MELANIE SWANN on fri 3 may 96
I don't remember where I read it (may have been CM), but someone
suggested using children's crayons as an alernative to melted wax or
commercial wax emulsion. The crayons could be used both in wax resist
glazing techniques and in producing a dry foot with the children
simply drawing on their pots. Some crayon brands are softer than
others and may work better. I have not tried it yet, but it sounded
like a great idea to me. Maybe it will work for you.
Many of my students have found that they prefer to use masking
tape on the bottoms of their pots and as glaze resist. The tape
allows them to create a straight even foot, which they are obsessive
about. Masking tape can be purchased in various widths including 1/4
inch. The tape can be left on during the firing if you are not
firing in an electric kiln, or it can be pulled off relatively easily.
I have used wax emulsion and a paint brush with high school
students in the past. The emulsion is wax suspended in water; we
purchased it at the local ceramic supply. The problem arises when
students aren't careful and get wax drips where they don't want them.
The only remedy I have found for this is to re-bisque. I have also
found that students think any brush will do. By the end of the year,
I was replacing a considerable amount of the studio brushes. Now I
have a glaze reject shelf where I put ware for students to wipe
again. The wax is now used for resist only.
We have also used hot wax in the past, melting it in an electric
fry pan. Students could dip the foot directly in the wax for an even
foot. The hot wax was tempting; the students dipped everything in it
including their hands. No one was ever burned, but glazes were
contaminated and wax was everywhere. We don't use hot wax any more.
Good luck. Hope this helps,
Melanie Swann
K. Lorensen on tue 7 may 96
Melanie,
Just read your input on wax resist, etc. and thought I'd share
a remedy I've had some success with. If you happen to get a
drop or so of wax resist where you didn't want it, use a
butane lighter and burn off the wax. It may leave a bit of
carbon, which burns off later in the kiln or is of not
apparent consequence if glaze is applied over it. I've only
tried it for remedy on a drop or two, but it works!
Happy potting,
Carie Lorensen
Seattle
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