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Kiln wash

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:32 pm
by Chris Lowry
So I'm trying to learn stuff on my own, with tons of help from the Internet.

I've had some good first firings but kiln wash is a pain.

Do you really scrape off all the old kiln wash, to a bare shelf, before applying more? Or do you scrape off just enough to make it smooth again? Scraping is kind of like a chalk board, hard on the ears.

On the same note, do you preefire the kiln wash to 500 each time or can you just use the dried surface?

Thanks again

Re: Kiln wash

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:49 pm
by Yardic Glassworks
Personally, when it's time for new wash, I mask up and get out the electric hand sander. I like the smoothest surface possible. I apply and let dry naturally. No need to fire to 500. If impatient, I dry with the heat gun. Tim

Re: Kiln wash

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 5:11 pm
by DonMcClennen
It's easy!! Just take the kilnshelf outside and scrape it (dry) with the edge of a piece of glass... job will take under one minute!!.. don't need to prefire just dry in the sun. In colder weather I set fresh coated shelves and molds on top of kiln lid (with some spacers) when I'm firing something else... this dries it well. Good luck

Re: Kiln wash

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 6:36 pm
by Chris Lowry
So your mostly scrapping to get it smooth, no need to remove everything.

Thanks Internet

Re: Kiln wash

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 11:35 pm
by Valerie Adams
Yes, you want to scrape everything off because believe it or not, little 'islands' of old wash will show up as texture on the back of your work.

I use a razor paint scraper, and clean my 21" square shelves in a couple minutes each (it's handy to have several shelves, so you can do this in a batch).

Because I fire as cool as possible, I'm able to get 4-5 firings before having to recoat a shelf. I only use Bullseye kiln wash.

Re: Kiln wash

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 2:11 pm
by grammy
I use a dry wall sander on mine. It get the wash off really fast.