Search found 58 matches

by Mark Kemp
Fri Jun 05, 2015 4:17 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Kiln wash turning brown and smoking?
Replies: 5
Views: 8272

Re: Kiln wash turning brown and smoking?

Weird. I've never seen the BE wash turn color, smoke, or emit any odor. Could it have gotten contaminated somehow? Something in the mixing container? Did it get moldy?
by Mark Kemp
Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:27 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Fusing silver leaf/foil between glass
Replies: 7
Views: 15621

Re: Fusing silver leaf/foil between glass

I can imagine that in a reactive situation, there could be a yellow effect, but in my experience with silver leaf, even bunched up, it just totally disappears. Nothing left. The leaf I have is very very thin, like other metal leaf I've seen, definitely not foil.
by Mark Kemp
Fri Apr 10, 2015 2:38 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: DRAWING ON THE kiln-washed SHELF
Replies: 20
Views: 25814

Re: DRAWING ON THE kiln-washed SHELF

If you use a soft pencil -- 2B or preferably softer -- it should be less likely to disturb the dried kiln wash. But then, I love soft pencils. :)
by Mark Kemp
Mon Apr 06, 2015 4:28 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: freeze and fuse in a condom
Replies: 6
Views: 10741

Re: freeze and fuse in a condom

Balloons usually have some release agent inside, like corn starch or talc, so they don't stick together. I don't know if that would affect the glass, if it weren't rinsed out. Other than that, I can't see why either wouldn't work.
by Mark Kemp
Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:55 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: Silence
Replies: 26
Views: 73424

Re: Silence

This board does seem to be picking up again. I'm happy to see that.
by Mark Kemp
Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:14 am
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: "Dumbing down" of glass art?
Replies: 55
Views: 153545

Re: "Dumbing down" of glass art?

But what about ones you get from other people? You know, read the post, delete it. Some I may want to save for a time, but most I would like to delete after being seen/read. Cate You can say you don't want to see it, and it won't appear in your feed. But I think FB may take that into account in wha...
by Mark Kemp
Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:43 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: kiln wash sticking
Replies: 4
Views: 6224

Re: kiln wash sticking

I got a new tub of BE kilnwash at some point, and it looked different -- color was still pinkish, but different than before. Enough so, I checked with them to make sure it was the real stuff. But after I started using it, I had some sticking problems, even on cathedrals. I had never needed to prefir...
by Mark Kemp
Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:17 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tile Saw Modifications
Replies: 10
Views: 14123

Re: Tile Saw Modifications

I wonder if UHMW polyethylene would be a good choice -- it's used in woodworking.
by Mark Kemp
Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:37 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: A strange question
Replies: 11
Views: 14461

Re: A strange question

I'm remembering now what I did. I used clear acrylic spray in a can, which was solvent based. It didn't distort card stock or paper at any rate. But yes, something water based might.
by Mark Kemp
Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:01 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: A strange question
Replies: 11
Views: 14461

Re: A strange question

I'd probably try acrylic varnish/sealer. It'll really soak into the cardboard and basically plasticize the whole thing. I've done this with paper and cardstock, to make things waterproof.
by Mark Kemp
Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:47 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Background for images.
Replies: 10
Views: 12850

Re: Background for images.

Geez, I thought the Amazon patent was a joke. I use fabrics for backgrounds a lot, and wrinkling is a big problem. But polar fleece doesn't show wrinkles! Depending on how you do it, the texture of the polar fleece may or may not show, and may or may not be a problem. So easy to store it without wri...
by Mark Kemp
Thu May 08, 2014 6:22 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Bending 2mm Stringer
Replies: 12
Views: 14138

Re: Bending 2mm Stringer

I've draped over pipe -- guess it was around 1.5" diameter, but in the kiln, not with a torch. I cut the stringer a little longer than I wanted, then trimmed the ends after firing.
by Mark Kemp
Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:07 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Kilns
Replies: 24
Views: 48849

Re: Kilns

Kevin, can you explain what you mean about elements needing to be stretched correctly? My Jen-Ken is 10 years old, or maybe more -- can't remember -- my brain is old. But I've replaced the elements quite a few times, and I'm not burning weird stuff much. They were going at 6 months for awhile, then ...
by Mark Kemp
Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:41 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Copper foil piece gone horribly wrong
Replies: 12
Views: 13583

Re: Copper foil piece gone horribly wrong

Yeah, I've used the adhesive copper foil in small things and it works, because the adhesive is able to burn out before the glass fuses. But I can see why it wouldn't in something larger.
by Mark Kemp
Sun Dec 01, 2013 4:11 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: nichrome wire inclusion
Replies: 6
Views: 9586

Re: nichrome wire inclusion

Gee, I use much smaller gauges, but mostly stainless steel wire. 27 and 23 gauge. I have some nichrome that looks maybe smaller than 23. I've always used SS, but quite a few years ago I bought the nichrome, since everyone seemed to use it. I tried it, and it seemed so stiff and hard to work, so I pu...
by Mark Kemp
Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:15 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: A skin rush because of grinding the glass ???
Replies: 7
Views: 8319

Re: A skin rush because of grinding the glass ???

Any contaminants in the water, such as mold?
by Mark Kemp
Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:29 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Super Glue Follow-up
Replies: 9
Views: 14476

Re: Super Glue Follow-up

I don't know what gel super glue you used, but this has been my experience: I have used Loctite Extra Control in a Black and Green container many times with absolutely no residues or other problems. Once I bought by mistake Loctite Gel Control in a Blue and Silver container. This left horrible resid...
by Mark Kemp
Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:47 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: JenKen Email Address?
Replies: 0
Views: 7947

JenKen Email Address?

Does anyone have an email address for JenKen that works?
The one on their website gets a response saying the recipient isn't recognized.
I did play around and tried one that didn't bounce back, but didn't get any response.
by Mark Kemp
Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:32 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Hi Fire Question
Replies: 21
Views: 23265

Lynne Chappell wrote: some IR protection. The No. 3 glasses aren't very dark so you can still see what's going on, s.
Really? I tried the #3's I had on hand a few years back, and I couldn't see a thing in the kiln. Always mean to look for some #2 lenses for the goggles.
by Mark Kemp
Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:18 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Anybody ever fused plastics, acrylics, lexan, etc.
Replies: 5
Views: 7441

I've never fused it in this sense (though have "glued" with solvents), but we slumped acrylics in junior high shop class back in the 60's. Whenever I see draped glass, it reminds me of that. Make sure you know what you're doing before heating acrylic. Overheating releases flammable gasses,...