spray kiln shelf

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Susanbuckler
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Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:31 pm

spray kiln shelf

Post by Susanbuckler »

Is it effective to spray kiln on a shelf using a simple household spray bottle - one you'd use to spray water on plants? I'm going to fire irid face down and want to be sure the kiln washed surface is in good shape. I've also read about the pros and cons of using thin fire when firing irid face down. Anyone want to weigh in on it once again? Thanks for the help
Susan Buckler
Woodstock, NY
Dick
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Re: spray kiln shelf

Post by Dick »

I assume you mean spray on kiln wash. Usually the particles are too big for those sprayers. I use an air sprayer on mine. Why use thin fire at all? Just as easy to scrape and recoat
Valerie Adams
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Re: spray kiln shelf

Post by Valerie Adams »

I've done several things over the years, trying to find the easiest way to deal with shelves.

First, I used a paint roller to apply wash. After dry, I'd lightly 'sand' it with a piece of smooth printer paper.

Then, I used the garden sprayer approach. That leaves fairly large blobs and splatters, so again, 'sand' with smooth printer paper.

But at Bullseye one day, I watched Nathan Sandberg demo washing a shelf with a haik brush. He made it look so simple and almost zen-like, that I questioned why I was avoiding that method.

Ever since then, that's what I do. Four to five coats, using a wide haik brush. My shelves are so smooth I just wipe my hand over them once before using. Clean up is easier too; no more clogged sprayers or gunky rollers to scrub.
Fiona Collins
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Re: spray kiln shelf

Post by Fiona Collins »

I've been using one of these and am thrilled with the finish, I do 4 or 5 coats of primo, empty after each use and spray clean water through after so it doesn't clog up. I've been using it for texture tiles and don't lose any detail, you pump the top and it comes out like it's from a compressor
http://www.bunnings.com.au/aqua-systems ... r_p3368550
Dick
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Re: spray kiln shelf

Post by Dick »

I agree with the haik brush if you do not have a sprayer. One tip for even smoother is that after you have all your coats on, get a bowl of hot water and using the haik brush dip and make one pass over entire shelf. I redip after each pass. removes all the brush marks
JestersBaubles
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Re: spray kiln shelf

Post by JestersBaubles »

Regarding irid down on Thinfire, I had problems once with the irid hazing, which after asking a lot of question, seemed to be related to firing face-down on Thinfire. However, I've also experienced hazing with irid-side-down on fiber paper :mrgreen: so who knows!?

Bullseye does say this in their tech note about Thinfire:

Not for Every Application
ThinFire has been used with excellent results in Bullseye’s
studio for many types of fusing applications. However, it
does not work in every application. Used in direct contact
with iridized glass, for example, ThinFire may cause a
reaction resulting in surface pitting.

http://www.bullseyeglass.com/methods-id ... tions.html

Dana
Ed Cantarella
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Re: spray kiln shelf

Post by Ed Cantarella »

Haike brushes. They seem a bit over-rated imo. Most are just natural bristle stuck into pieces of bamboo which are then glued together - meaning the bristles are in bundles. How is that supposed to effectuate a smooth finish? I've found good quality bristle paint brushes and even some cheaper natural bristle "chip brushes"(used for junk jobs like spreading contact cement) to work infinitely better. Bristles are more even, brush carries the wash better which leads to better "fast & wet without puddling" coating. Got some at a $1 store that were so nice I went back and bought 10. :)
HER last words were, "I'm melting, melting . . . " Dissenting opinions generally welcome for comic relief or personal edification. Sometimes both.
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