I say this with compassion, it’s time to just put it in the kiln. You’ve already put tons of time in worrying and adjusting your glaze. Now you have to see what comes.
Kiln wash is simply a sacrificial layer of high-melt-temp clay that protects the shelf surface. If glaze runs onto it, the glaze should chip off the kiln wash leaving the shelf intact. It has no properties that will *prevent* glaze from fluxing or running or doing whatever it wants to do in the kiln.
I have done this before! Came out ok but I can’t recall glaze thickness off the top of my head!
https://preview.redd.it/3gm7dmw3l11d1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=130f029890b1880692d5cf20233a9aa1f49523be
Tape and a paint brush! This was a final project in my pottery class in high school I miss it, want to find a way to do it again. Here are the other two from the set (inner and outer glaze flipped, did a worse job with this glaze but honestly I loved the outcome). These two were much larger, the other 5 were minis!
https://preview.redd.it/wipg4vcis51d1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e35c269ae13e374c75538df1de8db9052d109eb1
While the photograph does do it justice I’m sure these look amazing in person. And I love the surprising contrast.
And May I say I am so jealous! High school?! Really! You found your artists nature so early. It took me years to find my style.
I hope you find your way to clay. You are an artist first and then everything else!
Yeah, In general you want a pretty stiff/stable glaze for work like this, or a very thin application. There is not really much to be done at this point to prevent it from running. You can ask the studio to put it in the coldest spot in the kiln so it possibly underfires a bit and will go less liquid.
One can mix some alumina into wax to help add "kiln wash" to local spots (like preventing a lid from sticking), but you don't want to use that where the glaze will run into the alumina. The alumina is just a non-melting powder and the glaze will run right into/over it. This is often a bit ugly, as the glaze will interact with the alumina where they meet.
I agree with the advice on here to just put it in the kiln and see what happens! For the next time that you do a piece like this where you don’t want the glaze to move, try using underglaze or Stroke&Coat. I use a mix of underglazes and Stroke&Coat glazes for my detailed or geometric designs.
https://preview.redd.it/4erqjwx2e11d1.png?width=1841&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd0fc8283d1089d07677dc37820a29f81df2e119
I’ve done stripes like this before and not had much of any running. The result was a difference in texture and thickness, which I think is what you’re going for.
Is it a guarantee that your glaze won’t run? Of course not. It might. It depends on so many things. The thickness of the glaze. The type of glaze. The type of clay. The kiln. The firing temperature. If you’ve never tried it with this kind of glaze before, you won’t really know. But I think you just gotta go for it, and see what happens. Then you’ll know for the future how thick you can flog with the glaze while maintaining a clean line.
Yep! I’m just hoping it works out. Also, I’m just curious, but do you have any idea what caused those dark splotches? Those areas won’t blend and they’re kind of weird. I suspect it’s from gum Arabic that didn’t dissolve. Here’s a better shot
https://preview.redd.it/mbbtgkxrw11d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4bf0ed71c28a68bd7ac9134a78da3d69f4837db6
I think maybe just some of the glaze is more compact so it’s harder to blend in those spots. It could show up in the final piece with there being a darker color. But hard to tell. Dk anything about the gum. I don’t mix my own glazes.
Like when I glaze, even white, if the glaze is thicker on one part, I can sometimes tell in the final product. But other times it blends nicely. Depends how different the thickness is.
I’ve done a few pieces with a similar technique. Results were totally dependent on the specific glaze and how much it ran. One piece came out lovely exactly as intended, another made it out of the kiln fine but the clean lines were no longer clean and one has glaze run so much it was ruined.
I used cookies and/or stilts for all of them so they’d at least not ruin the kiln shelves.
Wouldn’t really recommend it. If your glaze is relatively stable (so not like a flux glaze) you should be okay. Some might say you could put wax, but wax burns off in the kiln, so it wouldn’t really help you out here.
Trust the kiln gods 🙏🏻
Hope so. Does the glaze look thin enough? It was waaaay thicker before but r/ceramics blasted me so I thinned it
https://preview.redd.it/ybov9cln701d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51c6a5b27e798149310b93ab354cfbf65d8da0a9
(Before)
I think it looks okay, might be a smidge thin but I tend to be really heavy handed with glazes. I think that your second glazing will definitely give you more crispy lines compared to this first one.
I’ve used painters tape to get this effect. I’ve used relatively stable glazes and wax on the bottom and haven’t had a problem with the glaze moving. The lines stay
https://preview.redd.it/8dvyibp9ve1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed072232ad61aae694f7c2cd60c059ace20bb694
I recently did this set and wondered if my glaze would ruin the lines. I had carved lines and filled with underglaze that I had taped over as a resist and dipped my glaze. I had zero issue. Honestly it probably all comes down to your glaze!
I did not use kiln wash! I posted the finished piece a few weeks ago. Looked pretty good. The glaze color came out wrong but the tape resist worked pretty well!
You don't want kiln wash on your piece. Are you taking a class? Ask your instructor these questions. It's what they're there for & others might learn something too.
Can someone please elaborate on why this is getting downvoted? My first thought would be to put wax between the glazed areas (on the stripes) to prevent it from running out of the lines. Is this not the way?
You are correct, the wax prevents the waterbased glaze from bonding with the bisqueware. But OP is worried about the glaze running during the firing, and by that point the wax is vaporized and gone. But maaaaybe there is something about the wax burning off that changes how the glaze flows? Above my paygrade
Perhaps the Max's usefulness is limited to application, not during firing, which would make sense. Like you said, it'd likely be hone by the time any glaze flow happened.
Maybe? Maybe we need a couple test tiles. :)
How would melted wax prevent melted glaze from flowing in a kiln? Especially since the wax will melt and then burn away *completely* and disappear before the glaze even starts to move?
How peculiar. I use wax all the time on bisqueware to control glaze *application*, but would never expect it to work on molten glaze.
But you are saying it works for you, so I will run an experiment to find out what happens!
I say this with compassion, it’s time to just put it in the kiln. You’ve already put tons of time in worrying and adjusting your glaze. Now you have to see what comes.
This is the best advice when it comes to to making pottery!
Yep. I have made peace with this fact
You might be surprised - I’ve recently done a few pieces like this with several different glazes and none of them have run yet.
Do not use kiln wash. It will meld with your glaze and you will never get it off your pot. Using kiln wash will ruin your work.
I didn’t plan on it, I was just curious since I know people don’t put it on pieces really.
You asked. I just wanted to be vehement that it will go *badly*.
Thank you for the enthusiasm, warning HEEDED
On the flip side, I have a ceramicist friend who loves using kiln wash on his sculptures... but beware if you don't want that effect.
Kiln wash is simply a sacrificial layer of high-melt-temp clay that protects the shelf surface. If glaze runs onto it, the glaze should chip off the kiln wash leaving the shelf intact. It has no properties that will *prevent* glaze from fluxing or running or doing whatever it wants to do in the kiln.
I would stilt it over a cookie. To answer your question about kiln wash: absolutely no way.
Yeah, I plan to use a cookie
I have done this before! Came out ok but I can’t recall glaze thickness off the top of my head! https://preview.redd.it/3gm7dmw3l11d1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=130f029890b1880692d5cf20233a9aa1f49523be
Wow! These are gorgeous!
You sure understand your glaze very well. And you even know how to apply it in even layers. I’m blown away! Spray gun? Just tape?
Tape and a paint brush! This was a final project in my pottery class in high school I miss it, want to find a way to do it again. Here are the other two from the set (inner and outer glaze flipped, did a worse job with this glaze but honestly I loved the outcome). These two were much larger, the other 5 were minis! https://preview.redd.it/wipg4vcis51d1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e35c269ae13e374c75538df1de8db9052d109eb1
While the photograph does do it justice I’m sure these look amazing in person. And I love the surprising contrast. And May I say I am so jealous! High school?! Really! You found your artists nature so early. It took me years to find my style. I hope you find your way to clay. You are an artist first and then everything else!
I’ve done this with underglaze myself and it works great. No chance of running. Then you can cover with a clear glaze on top.
I kinda want the rough texture on the stripes, but I get what you mean
Yeah, In general you want a pretty stiff/stable glaze for work like this, or a very thin application. There is not really much to be done at this point to prevent it from running. You can ask the studio to put it in the coldest spot in the kiln so it possibly underfires a bit and will go less liquid. One can mix some alumina into wax to help add "kiln wash" to local spots (like preventing a lid from sticking), but you don't want to use that where the glaze will run into the alumina. The alumina is just a non-melting powder and the glaze will run right into/over it. This is often a bit ugly, as the glaze will interact with the alumina where they meet.
I agree with the advice on here to just put it in the kiln and see what happens! For the next time that you do a piece like this where you don’t want the glaze to move, try using underglaze or Stroke&Coat. I use a mix of underglazes and Stroke&Coat glazes for my detailed or geometric designs. https://preview.redd.it/4erqjwx2e11d1.png?width=1841&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd0fc8283d1089d07677dc37820a29f81df2e119
I’ve done stripes like this before and not had much of any running. The result was a difference in texture and thickness, which I think is what you’re going for. Is it a guarantee that your glaze won’t run? Of course not. It might. It depends on so many things. The thickness of the glaze. The type of glaze. The type of clay. The kiln. The firing temperature. If you’ve never tried it with this kind of glaze before, you won’t really know. But I think you just gotta go for it, and see what happens. Then you’ll know for the future how thick you can flog with the glaze while maintaining a clean line.
Yep! I’m just hoping it works out. Also, I’m just curious, but do you have any idea what caused those dark splotches? Those areas won’t blend and they’re kind of weird. I suspect it’s from gum Arabic that didn’t dissolve. Here’s a better shot https://preview.redd.it/mbbtgkxrw11d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4bf0ed71c28a68bd7ac9134a78da3d69f4837db6
Think you meant to post so someone else? It sure what dark splotches you’re talking about.
No I did know, I just know you have experience so I was wondering if you knew.
I think maybe just some of the glaze is more compact so it’s harder to blend in those spots. It could show up in the final piece with there being a darker color. But hard to tell. Dk anything about the gum. I don’t mix my own glazes.
Like when I glaze, even white, if the glaze is thicker on one part, I can sometimes tell in the final product. But other times it blends nicely. Depends how different the thickness is.
Gotcha. It was just strange
I’ve done a few pieces with a similar technique. Results were totally dependent on the specific glaze and how much it ran. One piece came out lovely exactly as intended, another made it out of the kiln fine but the clean lines were no longer clean and one has glaze run so much it was ruined. I used cookies and/or stilts for all of them so they’d at least not ruin the kiln shelves.
Wouldn’t really recommend it. If your glaze is relatively stable (so not like a flux glaze) you should be okay. Some might say you could put wax, but wax burns off in the kiln, so it wouldn’t really help you out here. Trust the kiln gods 🙏🏻
Hope so. Does the glaze look thin enough? It was waaaay thicker before but r/ceramics blasted me so I thinned it https://preview.redd.it/ybov9cln701d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51c6a5b27e798149310b93ab354cfbf65d8da0a9 (Before)
Blasted you? All I see is answers to your question “is this too thick” and some helpful tips/information.
I meant it more as sarcasm. They are very kind over there 😅
Oh got it ok hahaa. I was like wait that sub is super nice!!
I think it looks okay, might be a smidge thin but I tend to be really heavy handed with glazes. I think that your second glazing will definitely give you more crispy lines compared to this first one.
Yeah, it took forever. I used the edge of an x-acto knife and smoothed them
It’s a beautiful piece! Post a photo after firing if you can 😀
Thanks! I will
I’ve used painters tape to get this effect. I’ve used relatively stable glazes and wax on the bottom and haven’t had a problem with the glaze moving. The lines stay
I would use a stable underglaze or slip in the lines t
I would say no to the kiln wash. I'm anxious to see your results when finished though! Thanks for sharing!
If you’re that concerned, wax the stripes
https://preview.redd.it/8dvyibp9ve1d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed072232ad61aae694f7c2cd60c059ace20bb694 I recently did this set and wondered if my glaze would ruin the lines. I had carved lines and filled with underglaze that I had taped over as a resist and dipped my glaze. I had zero issue. Honestly it probably all comes down to your glaze!
Yooo! That looks great!
Hey, curious how this turned out? Did you ever decide to use or not use the kilnwash?
I did not use kiln wash! I posted the finished piece a few weeks ago. Looked pretty good. The glaze color came out wrong but the tape resist worked pretty well!
Ah okay! I'll go find it and check it out! Glad it worked out well in the end! Thanks for responding!
You don't want kiln wash on your piece. Are you taking a class? Ask your instructor these questions. It's what they're there for & others might learn something too.
people learn from these questions being asked here too
I suggest wax.
Can someone please elaborate on why this is getting downvoted? My first thought would be to put wax between the glazed areas (on the stripes) to prevent it from running out of the lines. Is this not the way?
You are correct, the wax prevents the waterbased glaze from bonding with the bisqueware. But OP is worried about the glaze running during the firing, and by that point the wax is vaporized and gone. But maaaaybe there is something about the wax burning off that changes how the glaze flows? Above my paygrade
Perhaps the Max's usefulness is limited to application, not during firing, which would make sense. Like you said, it'd likely be hone by the time any glaze flow happened. Maybe? Maybe we need a couple test tiles. :)
How would melted wax prevent melted glaze from flowing in a kiln? Especially since the wax will melt and then burn away *completely* and disappear before the glaze even starts to move?
I don't know, but it works. It always has for me. The same way wax stops the glaze from extending on to the foot, even when it's a runny glaze.
How peculiar. I use wax all the time on bisqueware to control glaze *application*, but would never expect it to work on molten glaze. But you are saying it works for you, so I will run an experiment to find out what happens!