Frit question

I'm pretty much a newbie at this whole pottery thing, and am in the process
of getting into glaze mixing. I'm confused about frits.

Do frits only make it safe to *handle* certain glaze ingredients such as
lead oxides, or do frits actually make otherwise dangerous materials *safe
to use* (again, lead for example)? Is a lead glaze made from frits safe for
functional ware? Also, my catalog only lists frits by number (frit 3134,
etc.) How do I find out what each frit actually contains? Thanks,

Fred

Fred wrote:
I'm pretty much a newbie at this whole pottery thing, and am in the process
of getting into glaze mixing. I'm confused about frits.

Do frits only make it safe to *handle* certain glaze ingredients such as
lead oxides, or do frits actually make otherwise dangerous materials *safe
to use* (again, lead for example)? Is a lead glaze made from frits safe for
functional ware? Also, my catalog only lists frits by number (frit 3134,
etc.) How do I find out what each frit actually contains? Thanks,

Fred


http://www.seattlepotterysupply.com/...gory_Code=FMSF
This link at Seattle pottery tells if they're leadless or not, by their
frit number. Their printed catalog also has the formulas for each.
Fritting is to mix materials which are either soluable in glazes or
toxic, heat them to a glassy state and cool them, shattering them in the
cooling process, to produce the final product.
I think leaded glaze frits, while perhaps safer for studio use than
straight lead, would still be unacceptable for tableware (but I could be
wrong here). What I recall is that just because it's fritted, you can't
predict if the finished glaze is stable enough to avoid leaching out the
lead.
Most of the frits used today are to make Boron available in glaze
without being in the soluable borate form.
Brad Sondahl
--
For my comics, pottery how-to videos, original art, music, pottery, and
literature, visit my homepage
http://sondahl.com

Brad Sondahl wrote:
Fred wrote:
I'm pretty much a newbie at this whole pottery thing, and am in the
process of getting into glaze mixing. I'm confused about frits.

Do frits only make it safe to *handle* certain glaze ingredients such
as lead oxides, or do frits actually make otherwise dangerous
materials *safe to use* (again, lead for example)? Is a lead glaze
made from frits safe for functional ware? Also, my catalog only lists
frits by number (frit 3134, etc.) How do I find out what each frit
actually contains? Thanks,

Fred

http://www.seattlepotterysupply.com/...gory_Code=FMSF

This link at Seattle pottery tells if they're leadless or not, by their
frit number. Their printed catalog also has the formulas for each.
Fritting is to mix materials which are either soluable in glazes or
toxic, heat them to a glassy state and cool them, shattering them in the
cooling process, to produce the final product.
I think leaded glaze frits, while perhaps safer for studio use than
straight lead, would still be unacceptable for tableware (but I could be
wrong here). What I recall is that just because it's fritted, you can't
predict if the finished glaze is stable enough to avoid leaching out the
lead.
Most of the frits used today are to make Boron available in glaze
without being in the soluable borate form.
Brad Sondahl
Most fritts is stable (ie the LEAD is locked away) Lead
Bisilicate/sesquisilicate etc are all OK as long as you don't use COPPER
oxides as colourants.... These "unlock" the fritting process and allow
the lead to leach out of the pot...

Mostly this is only a real problem on the insides of "holloware" but it
can be a problem on surfaces that come in contact with the mouth...

BARIUM content is an issue for stoneware as well, best to stay clear of
any glaze containing more than 20% Barium Carb for food stuff... (most
of the other poisonous ones are gas long before then)

Mind you my dad used to have a pewter mug fer 'is beer that was 150
years old (90% lead 10% zinc (i think)) and he lived to his 80's...
Hugs
Eddie

"Fred" ) writes:
I'm pretty much a newbie at this whole pottery thing, and am in the process
of getting into glaze mixing. I'm confused about frits.

Do frits only make it safe to *handle* certain glaze ingredients such as
lead oxides, or do frits actually make otherwise dangerous materials *safe
to use* (again, lead for example)? Is a lead glaze made from frits safe for
functional ware? Also, my catalog only lists frits by number (frit 3134,
etc.) How do I find out what each frit actually contains? Thanks,

Fred

Others have already answered. But the way you phrased your question
make me think you're asking if using, say a fritted flux and lead
together would make the lead insoluable and safe. No. The material
has to be fritted first to be safer. As someone else wondered, I don't
know how safe fritting can make various materials.

Elaine

Thanks, guys. I think I understand. Basically, to be safe, stay away from
lead and barium if it comes into contact with food, drink or the mouth --
regardless whether frit was used?


"Fred" wrote in message
. ..
I'm pretty much a newbie at this whole pottery thing, and am in the
process of getting into glaze mixing. I'm confused about frits.

Do frits only make it safe to *handle* certain glaze ingredients such as
lead oxides, or do frits actually make otherwise dangerous materials *safe
to use* (again, lead for example)? Is a lead glaze made from frits safe
for functional ware? Also, my catalog only lists frits by number (frit
3134, etc.) How do I find out what each frit actually contains? Thanks,

Fred