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Kiln wash: ceramic vs glass

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 5:39 pm
by PDXBarbara
"Teaching" fusing at a middle school. Sharing kiln, some supplies with the art dept. (the more I can use from the art dept... the better, budgetwise). The art dept. will be firing ceramics in the kiln. Can I use the same kiln wash for glass fusing that the art dept. uses to fire ceramics? Or do I have to beg, borrow and/or steal the stuff we use just for glass?
Merci,
Barbara

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:19 pm
by Brock
You can use the same stuff, but it'll probably be coarser than you're used to, and off-gas more. If you're making small projects, no problem. Brock

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:36 pm
by PDXBarbara
Thanks Brock.
Do I treat the ceramic wash the same way I do the glass wash?
xxoo
bb

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:37 pm
by Brock
Yup. Laconic Boy

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 7:02 pm
by Barbara Cashman
Barbara, I found it stuck to the glass more (maybe not enough alumina?) Anyway, not the best for glass, but will work. - Barbara C

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 8:44 pm
by Michelle Fokos
Brock wrote:You can use the same stuff, but it'll probably be coarser than you're used to, and off-gas more. If you're making small projects, no problem. Brock
hi barbara,

this may be a well-known fact, but it was recently new info for me: after your kiln wash has dried on the shelf, you can smooth it out really nicely by rubbing it down in a circular motion with the pad of your thumb (the bottom of your palm). once you've done this, gently wipe all the powder off. this removes the brush stroke marks from the shelf, and leaves the back of your fired pieces very smooth. while i am still very much a newbie, this is my prefered method of firing thus far.

michelle

ps...thanks for sharing with me how much you love your clamshell and all the folks at skutt...i ordered my clamshell today!!!!!!!! joy oh joy!!!!!!!!

Re: Kiln wash: ceramic vs glass

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:13 am
by Brian and Jenny Blanthorn
PDXBarbara (Bader) wrote:"Teaching" fusing at a middle school. Sharing kiln, some supplies with the art dept. (the more I can use from the art dept... the better, budgetwise). The art dept. will be firing ceramics in the kiln. Can I use the same kiln wash for glass fusing that the art dept. uses to fire ceramics? Or do I have to beg, borrow and/or steal the stuff we use just for glass?
Merci,
Barbara
Ceramic bat wash is usually
1/2 china clay ( kaolin ) 1/2 alumina by volume

Glass mixes r much the same but finer

U can make the mix softer by adding more alumina

Less is a harder fired mix

U can grind it down on the shelf a little with a muller or flat pebble shape

When near dry

Brian

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:30 am
by Lynne Chappell
I guess you could get away with the ceramic wash, but.. It is certainly coarser and doesn't give as nice a finish, but the worst part is it can stick to the glass or haze the back of your glass.

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 7:51 am
by lissa
ceramic wash is all I used for long time, just recently got the glass stuff. I did have a bit more 'sticking' but it always came right off and I never had hazing. If it is what's available, go for it, I don't see why it won't be fine. Like I said, I never had problems.

lissa.