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Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:34 am
by Jeanice
Is there a pen or pencil that will stay on a kiln shelf or ceramic mold and will not disappear after firing? Mostly want this for kiln shelves that I use for firing with silver leaf as well as fill weights for some CDV molds. Isn't there something that potters use?
Thanks in advance,
Jeanice
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:44 am
by Brad Walker
An ordinary lead pencil mark will stay on a kiln washed shelf without burning off. Haven't tried it, but would probably work for a mold as well.
Another trick is to label the items with anything, then take a digital photo before firing. Even if the labels burn away, the photo will tell you what's what.
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:54 am
by linn keller
you're right, brad. i have used reg. pencil to put be mold # and exact sizes of mold on the mold side and fired the molds. the pencil notation does stat\y in place.
linn
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:44 am
by Jeanice
Hmmm, I tried my mechanical pencil several times but it burned off of my "silver" kiln shelf. Will try a regular pencil next time. Thanks!
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:11 pm
by lmartine
Hi Jeanice,
I used Decocolor markers on Laurie's bottomless ceramic molds (to identify the size of the blank required) as well as on my kiln shelves (to identify my 'silver' shelf). So far so good, my markings are still there after several of firings.
They come in different colours. Another big plus is that the marking does not wear off when I use my saw.
Lucie
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 8:36 am
by seachange
have permanently marked my 'silver' shelves by filing a notch on one edge with a round file...but this is no help for writing on molds
best regards, seachange
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:24 am
by Jeanice
Lucie - I've been using Decocolor for years in my stained glass. And I love the fact that it doesn't come off in the grinder or saw. Never tried it on kiln shelves!
seachange - that's another great idea!
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:14 pm
by MichaelEndo
I use an Amaco underglaze pencil to mark shelves and draw on the glass. It works well.
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 2:02 am
by smallbitz
What is a DecoColor? Never heard of it before? Think I have to have one!
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 8:25 am
by Brad Walker
smallbitz wrote:What is a DecoColor? Never heard of it before? Think I have to have one!
DecoColor is a brand of pen.
Re: Pen/pencil that won't fire off
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:42 am
by Buttercup
Just looked them up on Amazon and read some of the review. Apparently the Extra Fine Point may turn out to be much wider.
http://www.amazon.com/Uchida-200-6A-6-P ... B0029LHN6W
Scroll down to the customer reviews for info.
I'm on the lookout for something as fine as the Sharpie Ultrafine marker that will survive wet working. To make those stay, even when using wet, I've been lightly sandblasting the area where the marker will go on the back of the glass. That means flipping the pattern piece to mark and cut on the back. The marker will stay through extensive wet working and clean off with acetone but only opalescent glass will hide the sandblasting. Jen