WarmGlass.com

I am really new at this and need some help. I'm using system 96 glass. As I have been fusing and slumping I always see very fine lines on the bottom of my work. After I apply the kiln wash I sand smooth and bernish with my hand for what looks like a really smoth finish but after firing you can see a difference in the top (glossy) and the bottom (not glossy). Three questions- Can I fix the ones that have already been fired? and How do I prevent this in the future? Are you supposed to pre-fire the kiln shelf/mold after kiln wash is applied prior to firing the glass? I am following the 96 firing guidlines for fusing and slumping and that has gone great, just not sure how to fix/prevent the bottom problem.

This looks like a great site, thanks for the assistance.

Linda

If you go hot enough, you'll pick up an imprint of whatever surface you fire on. We're stuck with that. If you are still bothered by the texture of the kiln wash, even with the smoothing you've done, you might try airbrushing it on(vent and wear a respirator), or fiber paper. I like the impring of the paper, it is non biased(no grain direction) and texturally homogeneous. I used to air brush my shelves, before going to paper, but got tired of the scraping and lugging.

Tony Serviente wrote:I used to air brush my shelves, before going to paper, but got tired of the scraping and lugging.

For what it's worth, Ed Hoy markets a new kiln wash that comes off with a damp cloth. The wash doesn't perform quite as well as Bullseye in terms of avoiding bubbles, but it does work pretty well and leaves a smooth finish.

Thanks for the replys. I have some shelf paper and will try it on the next load. In looking thru the delphi glass catalog they have some stuff called 975' back magic. Any experience with this stuff?

I love the Bulletin Board, being a newbe it will help a lot.

Got to go burn some more glass!!

Linda