Question:

Can I use sand to stop glaze running onto shelves

Use sand to stop glaze running onto shelves

How to fire mid range stoneware (cone 6). kiln wash flakes and sometimes mars a piece in glaze firing. Therefore, use a layer of sand (the same kind that is sold in plastic bags at KMart for kids' sandboxes. Spread the layer very carefully on the shelf after it has been positioned, approximately 1/8 of an inch thick. If you suspect that the glaze will run then use a heavier layer. Since sand will not melt until cone 28 there is no problem. The benefits are that the sand will absorb any glaze which may run off the pot and therefore the piece can be removed from the shelf without damage to the shelf or the pot. Occasionally some sand adheres to the vessel this is easily hand ground with a stone or machine ground with my Makita grinder. It is important to remember to put the sand on the shelves after they are in the kiln and keep it 1/2 " away from the edge of the shelf in order to avoid contamination. I have not had any problems with sand particles getting in my glazed pieces and I do have a venting system. The secondary benefit is that pieces with large flat bottoms never warp! I also use the same technique for bisque firing all platters.

Saving Kiln shelves

„h To prevent glaze from running onto your kiln shelves, cut some slices of kiln brick and fire your pots on that. The brick will stop the glaze from running onto the shelf. Excess glaze can be removed with an angle grinder (use caution with this tool!) Shelves will last much longer, if not indefinitely!

Bat wash

Bat wash is a slurry of refractory material used to prevent kiln furniture from fusing together or pots fusing to shelves or to their lids when fired in position. The ideal wash is one which is relatively cheap and should be easy to make up into a wash which stays put during setting, and lastly it should easily wash off the foot rims, lids etc of the finished ware.
A mixture of aluminium hydrate two parts, china clay one part will be found excellent for most purposes both oxidized and reduced.

(Orton Standard)Temperature Chart

Pyrometric Cones (Orton Standard)
Temperature Equivalent Chart
For the entire Orton Temperature chart: (Orton Standard)Temperature Chart

To remove a stuck lid

If the lid of a teapot is stuck after firing, you can try this method: Fill the pot about 1/4 with water then put in the freezer. When the water has frozen, let it thaw slightly and then thump against the lid. If the lid is not fused, it may come off.

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