Michael McDowell on fri 22 mar 96
For Judy Pyle;
For many years at the beginning of my pottery "career" the kiln wash formula
that seemed to be in almost universal use on the west coast was equal parts (by
volume, not weight) silica and EPK. however, this formula has some serious
shortcomings since it tends to crack & peel off shelves at just about the same
thickness that will keep glaze runs from penetrating to the shelf. Increasing
the amount of silica to reduce this cracking can give further problems because
it moves the mixture in the direction of a eutectic between silica and alumina
and thus it will tend to start grabbing at your pots.
The last few years I have been quite pleased with the results I am getting using
equal volumes of silica, EPK, and Alumina Hydrate. This mixture tends not to
crack off shelves even when quite thick, and it doesn't grab hold of foot rings
even above cone 11. I would strongly recommend it!
Michael McDowell
Bemoaning the advent of Spring in Western Washington
All the yard work is keeping me out of the studio!
Oh really I love it -- almost as much as I love to complain!
deborah goletz on fri 28 may 99
Reuben - I've been using this recipe for 10 years: one part EPK, one part
FLINT, and 1/2 part ALUMINA HYDRATE. It's quick and easy because you don't
have to weigh anything - just measure by volume (usually that means
handfuls for me). The Alumina Hydrate helps that flaking problem and
though it is the most expensive ingredient, you will find this recipe
cheaper than buying it pre-mixed.
Mike Bailey on sun 30 may 99
In message , deborah goletz writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Reuben - I've been using this recipe for 10 years: one part EPK, one part
>FLINT, and 1/2 part ALUMINA HYDRATE. It's quick and easy because you don't
>have to weigh anything - just measure by volume (usually that means
>handfuls for me). The Alumina Hydrate helps that flaking problem and
>though it is the most expensive ingredient, you will find this recipe
>cheaper than buying it pre-mixed.
>
We use Alumina hydrate 2 parts with 1 part of china clay (which gives it
a bit of sticking power)
Cheers,
Mike Bailey
--
Mike Bailey
linknlog@earthlink.net on sun 17 mar 02
i have only posted on clayart once or twice, reading about two months or so...so hello everyone. i'm here in lexington, K=
Y at my new studio called kentucky mudworks, llc. i have about 30+ students that i teach year-round four days a week, so =
my kilns get a lot of use. my question here is:does anyone have a rock solid kiln wash recipe. is there such a thing? i u=
se 50/50 silica/epk and it worked for awhile with little flaking, but recently has been shedding tons of flakes off of ev=
ery shelf. i haven't needed to recoat often b/c there aren't that many drips, but when a student's pot does run, it is us=
ually nasty. is this just always going to happen? does anyone use 2/3 alumina 1/3 epk? if my shelves already have my old =
recipe on them can i switch or would that be ruinous? the shelves that are flaking are the newer ones with very little wa=
sh on them too. please advise!
also are there any other lexington, or nearby potters on this list?
thanx--link
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .
| |
|
