troubleshooting discolorations
Moderators: Brad Walker, Tony Smith
troubleshooting discolorations
a friend's firing some pieces for me -- all BE compatible glass -- & in a kiln w/ pieces from several people (getting glass from the same source & sometimes the same sheets), mine are the only ones that are developing discolorations --- she says it looks like blackish & goldish crud trapped between layers (layers usually a cathedral irid w/ clear/stringers sheet on top, or clear base under various other layers). i can get specifics on kiln & firing schedule, but the problem's specific to only my stuff. all pieces are fired either on paper or coated shelves -- i have the problem w/ both surfaces.
i use regular blue windex to clean my glass, & elmers straight from the bottle (don't use a brush) to hold pieces together during transport. my hands get washed w/ reasonable regularity. is there something else glaringly obvious i'm not considering? (& what else would be helpful to know???)
thanks,
marla
i use regular blue windex to clean my glass, & elmers straight from the bottle (don't use a brush) to hold pieces together during transport. my hands get washed w/ reasonable regularity. is there something else glaringly obvious i'm not considering? (& what else would be helpful to know???)
thanks,
marla
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that seemed obvious to me jackie, except that it doesn't happen w/ each/every piece, even when the elements are similar -- that is, i could have 2 pieces, each of similar size & w/ similar elements, & one gets the crud & one doesn't....
i had been watering it down, & got lazy. am now doing so again, & using more sparingly.
thanks...
i had been watering it down, & got lazy. am now doing so again, & using more sparingly.
thanks...
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I'd bet a grunfle that it's trapped carbon stain from the glue. It only happens occasionally because it's only getting trapped occasionally.
Don't trap the glue between glass, but rather use it at the edges of the pieces you want to anchor down...and...figure out if you can come up with a better glue option. I use Rave or Suave supehold hairspray in a pump. It burns off cleanly every time for me. I spray the base, place my glass and it sets up quickly. Maybe you could try some test pieces with hairspray and see if you get different results.
The windex would give you a mark that would look like streaks. Try good old soap and water with a good rinse and dry with clean cotton towels if you aren't happy with the Windex.
My other thought is that the firing schedule may be so fast that you are getting lamination before the glue is fully burned off. A slower schecule might help too.
Don't trap the glue between glass, but rather use it at the edges of the pieces you want to anchor down...and...figure out if you can come up with a better glue option. I use Rave or Suave supehold hairspray in a pump. It burns off cleanly every time for me. I spray the base, place my glass and it sets up quickly. Maybe you could try some test pieces with hairspray and see if you get different results.
The windex would give you a mark that would look like streaks. Try good old soap and water with a good rinse and dry with clean cotton towels if you aren't happy with the Windex.
My other thought is that the firing schedule may be so fast that you are getting lamination before the glue is fully burned off. A slower schecule might help too.