Slip

A liquid mixture of clay and varying amounts of water.

Slips have many variations: the clay and the water at the bottom of a throwing tray; a thickened clay and water mixture, like cream, to connect pieces of clay; an even more thickened mixture, like a creamy yogurt, that can be applied for texture (hakeme). When colored, a mixture used for colored slip decorations; or deflocculated, a mixture used in slip casting. A flashing slip is a thin mixture of clay and water applied to a pot to cause flashing in salt, soda, and wood firings.

The easiest way to make slip is to take bone-dry clay, break it into small chunks and slake it in water - it will quickly dissolve.