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water wax, was wax bubbles

updated wed 24 aug 05

 

Bob Santerre on mon 22 aug 05


Bonnie, what is "liquid water wax"? Who sells it?

Ok, so please explain this technique in a little more detail. "use
liquid water wax in a squeeze bottle followed by your wet brush" Please
help me visualize exactly what you're doing here? Are you squeezing a
line of "water wax" onto the pot bottom and then secondarily
distributing it (spreading it out) with the wet brush? Or are you
wetting the brush directly with the squeeze bottle in one operation as
the pot is turning? If you're trying to bring a wax line up (or now
down since the pot's inverted on the wheel) say a quarter inch onto the
outside vertical surface of a foot ring, how do you prevent the wax
from dribbling down onto the surface you intend to glaze?

Thanks, Bob

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
bonnie staffel wrote:

>You can wax your pot bottoms an easy way by just inverting your pot on the
>wheel, center it by tapping, rotate your wheel and use liquid water wax in a
>squeeze bottle followed by your wet brush and you will get a nice line every
>time. You can also wax your complete bottom with this method especially for
>pots that are too large to fit into the electric skillet.
>
>Warm regards,
>
>Bonnie Staffel
>http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
>http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
>Charter Member Potters Council
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bonnie staffel on tue 23 aug 05


Dear Bob,

Exactly, I said I squeezed a trail of water wax, it has a lot of body and
doesn't go dripping around , and I follow it with my wet brush. It flows
like slip trailing. I even use one of those narrow sponge brushes but not
too crazy about them. My wet brush is not dripping wet, just keep it in a
jar of water so that the wax doesn't set up in the bristles, making it
unusable for the next time. I use a squeeze bottle that girls use for hair
dye. I bought them years ago. Found a bottle that had a little red plastic
cap to cover the hole, but one could use one of those ball headed dressmaker
pins for a plug to keep the nozzle from drying out. I also shake the bottle
before using as there is a separation of the Mobil Cer. I am sure there are
other water wax materials available, you just have to try them. Ask your
potter friends who might use other brands. Heard that Axner had a good one.
Bad ones are awful, sometimes leaving an oily residue on your hands and then
your fingerprints are on the bisque, leaving a bare spot. I am right handed
and I think I use my brush in my right hand and the bottle in the left. I
use an oriental pointed brush of the proper size for the job.

An example of how I used this wax is on my Pottery Page first photo, third
row down. I glazed the plate with a white glaze and painted the resist
design in wax on the glaze. Then used a wash over the whole plate surface.
I like the little beads that cling to the wax after the procedure.

Hope this explains the procedure.

Regards,

Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
Charter Member Potters Council