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alumina in wax resist (was: once-fire stacking question)

updated tue 31 oct 06

 

Bruce Girrell on mon 30 oct 06


I just tried adding alumina to my wax resist to keep the lid of a piece from
sticking to its mate. It worked well except that I used too much wax
(paraffin) and the wax ran down inside the pot, carrying the alumina with
it. This ruined the glaze surface wherever the alumina ended up.

So - don't use too much wax.

Bruce "oops - won't do that again" Girrell

Ron Roy on mon 30 oct 06


Hi Bruce,

I use liquid wax - two kinds - one without any alumina - used in the usual
way - the second kind - with alumina - to just put a bead at the bottom of
the foot - where it touches the shelf - or in a gallery and lid where they
will touch.

I found that if the alumina get under the edge of the glaze the glaze will
not bond with the body and there will be a sharp edge there - not good.

RR

>I just tried adding alumina to my wax resist to keep the lid of a piece from
>sticking to its mate. It worked well except that I used too much wax
>(paraffin) and the wax ran down inside the pot, carrying the alumina with
>it. This ruined the glaze surface wherever the alumina ended up.
>
>So - don't use too much wax.
>
>Bruce "oops - won't do that again" Girrell

Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0

claybair on mon 30 oct 06


See previous Clayart thread at
http://www.potters.org/subject06743.htm
As I was leaving the hotel in Portland after NCECA
I bumped into Michael Wendt in the elevator.
He was hauling an armload of stuff one of which was a
bottle of his wax with alumina. I bought it from him adding to my
already too full load fly home.
The stuff is great! I found that a little goes a long way and with
^5 B-Mix application on either the lid or pot rim is better than both.
A light sanding gets rid of it.
I've had much less sticking to shaves also.
I've used a sponge brush or cut a small piece of sponge to apply it to my
pots.
I have also made it per direx in the Clayart thread below.
See previous Clayart thread at
http://www.potters.org/subject06743.htm

Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Girrell

I just tried adding alumina to my wax resist to keep the lid of a piece from
sticking to its mate. It worked well except that I used too much wax
(paraffin) and the wax ran down inside the pot, carrying the alumina with
it. This ruined the glaze surface wherever the alumina ended up.

So - don't use too much wax.

Bruce "oops - won't do that again" Girrell
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