[Clayart] another kiln wash question

[Antoinette Badenhorst]

I have a recipe which adds zirconium for a very refractory kiln wash and yes, as I was doing my research, it became clear(and logical) not to use silica in kiln wash, for the same reason Ron mentioned. I have not thought it through or tested it yet, but I want to simplify my firing processes, which interestingly enough involve pure silica, to keep certain parts of the objects I make separated from others. 

Best wishes,
Antoinette Badenhorst
www.porcelainbyAntoinette.com
www.TeachinArt.com


> On Aug 31, 2019, at 3:33 PM, ronroy at ca.inter.net wrote:
> 
> Hi Eleanora,
> 
> First thing would be to take out the silica - you don't want anything in your wash that will bind with clay and glaze. Bump the alumina hydrate up to 4. You can also use some ball clay to make a tougher surface - or add in 1% bentonite.
> 
> I spray on kiln wash using a simple pump up plant sprayer. It goes on drier and leaves a textured surface which enhances the function of the wash.
> 
> RR
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Quoting Eleanora  Eden <eeden at vermontel.net>:
> 
>> Hi Clayarters,
>> 
>> The kiln wash recipe I have been using works sometimes and sometimes doesn?t stick well, blisters up in places, creates havoc in glass firing.   So perhaps it is an application problem.  I do gently wet the surface before brushing on the wash, consistency thick cream.
>> 
>> I have scraped fired wash off enough shelves and saved it now that I have, essentially, a batch of calcined kiln wash.  Am thinking of grinding it into fine powder and using it as a wash.  Will do that with a piece of kiln shelving this firing as a test.  Has anybody done this?  Added anything else to the mix? Maybe a bit of gel (gum solution)?
>> 
>> My wash recipe:
>> 
>> 2 c. EPK
>> 2 c. calcined EPK
>> 3 c. flint
>> 1 c. alumina hydrate
>> 5 c. H2O
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Eleanora
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> Ron Roy
> ronroy at ca.inter.net
> Web page ronroy.net
> 
>