Dispersing Bubbles.

[Babs]

I glazed pots the other day and used an old glaze which on mixing to apply, formed bubbles at the surface, it does this if new mixed as well. I just dipped through the bubles formed thinking the bubbles would melt and disappear in the kilning... no they didn't! Quite an attractive thingie if that is what you want..hmm.. any way to disperse the bubbles? If left to disappear, have to stir glaze again. I was double dipping from bottom up this time so the bubbles were very obvious..

[bciskepottery]

Babs -- bubbles on the surface of the bucket of glaze? or on the wares? If in the bucket, take some cheese cloth and skim the top. I've also heard about spraying with a mist of -- I think ammonia -- to burst the bubbles. Often see this in some buckets of shino where stirring creates the bubbles.

[Babs]

Thanks Bciske, bubbles on top of glaze in bucket, then when I dipped bowls bottoms in first to half way, the bubbles were transferred to the bowls, I didn't bother to burst them as I thought they would disappear on firing, but no, they are still there..

I think you writing "Ammonia" jolted something in my brain as something I'd read somewhere but an easier solution is as you suggest, running a cheese cloth over the top. Just another moment in ceramics where I thought I'd get away with it.....

[curt]

Those bubbles make me think of surface tension in the glaze slop. Does the glaze need some more deflocculation? Just to make it a bit runnier?

[jrgpots]

I have a glaze made from Bon Ami that always bubbles when mixing since it has soap in it. I always skimmed off the surface bubbles, but I will try ammonia spray.

 

Jed

[Foxden]

I have sprayed wet mixed plaster with rubbing alcohol which lowers the surface tension and disperses the bubbles. I would try that as opposed to ammonia.

[Babs]

Right Curt, I'll try some defloc as it also sets in the bucket a bit, if my brain is doing the defloc /floc thoughts ok this am..

[Marcia Selsor]

That's what I do. Diluted alcohol squirted onto the surface. Works on plaster too.

a gem from Richard Notkin.

 

Marcia

[bciskepottery]

Yes, rubbing alcohol -- not ammonia. Senior moment.

[Babs]

What about vinegar?

[Marcia Selsor]

never tried it for that purpose.

Marcia

[Min]

hairspray works too

[Babs]

 Never tried it for any purpose, no hang on that is a lie, I used it to keep some grasses from dropping gunk in a weed pot, remember those?

Glaze was a stiff matte which prob didn't help the issue, should I look for a glossy glaze which does this, ie forms bubbles in the bucket,  to try it out??? Look for problems??

Happy seasonal stuff people.