Search found 59 matches

by Steph Mader
Mon Dec 13, 2021 8:02 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Hydrocal Hell
Replies: 1
Views: 14566

Re: Hydrocal Hell

Hi Kathleen,
Yes, mix at least 50% silica flour with the hydrocal to make casting investment. It helps to add some chopped fiberglass too, to help hold everything together. Hydrocal by iteself can't handle the heat of the kiln and will break down and fail. Good luck!
Steph
by Steph Mader
Thu Oct 03, 2019 3:42 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Looking for System 96 Deep Purple
Replies: 0
Views: 67515

Looking for System 96 Deep Purple

I am getting down to the bottom of my stash of System 96 #146, Deep Purple. The color has been discontinued for a while. I use it quite a bit in my landscapes, so I thought I'd put out the call to see if anyone has frit, powder, rod, sheet - anything you'd love to unload? I'd love to buy it, it woul...
by Steph Mader
Sun Jan 24, 2016 12:09 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Patching a fiber board shelf
Replies: 5
Views: 9971

Re: Patching a fiber board shelf

That's so funny. If it EVER dries out here in Washington, I might try that! Also, hubby used to fair the hulls on great big racing sailboats, I'll bet he has some tricks.
by Steph Mader
Fri Dec 11, 2015 4:19 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Patching a fiber board shelf
Replies: 5
Views: 9971

Re: Patching a fiber board shelf

Thanks for the info. The board was pretty rough on both sides when I got it & I rigidized it myself at the time. I used it for a long time with 1/8" fiber paper & dry kiln wash dusted on, but that won't work with what I'm doing now. So I'll try the grind & patch and see how it goes....
by Steph Mader
Thu Dec 10, 2015 4:35 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Patching a fiber board shelf
Replies: 5
Views: 9971

Patching a fiber board shelf

Hi Guys, I have a 1" thick rigidized fiber board shelf that I've been using off & on for a few years. I just had an opal piece stick to it and tear some pretty good-sized chunks out of the surface. Anyone have suggestions about how to patch & level the surface? I have some liquid rigidi...
by Steph Mader
Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:37 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: sticking picture tile on board with silicone
Replies: 5
Views: 6365

Re: sticking picture tile on board with silicone

At an art festival last week, a customer came over to tell me one of the glass wall tiles in my booth was crooked. Turns out ithe glass was slowly sliding off the back... & old silicone was the culprit. It was the last bit left in the tube & should have opened a fresh one. I left it for four...
by Steph Mader
Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:12 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: need kiln advice
Replies: 5
Views: 7040

Thanks,

I'll start looking around for one - I'll check the classifieds.

Steph
by Steph Mader
Mon Nov 17, 2003 2:27 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: need kiln advice
Replies: 5
Views: 7040

Hi Lynne, Yeah, I think a dryer circuit is 30 amps. I wouldn't be surprised if I seem to remember that I knew someone who had a 24" kiln that ran on 120V, but it might have been custom and taken 12 hours to reach fusing temp, who knows. I'm just trying to keep working a bit while my regular kil...
by Steph Mader
Mon Nov 17, 2003 1:08 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: need kiln advice
Replies: 5
Views: 7040

need kiln advice

I need some advice about a kiln. I am moving to a new place where I can build a studio. I won't have room to set up my large kiln until the studio is up. So while I wait for the studio to be done, I'd like to have a smaller kiln, maybe 24" or a bit smaller, that I can plug into a dryer circuit ...
by Steph Mader
Sun Aug 17, 2003 9:51 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Mixing it with the best...any clues
Replies: 41
Views: 45045

So, if it's "out of print" so to speak, is it kosher to get a copy from someone else's copy? If I'm not mistaken, I think that's okay with printed material. Am I correct? Anyone know about that?

Steph
by Steph Mader
Thu May 01, 2003 1:16 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: POT MELT,,,,,Q
Replies: 5
Views: 10076

Hi Rodney, I know that theoretically the more cone-shaped the feeder gate is (whether built into the mold itself, or in the form of a crucible) the easier it is for the glass to flow down & out the hole. But on really wide molds I've used flower pots with a 6 or 8" flat bottom, and if you w...
by Steph Mader
Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:20 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: POT MELT,,,,,Q
Replies: 5
Views: 10076

Hi Rodney, I just go ahead and load the pot with glass, soak the mold at 250 and then 350 to dry it, then go on up. I hold a little bit at anneal temp to warm up the inside of the mold before the glass starts dripping into it. I usually design in a shallow feeder gate, so that if the pot drip starts...
by Steph Mader
Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:12 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Need to find silicon carbide flat lap pads
Replies: 9
Views: 15982

Thanks you guys for looking around for me. I can't find anything similar either. These have a magnetic backing & no hole. I have no idea what they are worth. But thanks anyway for all your help!
Steph
by Steph Mader
Tue Apr 29, 2003 1:44 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Need to find silicon carbide flat lap pads
Replies: 9
Views: 15982

thanks JC,

The ones I'm looking at are 24". I'll check around and see if anyone has them that big. Do you have the link for the lapidary board?

Steph
by Steph Mader
Sat Apr 26, 2003 12:07 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Need to find silicon carbide flat lap pads
Replies: 9
Views: 15982

Thanks, that price reference gives me some idea at least. I had a flat lap grinder made, and I bought an 80 grit diamond pad. For as little as I grind, I thought I could try these for a while, and there is a cork & prepolish pad as well that I can use. I hate to offer a price when I have no idea...
by Steph Mader
Fri Apr 25, 2003 2:14 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Need to find silicon carbide flat lap pads
Replies: 9
Views: 15982

Need to find silicon carbide flat lap pads

I have a chance to purchase some polishing and grinding pads from another glass artist. I need to find silicon carbide flat lap pads, so I can figure out what a fair price would be for them. Any ideas? I can find diamond disks, but not the others.

Thanks
Steph
by Steph Mader
Thu Apr 24, 2003 1:03 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Raku clay slip vs plaster/silica
Replies: 25
Views: 43102

Hey Ron, I also have read that there is chemically bound water that is released at a higher temp. I checked during the last firing to see if a couple pretty large molds were all the way dry yet. 12 hours into a dry cycle at 350 degrees, I held a piece of glass over the hole in the lid, and no fog. W...
by Steph Mader
Tue Apr 22, 2003 2:13 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Question - good wax choice for casting?
Replies: 2
Views: 6680

Hi Spark,

Yes, the fumes from hot microcrystalline wax are not good for you. Use good ventilation over the wax pot, and/or wear a good repirator. Warm wax won't hurt you any, though.

Steph
by Steph Mader
Tue Apr 22, 2003 2:05 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Raku clay slip vs plaster/silica
Replies: 25
Views: 43102

I wonder if the molds are getting thermal shocked at the end of the dry cycle, or if the dry cycle temp is too high. If the mold is dried too hot at the beginning of the cycle, then the steam can blow cracks in the mold. I think Carol mentioned 225 or so. I dry the molds for a week, then load them i...
by Steph Mader
Tue Apr 22, 2003 1:01 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Casting multiples from the same mold?
Replies: 11
Views: 16398

Gale,

If you're packing frit the typical pate de verre way, Delores is a good person to talk to. She's got a lot of experience with this technique & firing schedules for different types of pate de verre.
Steph