INSTRUCTIONS.
As soon as the brick leave the press take a very soft brush and stroke over the parts about to be enameled to remove all oil that may have got on while pressing (use paraffin and sweet oil to press with) ; after this take a similar soft brush ( a very soft hat brush is the kind to use) and dip this brush into Dip No. r; this is the receipt given made of one-half of your own clay and one-half of white body, and again stroke the same portion as before with this brush. Then dip the brick itself into Dip No. z, then let them stand say for three or four hours, (but not drying), but just enough to take the moisture from the slip just put on, and whilst still moist (we mean the brick) dip again, this time into Dip No. a; this is either the white or colors (see ex planations) ; then let the brick dry slowly but thoroughly white hard. They must be thoroughly white hard, and when quite white hard they are ready for glazing. Dip No. 3; but before glazing them remove all dust, etc., that may have got on whilst drying, and also before dipping them in the glaze after the dust is removed they must first be dipped (the enameled portion only) into clean cold water and immediately into the glaze. Do not allow the brick to stand above one minute after dipping into the water before you dip them into the glaze, Dip No. 3. They are first dipped into the water to stop the brick from sucking up the substance from the glaze. You will see by this that they must be immediately dipped in the glaze, Dip No. 3, after being dipped into the water. They then require the edges or sides to be brushed with a wire brush (old cast off from wool shearing will make these brushes) and are then, after being dried on the boards above described, ready for either kiln or oven. In placing them in the kiln or oven set
them face to face, not to touch, say one-half or one inch apart, we mean the faces ; the sides can go quite close together, and as far as possible put all whites facing whites and each color fac ing same so that the colors will not cast a shade on each other. In firing go very slow for the first twenty-six or thirty hours, then push up the fires gradually, not too quick, but when once pushed up do not allow the fires to fall back again, and when the glaze has commenced to run they require about six hours gradual firing or when run quite smooth about three more fires to make them bright and clear. Do not allow the cool air to get into the kiln whilst cooling, or it will cause them to crack and craze, and do not draw the brick until quite cold.
Before any of the slips or bodies, glaze included, given are used they must be mixed with clean cold water and passed through a lauro, 6o to 8o holes to one square inch, at, least 4 times, and must weigh as follows : Dip No. i, 28 ounces to i pint ; Dip ounces to i pint, whether white or colors ; glaze, Dip No. 3, 28% ounces to i pint after being passed through the lauros. When all the brick are set in the kiln or oven they should be covered up at the top to stop all the dirt and sulphur from the coal getting on them whilst being fired. You can fire these brick in either up or but must protect them as much as possible from the sulphur and dirt.