I'm having problems with battwashing my kiln shelves - can anyone advise? I'm using the standard producy from Warmglass, scraping off the old stuff, sanding the surface flat and making sure it's completely clean before I paint on the new stuff. I do that in alternate directions and put on 6/7 coats. As it dries it peels off! What am I doing wrong?
This is my experience using my own kiln at home and I'm allowing the shelves to dry naturally. I use the same method at uni but there I put the kiln on to dry the shelves and don't have any of the peeling off problem. Is that what's making the difference?
It sounds as if it might be going on too thickly?
I wouldn't think that air drying would cause the problem - I'd say same as Tan, its probably too thick.
When I did mine it was quite thin - the water seemed to be absorbed straight into the shelf so there was not much to peel off. When it was totally dry I did another coat and another. I would think if you recoated it too soon it might peel but I agree with the others sounds like it may be too thick?
When I first mix a batch of kiln wash I stick a couple of glass marbles in the bottom and use a little whisk to mix it all together then when I think it is done I leave it for a few hours, its amazing how much it thickens in this time I guess it is because all the little clumps of wash powder I missed have dispersed. Then I give it a shake and have a look at it. I go for a consistency that is somewhere around single cream, it should be smooth and very liquid as it goes onto the shelf or the mold. If it is bitty or thick add a tiny bit of water, give it a shake, let it sit and then try again.
I do four or five coats, if the was is too thin from my mixing I just do a few more coats, its swings and roundabouts really, thinner wash dries quicker but if it's too thick it cracks and peels.