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Wax On, Wax Off,


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First off, sorry for the topic title, I couldn't RESIST.......

 

So, I've got a couple questions, regarding the use of different types of resists, for glazing. First off, I like wax resist. It goes on easy and works fairly well. However, one of the problems I've had, is that it's tough to clean any of the brushes I use with it. Nothing ever really seems to get all the wax out of the bristles. This is why, I only allow my students, to use a designated brush, for the wax resist. So what's a good way to clean brushes, and keep them clean, when using wax resist. Second, whenever I use the resist, which more often than not has me pouring a second color over the first, the resist areas have areas of beaded glaze that stick there. Try as I might, I can never get all of them wiped off, without disturbing the non-resist areas. So when I fire the pieces, I'll have some glaze that falls off onto the shelves. Any good way to avoid this?

 

Finally, I have used latex resist in the past, but the type I used gradually clumped in the bottle, until I just had to toss it. Is this something that can be avoided, or is there a brand, where this is less of an issue? In a pinch, I recently used a maskoid watercolor resist, which worked well. However, I did have to use a lot of it, and it's a little too pricey to use that often.

 

Thanks for your help folks.

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I suggest using a cut sponge to apply wax. Cut a synthetic sponge into pieces (I use the cheap 2 1/2 inch round sponges-orange) with sharp edges and dip into water before using in wax-ring it out and use it to wax with then let it sit in covere tub with wax so it never dries out.This is a production potters tool-brush takes to long and works to slow and requires massive clean up times. I have NEVER seen a wax sponge being taught in schools-always a brush-they both have thier uses.

If you must use a brush use real hot water to clean it-rubbing alcohol works ok as well.

All waxes are not the same what types/brand are you using?

Mark

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Wax On and Wax Off are two brand names from Ceramics Store in Phila. I have both but have not yet used the Wax on.

The Wax off peels off the piece.

I use Aftoosa wax. I have not had it clump. I dilute it a little and add alumina to a mix for waxing porcelain. I clean my brushes with SHout out or dish soap and hot water.

 

Marcia

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Benzine;

I use those cheap dollar store sponge brushes. They are one inch wide and are black. Pretty inexpensive. I dedicate one to my wax resist bowl in my studio, and wash it with hot water after use. At my high school job, I don't usually use wax as they are painting on glaze, not dipping.

In England, I used a type of rubber cement called Copydex for resist on the side of the pot. You could pick up the edge with a needle tool.

TJR.

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I am so glad you asked, I Just found a way to get all the wax out of brushes.

 

 

 

1 - soak brushes un boiling hot water for about 2 min

 

2 - pull brushes out and while hot shampoo the bristles of the brush with fabric softener.

 

3 - rinse brushes

 

4 - repeat steps 1 - 3 two to three tomes

 

5 - Soak brushes in Coca-Cola for 24-48 hours (This is the trick)

 

 

 

Good Luck!

 

 

Darrel

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I use Forbes water-based wax. I have a dedicated brush for using in my majolica decorating and I put a few drops of dishwashing liquid on it before dipping it in the wax. I also put dishwashing liquid in the water for keeping it from drying out because I will use it many times during a decorating session (the jar is the taller baby food jar and I put a clothes pin on the brush so that it suspends just the bristles in the water .... the clothes pin rests on top of the jar). I've used the same brush for years.....never a waxy buildup.

 

If I'm waxing the bottom of a pot before glazing, I use a piece of sponge cut from one of those mattress toppers - the egg crate type. The little knobs make perfect 'fingers' for waxing.

 

I agree with Jim.....I think the type of wax makes a difference in the cleanup.

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I use Mobilcer-A from Laguna Clay. I thin it a little with water. Never had it go bad. It cleans with water unless it dries.Glaze beads up wll on it for easy wipe off.

I have used many waxs over the years and this is what works well for me. I buy it in 5 gallon bucket size now.

Mark

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To get a really smooth nearly non beading surface I run a heat gun over the wax for a few seconds then wipe the wax with a piece of plastic wrap (saran or cling film), gives a waxed surface as good as hot wax does. The heat gun trick also works if you don't have time to let the resist dry, just be careful not to leave the heat on one area for more than a few seconds. Takes about 15 seconds to do the bottom of a platter.

 

Foam shops have scrap cut-off's, I have a bag of those which I cut off small strips of and dampen with water then use those to apply resist. I just toss them when done. (The firm density make good throwing sponges)

 

In areas like casserole galleries where the foam is awkward to use I use a damp, slightly soapy brush then rinse with hot water when done and put it through the dishwasher on the top level. (dollar store brushes)

 

Min

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Thank you all, for the suggestions. I like the sponge brush idea. I'll have to give that a whirl. But water soluble wax resist? That sounds like the type of black magic that gave the art world, water soluble oil paints.

 

I buy my wax resist from my clay supplier, Continental Clay. The resist looks light green, like those Shamrock Shakes, McDonald's sells around St. Patrick's Day.

 

I have tried to use Q-tips to remove the beads, but I can never get all of them, especially with my more intricate designs.

 

In regards to clumping, it's not the wax resist, that I have a problem with. That always stays nice a smooth. It's the latex resist, from the same company, that I had an issue with. When it was new, it worked great. But as time went on, it started to clump together in the bottle, despite, being completely sealed.

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The wax sold by Ceramic Supply NY/NJ and Ceramic Supply Chicago washes out clean with cold water. Never gums up. For your second pour, water down the glaze a bit more. It will run off the waxed areas better.

 

 

Watering down the glaze, for the second coat, make sense. I'll give it a shot.

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Try stirring small amounts of water into the jar of latex when it starts to get a little thick. In addition to keeping the jar tightly closed it helps to then put it in a ziplock bag. Also a good idea to not store it in your kiln room. I use Mold Maker brand (sold at chain craft stores). I had the same problem with Forbes wax on highly textured surfaces...all those tiny glaze droplets in places a sponge won't easily clean. Faster to peel off the latex than do all that sponging.

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Thank you all, for the suggestions. I like the sponge brush idea. I'll have to give that a whirl. But water soluble wax resist? That sounds like the type of black magic that gave the art world, water soluble oil paints.

 

I buy my wax resist from my clay supplier, Continental Clay. The resist looks light green, like those Shamrock Shakes, McDonald's sells around St. Patrick's Day.

 

I have tried to use Q-tips to remove the beads, but I can never get all of them, especially with my more intricate designs.

 

In regards to clumping, it's not the wax resist, that I have a problem with. That always stays nice a smooth. It's the latex resist, from the same company, that I had an issue with. When it was new, it worked great. But as time went on, it started to clump together in the bottle, despite, being completely sealed.

 

 

Last few years at school, I ordered the water based wax resist. Found there were two types other there-one for on clay, one for on glazed areas. Now find there is a third for all areas. The Van Gilder book from DYI shows him using sponge brushes to apply his resists, so I tried that. They clean up very well, and you can get a nice even coating. There are time that you want a regular brush line for clean wax resist. For that I have used the brush, and cleaned it up with a little dish detergent. When I used hot water, I got a gummy sort of wax that was harder to remove. This may have been because of the brand though. As far as the beading of glaze on the resist, I keep some stiff oil painting brushes that are varied in size as dusters. When the glaze is dry, dust off.

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  • 2 months later...

While working on a commission (lots of 9" pasta bowls for a local restaurant) I was frustrated with the glaze beading on the waxed bottoms. I started buffing the wax with a cotton rag after it has dried for about 5 minutes (I will wax 3-5 bowls, go back and wipe/buff them, then continue waxing more bowls). The glaze falls off of buffed wax resist super-smooth, I can blow the wet glaze off or easily wipe it later when dry. It's an extra step, but I think it's quicker than wrestling with dried glaze drops on the waxed bottoms.

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While working on a commission (lots of 9" pasta bowls for a local restaurant) I was frustrated with the glaze beading on the waxed bottoms. I started buffing the wax with a cotton rag after it has dried for about 5 minutes (I will wax 3-5 bowls, go back and wipe/buff them, then continue waxing more bowls). The glaze falls off of buffed wax resist super-smooth, I can blow the wet glaze off or easily wipe it later when dry. It's an extra step, but I think it's quicker than wrestling with dried glaze drops on the waxed bottoms.

Another great suggestion.

 

I'm trying a new latex resist, in my class this year. Hopefully it doesn't clump in the bottle like the previous stuff I tried.

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For the bottoms of pots, an electric grill from goodwill ($20) and some wax from hobbylobby(10lb/$15). keep the temp below the smoking point of the wax and sit their little butts in the hot wax and away we go........I couldn't RESIST arg. :)

disposable makeup sponge  applicators for decorations with other liquid wax

Wyndham

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Try "Mold Builder Liquid Latex". it is sold at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores. It is pretty thick stuff and you may need to thin it slightly with water. If you keep the lid on tight it will not thicken or set up. It is far superior to wax in that when you peel it off your piece, there is no residue that repels glaze. If you make a mistake, just rub it off with your finger when it cures out. Since you peel all of it off after the glaze drys, you never get isolated blobs of glaze that stick to the middle of resist lines.

 

The container it comes in is kind of big so I pour a couple of ounces into a old pill bottle with a good tight lid, and brush from that. 

 

I had a clay body that the latex was hard to see on, so I added a couple of drops of red food  color. worked fine. Just don't add any color that is not an organic pigment that will burn off in the kiln.

 

There has to be a down side to any story...right? The down side is that if you leave the brush sitting around, the latex will set up and you will lose the brush. No amount of scrubbing, solvents, boiling, cussing. will bring it back. The work around is simple. Every once in a while clean it in cold water. Swish it around in a may jar full of water. My sink is close so I jut hold it under the tap.

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Try "Mold Builder Liquid Latex". it is sold at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores. It is pretty thick stuff and you may need to thin it slightly with water. If you keep the lid on tight it will not thicken or set up. It is far superior to wax in that when you peel it off your piece, there is no residue that repels glaze. If you make a mistake, just rub it off with your finger when it cures out. Since you peel all of it off after the glaze drys, you never get isolated blobs of glaze that stick to the middle of resist lines.

 

The container it comes in is kind of big so I pour a couple of ounces into a old pill bottle with a good tight lid, and brush from that. 

 

I had a clay body that the latex was hard to see on, so I added a couple of drops of red food  color. worked fine. Just don't add any color that is not an organic pigment that will burn off in the kiln.

 

There has to be a down side to any story...right? The down side is that if you leave the brush sitting around, the latex will set up and you will lose the brush. No amount of scrubbing, solvents, boiling, cussing. will bring it back. The work around is simple. Every once in a while clean it in cold water. Swish it around in a may jar full of water. My sink is close so I jut hold it under the tap.

Sounds like good stuff.  I'll look into it, as I have several Hobby Lobby stores all around me.

 

This past year, I didn't have any latex resist, so I tried some watercolor maskoid.  It works well, but you burn through it fast.

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I'm not supporting them for these reasons

1st-never heard of them -who picked that name anyway?

2nd-now that I have the closest store is 211 miles away one way.-Lets see low hobby town prices and gas is over 4$ a gallon-422 miles for cheaper hobby stuff (not sure I need any )

Mark

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