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protecting your kiln shelves from runny glazes

updated wed 29 oct 03

 

Dorie Mickelson on tue 28 oct 03


Regarding runny glazes and protecting your shelves, one of the studios
in town that I love offers "coasters" made out of clay for students to
use when firing pots that are prone to run onto the kiln shelves. I
thought this was a great idea and now do this at home with my own kiln
-- I just roll out some slabs of clay, cut different sized pieces, let
them dry, bisque them, brush on a little kiln wash, and they are ready
to use (and are re-usable as long as your glazes don't run on them). If
I am concerned about a glaze running onto my shelves, I just pull a
coaster out of my collection and stick the pot on it before putting it
into the kiln. This not only saves my shelves but saves me some
worrying time and gives me peace of mind! Most of the time the stuff I
worry about running doesn't run anyway, but when it does, it only costs
me a clay coaster, which I can just toss it without having to worry
about chiseling/grinding my kiln shelves. Probably everyone knows this
trick already, but if not, I hope it is helpful to someone.

Dorie

*************************************************

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 07:50:04 EST

From: Bobbruch1@AOL.COM

Subject: ^6 ash glazes was Re: New Kiln - Size vs. Temp

<<<< Carol Tripp writes: I used it over Xavier's
Warm Jade Green and got silver rivlets with crystals. It definately
melted and inattention with one pot neccessitated the hammer just to get
the pot off the shelf.

Carol, when you use an ash glaze, especially with unwashed ash over
another glaze, the "running" should necessitate putting something under
the work - I would recommend used and beaten up softbrick. It saves wear
and tear on the shelves.

Bob Bruch