: Mossyrock - Viewing Profile

I generally work with low-fire clay (Highwater's Stans Red). I currently bisque-fire to cone 04, then glaze-fire (majolica mostly) to cone 05. However, some pieces are decorated with a wash of Velvet Underglazes with no glaze. Can I fire bisque fire to cone 05 instead of cone 04 and have some of the velvet washed bisqued pieces in the same firing? What about bisque firing to cone 05 and having some bisqued majolica-glazed pieces in the same firing?

I work in low fire to cone 6 oxidation and have a white slip recipe that works well for both. The problem is that within a few days, the slip settles to the bottom of the container into a clump (for lack of a better word) and it takes a lot of time and effort to put it back into a nice usable suspension. Is there anything I can add that will keep this from happening or is that just a characteristic of slip? Here's the recipe:

6 Tile 1500 g
OM4 Ball Clay 1000 g
Custer Feldspar 1250 g
Silica 1250 g
Zircopax 300 g

I mix the dry ingredients and keep in an airtight container. When I need to mix a batch of slip, I weigh out 1000 g of the dry mix, add 4 tsp. Sodium Silicate, then add water and sieve several times. It's great until I don't use it for several days. Thanks for any help.