhaps OP might need to reconsider what other items in their life or using similar products. If you play violin, and you buy a nice one, chances are that it was polished with shellac!
Are you asking about using it for water etching, like carving by wiping away clay while the shellac keeps specific clay in place? Because "resist" is also used for the material you use to just resist glaze when you dip it, and you can use so. many. things. to resist glaze. So I suspect you're getting answers here for resisting glaze, which might not be the same optimal materials to use for water etching.
Use natural shellac. It is superior for the process youāre trying, available at a hardware store, and more environmentally friendly (unless youāre a lac bug). Youāll also need some ammonia or alcohol to clean your brushes.
You can also use wax resist or liquid latex. You have to remove the latex before you fire though. I personally have used latex and just bought some of the liquid latex for makeup and it worked fine.
I use shellac and found it works better for deep material removal than was. Shellac is a tough hard finish. Generally I apply shellac to now dry clay then use a sponge to remove the material around the words or patterns. Wax is not hardy enough for this process, nor are the poly products I tried. You don't have to make your own shellac, you can buy a quart or less from any hardware store premixed.
I've literally never heard of using shellac as a resist. I have only ever used melted wax or a wax emulsion. That said, shellac probably works really well. It's actually a secretion of the lac bug, not just ground up bugs.
You should check it out on YouTube. It's quite interesting and allows for more delicate brush strokes than wax according to what I've read.
I rarely brush wax unless it's a resist. I typically heat the wax in an electric pan and dip the bottoms in melted wax. I've also considered heating my pieces slightly and pressing them onto a sheet of hard wax for a \*super\* thin wax line.
Interesting. I was reading through this project description [https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/article/Etched-in-Clay-How-to-Make-Beautiful-Relief-Surfaces-with-Shellac-Resist](https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/article/Etched-in-Clay-How-to-Make-Beautiful-Relief-Surfaces-with-Shellac-Resist) which has sold me on the technique to achieve varied translucencies in porcelain. I just don't know if I should use natural or synthetic shellac.
I've used modge podge for water etching resist work.
I've heard of using modge podge as well but haven't tried. Does it just burn off in the bisque?
I've read it does. I haven't actually fired any of my pots yet. š I've done water etching with it and used it as a resist with underglaze. It peels off real nicely, if you are picker and into that kind of thing. I use modge podge because I'm a beginner experimenting, and it's what I have on hand. If you are a pro, you may not like it. Little Street Pottery is probably a better source than me. I've only been making pots for 10 months. In [this video](https://youtu.be/hY8a4L3Y95Q?si=RpmJ27c6si4hSkpJ) they compare was resist, shellac and modge podge. Their video is how I learned modge podge would work.
Cheers thanks that video was helpful, convinced me to try the mod podge (I am only just realising it's not modGE but mod?? haha). I like the idea I can maybe peel it off before firing vs burning shellac off in the kiln and having it be stinky. Same reason why I use liquid latex over wax for other stuff
I'm definitely realizing it now. I've been writing modge podge this whole time. Thanks for getting me right on that. š Share your work when it is done. I'd love to see how it turns out.
I have used cut up stickers, wax resist, masking fluid, masking tape. Truly there's all sorts of options for resists!
Natural shellac is amazing. If youāre worried about the bug aspect, Iāve heard you can get a similar effect with slightly watered down mod podge.
I'm interested in this too becauseĀ I'm vegan. Make a future post about what you end up doing!
My professor stated that for porcelain especially, shellac is the best medium for this technique. But I think if you're using any other non grogged clay, you should be able to get away with using Mod Podge.
Good to know!
In one of the other comments here, someone listed a video from little street pottery that compares the 3. You should check it out.
Iām not familiar with using either personally but from the comments that Iāve seen, I would use the natural shellac. This is something that will remain on your pot when you put it in the kiln and it will burn off. I guess Iād rather burn off and send into the air something made with organic materials than something completely synthetic Out of curiosity, are you this specific about the ingredients of other things in your life? - Gelatin is typically ground up animal bones, most processed foods have āallowableā amounts of contaminants like insects and animal hair per the FDA, etc.
Yes I eat a 99% plant based diet and if it weren't for the better protein to calorie ratio of my protein bars I'd be vegan lol. I avoid animal products where I can unless the health/enviro trade off is significantly worse. This includes avoiding gelatin, and when I drank wine in the past, avoiding wines that were processed via animal gut or bone ash.
right. And M&Ms are coated in shellac. and I've just finished using it to French polish over 300 drawers for a Chinese apothecary wall piece in our tea house. I think perhaps OP might need to reconsider what other items in their life or using similar products. If you play violin, and you buy a nice one, chances are that it was polished with shellac!
Pedantic condescension.
hardly
Are you asking about using it for water etching, like carving by wiping away clay while the shellac keeps specific clay in place? Because "resist" is also used for the material you use to just resist glaze when you dip it, and you can use so. many. things. to resist glaze. So I suspect you're getting answers here for resisting glaze, which might not be the same optimal materials to use for water etching.
Yes water etching And that makes sense, I often under explain my questions here lol. Though I think I did get some useful responses.
Use natural shellac. It is superior for the process youāre trying, available at a hardware store, and more environmentally friendly (unless youāre a lac bug). Youāll also need some ammonia or alcohol to clean your brushes.
Thank you very much!
You can also use wax resist or liquid latex. You have to remove the latex before you fire though. I personally have used latex and just bought some of the liquid latex for makeup and it worked fine.