What clay compounds are acceptable to use? Is it something that I'll have to make up myself, or is their a product on the market that I can use? Any help and/ or recommend recipes would by dualy appreciated

I have seen a smith use a thin slurry of furnace cement

Ah, Grasshopper, you ask for family secret.  The path to secret slurry is a long and guarded one.  Take the first step and try one, anyone.  May the force be with you.  

I think there may be a formula in The Complete Bladesmith, I'll have a look when I get in from the shop.

That reference book can likely be at yourlocal library or they may be able to borrow it from anotherlibrary for you. ILL Just know that if you see it you will want one!

 

In the knife making lessons in the forum is a reference library; in that is al ist of knfemaking suppliers, I bet almost any of them will have a product to do wot you wish..

I cheat a little.  You can get fire rated sealent from lowes or home depot in the section that has the silicon.  Doesn't work as good as the clay mixture, you usually get one shot and the whole thing comes off in the quench.

Satinite works very well.

Remember that the alloy you are using is VERY IMPORTANT you want a shallow hardening alloy.  Many modern alloys don't work well even with the best "clays" available.

Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate all the help.
Sorry for not getting back to you all sooner, just had a lot of things going lately.