Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

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elyseglenna
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:13 pm

Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

Post by elyseglenna »

]Hi. I just created the most beautiful vase by assembling pieces of glass on a drop ring and letting them slump to the kiln shelf. The problem is that because the glass was not fully fused this way, there are some crevices where cerium would get stuck. I need to cut off most of the lip of the vase, which is not a problem. I just need to figure out how to polish the edges one that is done. The glass is mostly transparent and the appearance of cerium will wreck the look. I've never used loose grits on plate glass before, but suspect this might also leave visible remnants tucked into the crevices of my vase. Is it possible to kiln polish without loosing the slump? Any other methods anyone out there can suggest? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Morganica
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Re: Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

Post by Morganica »

Get a bar of soap (I prefer Ivory, because it washes out well and doesn't have a lot of lotions/oils that might leave a residue), and rub it over the piece to stop up the crevices. Make sure they're completely stopped up and the soap has packed in. Then do your coldworking.

The soap prevents swarf/cerium/grit from embedding in the crevices. When you're finished, get a toothbrush (or a powerwasher and/or one of those waterpik toothcleaner things) and spray the soap until it's dissolved and flows out, taking any residue with it. Just remember that the soap will be dissolving in the water as you coldwork, so you may need to check it occasionally and renew.
Cynthia Morgan
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suds
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Re: Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

Post by suds »

Morganica wrote:Get a bar of soap (I prefer Ivory, because it washes out well and doesn't have a lot of lotions/oils that might leave a residue), and rub it over the piece to stop up the crevices. Make sure they're completely stopped up and the soap has packed in. Then do your coldworking.

The soap prevents swarf/cerium/grit from embedding in the crevices. When you're finished, get a toothbrush (or a powerwasher and/or one of those waterpik toothcleaner things) and spray the soap until it's dissolved and flows out, taking any residue with it. Just remember that the soap will be dissolving in the water as you coldwork, so you may need to check it occasionally and renew.
What an excellent tip! Thanks for sharing that.
Steve
Babette (Shawn)
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Re: Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

Post by Babette (Shawn) »

Wow! Thanks Cynthia! I think I will try this on the edged of my pieces...before using cerium to polish. It makes sense!
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
― Pablo Picasso
Morganica
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Re: Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

Post by Morganica »

Well, I can't take credit for it--my mom's a ceramic artist, and she occasionally does that when she grinds off glaze spatters. But thanks. ;-)
Cynthia Morgan
Marketeer, Webbist, Glassist
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery
http://www.cynthiamorgan.com

"I wrote, therefore I was." (me)
elyseglenna
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Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:13 pm

Re: Coldworking a drop ring vase - help!

Post by elyseglenna »

Cynthia, whoever's idea it is, it's genius. Can't wait to try it. Thanks so much!
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