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Mason Stains

In ceramics and pottery, mason stains can also be used to add color to the clay body or glaze. They are applied in a similar manner as in concrete and mortar, by mixing the pigments with a carrier substance such as water or a glaze medium. The resulting mixture can be painted, brushed, or sprayed onto the clay surface before it is fired in a kiln.

What are Mason Stains
How to Use Mason Stains
How Much Mason Stain Do I use in Glazes and Slip?

163 Results

Mason Stain #6485 Titanium Yellow Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6485 Titanium Yellow

$6.59

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Mason Stain #6324 Violet Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6324 Violet

$10.80

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Mason Stain #6271 Mint Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6271 Mint

$6.17

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Mason Stain 6097 Dark Red quarter pound

Mason Stain 6097 Dark Red

$18.63

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Mason Stain #6601 Velvet Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6601 Velvet

$12.51

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Mason Stain #6303 Deep Orchid Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6303 Deep Orchid

$11.84

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Mason Stain #6540 Blue Grey Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6540 Blue Grey

$15.12

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Mason Stain #6028 Orange

Mason Stain #6028 Orange

$18.68

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Mason Stain #6389 Sapphire Blue Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6389 Sapphire Blue K5219

$16.76

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Mason Stain #6666 Cobalt-Free Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6666 Cobalt-Free K4266

$7.58

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Mason Stain #6000 Shell Pink

Mason Stain #6000 Shell Pink

$12.40

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Mason Stain #6396 Peacock Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6396 Peacock

$9.27

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Mason Stain #6317 Lavender Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6317 Lavender

$11.41

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Mason Stain #6572 Neutral Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6572 Neutral

$4.95

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Mason Stain #6200 Evergreen Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6200 Evergreen

$6.39

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Mason Stain #6002 Rose Pink quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6002 Rose Pink

$12.44

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Mason Stain #6123 Saddle Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6123 Saddle

$6.37

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Mason Stain #6052 Doll Flesh K5231

Mason Stain #6052 Doll Flesh K5231

$6.10

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Mason Stain #6206 Grass Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6206 Grass

$5.87

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Mason Stain #6320 Delft Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6320 Delft

$17.69

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Mason Stain #6300 Mazerine Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6300 Mazerine

$16.65

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Mason Stain #6464 Zirconium Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6464 Zirconium K3146

$12.83

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Mason Stain 6088 Quarter Pound

Mason Stain 6088 K5988

$19.26

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Mason Stain #6364 Turquoise Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6364 Turquoise K3364

$9.72

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Mason Stain #6065 Chrome Alumina Pink

Mason Stain #6065 Chrome Alumina Pink

$6.05

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Mason Stain #6268 Sea Green Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6268 Sea Green

$8.30

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Mason Stain #6126 Hazelnut Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6126 Hazelnut

$6.55

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Mason Stain #6005 Deep Crimson Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6005 Deep Crimson

$12.56

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Mason Stain #6479 SUNSHINE  Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6479 SUNSHINE

$17.48

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Mason Stain #6404 Vanadium Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6404 Vanadium

$18.52

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Mason Stain #6306 Vivid Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6306 Vivid

$8.66

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Mason Stain #6302 Cadet Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6302 Cadet

$14.13

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Mason Stain #6503 Taupe Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6503 Taupe

$4.86

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Mason Stain #6374 Dark Turquoise Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6374 Dark Turquoise K5480

$9.77

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Mason Stain #6224 Dark Green Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6224 Dark Green

$6.10

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Mason Stain #6204 Victoria Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6204 Victoria

$6.17

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Mason Stain #6373 Turquoise Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6373 Turquoise

$10.22

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Mason Stain #6032 Coral Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6032 Coral

$8.39

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Mason Stain #6264 Victoria Quarter Pound

Mason Stain #6264 Victoria K5364

$6.10

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Mason Stains

What are Mason Stains?

Mason Stains are the best way to add color to your ceramics. They are used to color glazes, underglazes, slip, and clay.

Mason used to stock many more colors that were blends of the main base colors. Here at Sheffield, we still offer all of the hard-to-find discontinued colors!

These lead-free ceramic stains are fritted raw materials. Frit is essentially one or more colorants encased in glass then powdered. This makes the colorants such as oxides and carbonates insoluble to your body hence much safer to use. All Mason Stains are also lead-free.

Mason carefully formulates and tests their batches to ensure you get the same results time after time. Raw material colorants can vary greatly from bag to bag, but Mason Stains are trustworthy and consistent. Each Mason Stain is rated for low-fire, mid-fire and high-fire temperatures up to cone 10 except tin-antimony-lead yellows and pinks (Cone 02). You can expect full color from these ceramic stains when firing in oxidation over white and buff color clays. Results will appear different over darker clay bodies and in reduction atmospheres but they will still be beautiful and dependable!

You can colorize a base glaze that contains whiting but no zinc in the formula. The density of the color is controlled by the percentage of ceramic stain added. Stains added to glaze formulas at between 1 and 10% yield a wide variety excellent colors and tones.

You can use Mason Stains to tint clay bodies or clay slip. With these stains you can create your own unique underglaze colors and washes.

(see more tips on usage below)

Mason Stains are all Free Shipping from Sheffield Pottery. There are discounts at the 1 pound, 5 pound and 10 pound levels. Bulk pricing is available for those who use large quantities. Feel free to call for a quote for orders over 10 pounds.

How to Use Mason Stains

Mason Stains can be used to color glazes, slips, and clay bodies. These ceramic stains are fritted to insure color consistency from batch to batch. The fired color should be almost identical to the stain in its raw state. Mason stains can be used at all firing temperatures (except tin-antimony-lead yellows and pinks fire only to cone 02) but are formulated specifically for use in oxidizing atmospheres. Therefore, in oxidation firings to cone 10, the colors are reliable and consistent. Stains will vary in color, however, depending upon the medium into which they are mixed and the firing temperature.

Stains in Clays and Slips

Best results can be expected when lead-free ceramic stains are added to a white clay body or slip base. Fire to normal maturation temperature. Percentages of stain added to clay or slip should be determined by testing.

How Much Mason Stain Do I use in Glazes and Slip?

Stains can be used to color either transparent or opaque base glazes. Stains are generally added in amounts ranging from 1-10% of the glaze batch. The higher the percentage of stain, the deeper the fired color will be. The base glaze should contain a calcium carbonate content of 12-15% and have no zinc. Zinc can adversely affect colors, especially chrome-tin pinks, vanadium yellows, and cobalt blues. The percentage of stain plus opacifier should equal 15% of the total glaze batch.

Example 1
Base glaze 100%
Zircopax 10%
Stain 5%

Example 2
Base glaze 100%
Tin Oxide 7%
Stain 8%

Mason stains are a popular choice among ceramic artists and potters because they offer a wide range of colors and are easy to work with. They are also relatively inexpensive and do not require the use of expensive glaze materials. Additionally, mason stains are non-toxic and safe to use in the pottery studio.

It is worth noting that there are other ways to add color to ceramics and pottery, such as using underglazes, slips, or overglazes, but mason stains are one of the most popular and versatile methods.

Mason stains can be used to add color to new construction projects or to restore and match the color of existing concrete surfaces. They are commonly used in architectural and decorative concrete applications, such as driveways, patios, sidewalks, and building facades. Mason stains are pigments that are added to concrete, mortar, or grout to give them a specific color. They are made from inorganic oxides, such as iron oxide, that are mixed with a carrier substance, such as a cement or lime, to create a consistent and stable color.

OUR PROCESS

Natural Sheffield Clay is mined on our property from as seen at one of the open clay pits. The Sheffield Clay deposit is located in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on U.S. Route 7 in the Southwest corner of Berkshire County.