AMACO Potter's Choice Flux (PCF)

AMACO Potter's Choice Flux (PCF): Specialized glazes for layering and flow effects

LB Berlin

With the Potter's Choice Flux series (PCF for short), AMACO has created its own glaze line devoted entirely to flowing and running. The subtitle of the series sums it up: “Designed for movement and flow”.

While the classic Potter's Choice glazes shine mainly through their reduction firing look, the PCF glazes are designed to get moving, react with other glazes and create soft, flowing transitions when layered.

In this article, we at Formwerk Töpferbedarf Berlin take a closer look at the PCF series: what's behind it, which colors are available, how to apply them and which combinations give you the most beautiful flow effects.

Formwerk Töpferbedarf Berlin

Have fun with the PCF glazes!
Your Formwerk Team ❤️

Go straight to the PCF glazes in the shop

Important note: All information provided here has been compiled to the best of our knowledge and based on practical experience. It serves solely for general guidance and does not replace the manufacturer's specifications. Before using any glaze, please be sure to read and follow the respective product data sheet and the instructions on the packaging. Only the current manufacturer information is definitive.

Contents


What is the Potter's Choice Flux series?

The PCF series is a standalone AMACO glaze line for mid-range firing at cone 5 to 6, that is, temperatures between 1,186 °C and 1,222 °C in a regular electric kiln. It currently includes twelve colors and is based on the recipe of one of the most popular Potter's Choice glazes ever: PC-17 Honey Flux. AMACO took this proven, highly fluid base and developed an entire color family from it.

The key difference from the classic PC series: PCF glazes are not effect glazes with built-in drama, but softer, pastel tones whose strength lies in how they work together. They can be used on their own, but they reach their full potential when layered. Applied over or under other glazes, they soften those colors and make them flow. That is exactly what they were made for.

The 12 colors of the AMACO Potter’s Choice Flux seriesThe 12 colors of the Potter's Choice Flux series


What does “Flux” mean? Flowing glazes explained

A quick note on terminology, since this can easily cause confusion: in glaze chemistry, a flux is a raw material that lowers a glaze's melting point, such as feldspar, whiting or borax. The series name comes from PC-17 Honey Flux and mainly describes behavior: these glazes melt more softly, move more during firing and react more intensely with the glazes they are layered with.

In everyday pottery practice, you would most likely call these flowing or running glazes. In practical terms: a PCF glaze under a Potter's Choice glaze makes it run, creating soft transitions and drips. A PCF glaze over a strong color lightens it and lets it flow. On textured surfaces, the glazes break and let the clay color show through.

PCF-74 River Birch over C-29 Deep Sea, fired to cone 6
Flux in action: PCF-74 River Birch runs over C-29 Deep Sea and creates soft transitions and drip edges. Fired to cone 6. Photo: AMACO Brent.


Firing temperature and key technical specifications

The PCF series shares its firing conditions with the Potter's Choice and Celadon glazes. All three series can therefore be combined in the same firing without any problem:

Parameter Value
Bisque firing Cone 04 = 1,063 °C
Glaze firing Cone 5 to 6 (1,186 °C to 1,222 °C)
Kiln atmosphere Oxidation (electric kiln)
Application method Brushing, also suitable for spraying according to AMACO
Flow behavior Calmer at cone 5, more fluid at cone 6
Food-safe Yes, all twelve glazes in the series
Available sizes 472 ml (16 oz) as brushing glaze; PCF-3, PCF-18, PCF-19 and PCF-54 also as a gallon (3.78 L)

We explain in detail what pyrometric cones actually mean and which temperature hides behind cone 5, 6 or 04 in our article Pyrometric Cone Values.


The twelve colors of the PCF series

The series started with six colors and has since been expanded by six more. The palette is intentionally soft: many pastel tones that work well as a base or top coat with bolder glazes. We have grouped them here by color family; this classification is our own, not AMACO's.

Blue and gray

PCF-3 Midnight Run is the dark, velvety blue-gray of the series and the most contrasty tone in the palette. PCF-21 Ocean Drift brings a light, speckled blue, and PCF-19 Cirrus Flow a delicate, cloudy light blue.

AMACO PCF-3 Midnight Run color sampleThe color PCF-3 Midnight Run

Green

PCF-18 Honeydew is a light yellow-green, named after the honeydew melon. PCF-75 Moss Mist delivers a delicate, misty moss green with light marbling.

AMACO PCF-18 Honeydew color sample

The color PCF-18 Honeydew

Pink and warm tones

PCF-54 Flux Blossom is a pale pink that develops a peachy float when applied thickly. PCF-36 Rose Mist turns into a soft rosé with a gray undertone, and PCF-16 Aurora Breeze shows a light, creamy pink base with fine dark speckles.

AMACO PCF-54 Flux Blossom color sample
The color PCF-54 Flux Blossom

Yellow and earth tones

PCF-60 Sunbeam is a soft sunny yellow, and PCF-63 Sun Shower a light yellow with fine dark speckles. PCF-74 River Birch is a bit of an outlier: a creamy base tone with distinctive brown speckles reminiscent of birch bark. PCF-33 Mystic Tide is the most eye-catching glaze in the series and shifts between green-gray and rusty orange tones.

AMACO PCF-63 Sun Shower color sampleThe color PCF-63 Sun Shower

Overview of all AMACO Potter’s Choice Flux glazes

Overview of the complete Potter's Choice Flux collection


Application: applying it thick pays off

PCF glazes are brushed onto bisqueware fired to cone 04. As with the Potter's Choice glazes, most PCF glazes benefit from a thick, generous application. In the series brochure, AMACO shows the same color in one, two and three coats, and the difference is clearly visible. Only from about three coats do the glazes develop their full depth of color and their characteristic flow. A thicker application also always means more movement in the firing.

PCF glaze compared in 1, 2 and 3 coats

Same glaze, different number of coats: 1, 2 and 3 applications compared, fired to cone 5.

You can find out more about bisque firing and why the right temperature matters in our article What Is Bisque Firing?

Important practical tip: PCF glazes can run, that is what they are for. So apply fewer or thinner coats on the lower third of the piece and leave a glaze-free margin at the bottom so nothing fuses to the kiln shelf. For PCF-74 River Birch, AMACO also recommends stirring or shaking the glaze especially thoroughly before application so the speckles distribute evenly.


Layering: the strength of the series

Layering, that is, applying different glazes over one another, is the real purpose of the PCF series. AMACO explicitly describes the glazes as suitable for combining with the Potter's Choice glazes, the AMACO Celadons and the AMACO Shino glazes, which you can also find with us. PCF glazes work in both directions, as the bottom layer as well as the top layer.

These tested combinations come from the official AMACO brochure, all of them with glazes you can find right here in our shop:

Layering combinations with PCF glazes

Tested layering combinations from the official AMACO brochure.

You can find more tested pairings with application details in the official AMACO layering charts. And as always: before the first attempt on a finished piece, it is better to fire a test tile. Every kiln, every clay and every hand applying the glaze gives slightly different results.


The influence of the clay body

Precisely because many PCF glazes are light and delicate, clay color plays a big role in the final result. In the brochure, AMACO shows this using PCF-16 Aurora Breeze on three different clay bodies: on light clay the glaze looks friendly and pastel, on dark clay the speckles and breaks become much more dramatic, because the dark clay body shows through at the breaks.

The series test tiles are fired to cone 5 on AMACO 11-M A-Mix White Stoneware, a white stoneware. If you want similar results, it is best to use a light-colored stoneware. You will find suitable clay bodies in our stoneware selection.


Food safety and safety information

Here the PCF series has a real advantage over the classic PC series: All twelve PCF glazes are food-safe. AMACO answers this question clearly in the official series FAQ, and the glazes carry the Dinnerware Safe mark. There are no exceptions as with Potter's Choice, where three glazes may only be used decoratively.

The glazes also carry the AP seal according to ASTM D-4236, the US standard for the safety of art materials, and according to AMACO are suitable for spray application. As always, the prerequisite for food safety is a correct, complete firing to cone 5 to 6. A glaze that is underfired does not mature fully and should not be used on dinnerware.

Important note: If the ceramics will be used in contact with food, always read the enclosed product data sheet or check the glaze packaging before use and follow the food-safety information given there. All information provided here was researched to the best of our knowledge, but it may become outdated over time.


Frequently asked questions about the PCF series

What is the difference between PCF and the regular Potter's Choice glazes?
The PCF series is based on the highly fluid recipe of PC-17 Honey Flux and is designed specifically for movement and flow. The colors are mostly soft pastel tones that lighten other glazes in layering and make them flow. The classic PC series, by contrast, relies on standalone, dramatic effect glazes.

Can I also use PCF glazes on their own?
Yes. AMACO explicitly names both uses: on their own for soft, solid-color surfaces, or layered for flowing effects. They also look very beautiful solo, especially on textured surfaces where the glaze breaks and shows the clay color.

Are all PCF glazes food-safe?
Yes, according to AMACO all twelve glazes in the series have food-safe status. The prerequisite is a complete firing to cone 5 to 6.

Why does my PCF glaze run onto the kiln shelf?
PCF glazes are designed to flow, and a thick application plus cone 6 increases the movement. Apply less on the lower third, leave a glaze-free margin at the bottom and set the pieces on a kiln shelf treated with kiln wash, ideally on an additional catch tray made of bisque-fired clay. If you want to play it safe, fire to cone 5 first, where the glazes stay calmer.

Do I need the PCF series if I already have PC and Celadon glazes?
It is the ideal addition, because that is exactly what it was built for. All three series fire in the same range, and the PCF glazes act as a connecting link: they set existing PC and Celadon colors in motion and open up new combinations, without you having to change your firing schedule.


Conclusion: the connecting link in the AMACO cone 5/6 system

The Potter's Choice Flux series is not a collection for the big solo performance, but a tool for everyone who wants more control over flow and color effect when layering. Twelve soft colors, completely food-safe, in the same firing range as Potter's Choice and Celadon, and with a recipe built on one of AMACO's most popular flowing glazes. If you like to layer, you will have a lot of fun with this series.

The three most important points for good results: apply generously, work more sparingly at the bottom of the piece, and fire a test tile before trying new combinations. In our Formwerk assortment, you will find all twelve PCF glazes in the 472 ml jar, some also by the gallon, along with the matching Potter's Choice, Celadon and Shino series for combining. If you have any questions about choosing, we are happy to advise you.

You can find more glazing basics in Understanding Glazes: Types, Application and Common Mistakes.

More articles on glazing and firing


Sources

  1. AMACO Brent: Potter's Choice Flux Brochure, official product brochure, sections “Potter's Choice Flux Advantage”, “FAQ”, “Tips and Tricks”, “Layering” and “Application”, available at amaco.com.
  2. AMACO Brent: Potter's Choice Flux Color Chart (“Designed for movement & flow”, cone 5-6), with AP/CL labeling according to ASTM D-4236, Layering, Dinnerware Safe and Safe for Spray Application.
  3. AMACO Brent: (PCF) Potter's Choice Flux Product Pages, AMACO Shop. shop.amaco.com.
  4. AMACO Brent: Layering Charts, online reference. amaco.com/layering.

Note: All information on firing temperatures, coat thickness and layering combinations is for guidance only and is based on manufacturer specifications and our own experience advising customers. Actual results can vary depending on your kiln, firing schedule, clay body and individual application. We always recommend test tiles before larger production runs.

Formwerk Töpferbedarf Berlin

Happy glazing with your Potter's Choice Flux glazes, from the Formwerk Berlin Team

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