iandol on wed 20 mar 02
Dear Brian Molanphy,
Nothing wrong in using wadding provided the pots are not overly heavy =
and the clay is not excessively pyroplastic.
Now it is a long time since I salted a kiln but I did use Silicon =
Carbide shelves. Silicon carbide shelves can become reactive but the =
newer ones which have nitride cementation are said to be more durable. =
The old type were prone to oxidation so that they left a silica skin on =
the outer surface. In an ordinary firing this was of no consequence. But =
with Salt or Soduim Carbonate; recall what the good books say about salt =
glaze chemistry. My shelves produced a frothy slag where they were not =
protected with kiln wash.
IF kiln wash has to be used for any purpose then its removal can be =
encouraged by mixing in a proportion of plain wheat flour so that the =
sinter bonding process is weakened. Then the stuff can be removed very =
quickly. Another tip; use a comb to make patterns in the wash. These =
allow salt vapour to penetrate beneath the bases of the pots, imprinting =
the patterns as a decorative accent.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill. South Australia.=20
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