Brock wrote:IMNSHO, nothing beats a well prepared kiln shelf. Brock
I don't know, if you use nothing doesn't the glass stick to the shelf? :badgrin:
Seriously, I would agree that a well-prepared kiln-washed kiln shelf may give you the smoothest bottom surface, provided that your firing schedule is slow and low enough also. (Notice that I said "may" -- I say that because I've had several very good firings from the Fusion Shield shelves, which have left a surface every bit as smooth as kiln wash, and are literally, "nothing" on the kiln shelf. In fact, if I take the same care with the Fusion Shield shelves that I do with a kiln-washed shelf, I seem to get equivalent results with less effort.)
Some of the other products out there, like thinfire and 110 paper, do have a purpose, especially for those who don't want to take the time to prepare their shelves or who don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for the Fusion Shield product. To answer Deborah's question, 110 paper works in terms of keeping the glass from sticking to the shelf, but it doesn't leave as smooth a bottom surface as kiln wash. You can achieve a smoother finish by sprinkling the surface of the paper with kiln wash powder, and it will last a fairly long time. I use 110 more often than I use kiln wash (mostly because I'm lazy, I guess), especially when an ultra smooth bottom surface isn't essential.
(Disclaimer: I'm biased, because I sell the 110 paper, but even if I sold kiln wash also I think I'd come to the same conclusion.)