Getting ink off the body of a terra sig pot?

[hantremmer]

I made a pot and covered it with terra sig.   Whoever fired it used a stamp to put the firing date on the pot.  Now it says in black letters' 2 August'.  I assume they thought it was a straight bisque firing, rather than a single-fire pot.   The instructor didn't tell us to leave any notes with the items we fired.

There's no glaze or anything else on the pot.  How do I get the ink off?  I've tried rubbing it with my finger and a bit of water, but no joy.  Do I need to take a lighter to it or what?

 

[LeeU]

If it's on the underside maybe it could be buzzed off with a Dremel.

[hantremmer]

Unfortunately it's on the body of the pot, prominently displayed in the middle.   I made the pot on a course - where we also learned to make terra sig - so it's annoying that this wasn't anticipated by the technicians.

[Fred Sweet]

hantremmer-

Even if it was a pot to be bisque fired, the person who did the stamping should be informed that their choice of stamp ink contains metallic oxide(s), assuming it was stamped prior to firing the piece. If it was stamped after the firing, and the ink contains no metal oxide(s), it may burn off in another firing. Try having it re-fired. After all, what do you have to lose?

Regards,

Fred

[hantremmer]

Thanks for the reply Fred.   It must have been stamped after the first firing, to show the date of the bisque (although it wasn't actually a bisque firing).  I will see if I can get it refired by the same place.  I've got no idea what happens to terra sig  if it's fired twice.  It's not a pot I want to glaze.

[Fred Sweet]

Shouldn’t have any difference if you didn’t have other effects (i.e. metals or combustibles attached or in proximity).

[Babs]

You need to ask  if applied post or pre firing and what is in the ink.

That way you can act accordingly.

 

[hantremmer]

Thanks Babs. I'll make sure to ask that.

[preeta]

Hmmm doesn’t ink burn off (if it is the appropriate ink)?

whether bisqueware or greenware or terra sig or slip should the ink not leave any residue?

esp a clay studio I would imagine uses the appropriate ink. 

I would take a picture and fire and see. I am though concerned about the terra sig you rubbed. Might leave some mark. 

One time I used ink thinking underglaze.  The result was bad. Nothing. So disappointed.  Lesson learnt. Ask. Don’t assume!

[Rae Reich]

If the ink has iron or other metallics, it might not all burn out but leave a shadow. Very poor studio management, to let the pots be stamped that way, maybe the stamper was told not to handle the pots and, hopefully, the ink is made of non-metallics. 

[hantremmer]

Thanks for the extra feedback.  I've got questions to ask when I go to have other pots glazed.  I'll report back with whatever happens.

[Babs]

Would think it would burn off given the circumstances.

Prob stamped on body so kiln packer doesn' have to turn everybody over to read bisque date.

Other folk with terra sig. Ware from that process?

Maybe your pot placed on wrong trolley??

Good luck

Wonder what temp bisque to

[curt]

Put it in a dishwasher?

[hantremmer]

One place I used to go to puts the firing date on pots using pricing stickers - you know the little ones that you get on products in your local grocery store.  I think that's a good system.