thiamant Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 I have seen people are using an angle grinder to repair their kiln shelf. Is it safe? Could it be more likely that the shelf might break during the firing ? Normally if it's too serious I would just replace the shelf but lately I've been messing pretty badly, so I'm considering investing a bit of money in a good grinder. Is there any special disk recommended for this task? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 You're looking for a diamond cup wheel for your angle grinder. Wear an n95 or n100 respirator, eye protection and gloves and do it outdoors. It will clean large drips off in a matter of seconds. You won't break the shelf, but you can go too deep and remove a chunk if you're not careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 I bet there's a fair few of us have had to take a second look at the shelf, thinking it's one of our own, from the past! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 Heck, I have 20 year old shelves that look worse than that, some that look a lot better too! best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 One might find a masonry wheel would do the job ok. I bought one like this (Ace brand) to round off porcelain tile (commercial floor grade) - takes it off with ease. The other grinding wheels we have - for metal - skate right over the porcelain. After making the shape, we went with finer and finer grit to get to a polished rounded edge. For your shelf, once the yuck is off, the kiln wash can smooth over the bit of rough. Care, as Liam suggested, be paramount, for the grinder is one of the more dangerous power tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 Masonry wheels and diamond cups both work fine. The issue is not being able to remove the glaze- that's easy for the wheels. The difficulty is not gouging into your shelves. Work slowly and carefully. Just grind until get it smooth and level with the shelf, even if there's some glaze soaked into the shelf. Then coat it with kiln wash and fire it. The wash will soak into any remaining glaze and bind it. It may take an other application or two to get it fully soaked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 22 minutes ago, neilestrick said: Masonry wheels and diamond cups both work fine. The issue is not being able to remove the glaze- that's easy for the wheels. The difficulty is not gouging into your shelves. Work slowly and carefully. Just grind until get it smooth and level with the shelf, even if there's some glaze soaked into the shelf. Then coat it with kiln wash and fire it. The wash will soak into any remaining glaze and bind it. It may take an other application or two to get it fully soaked up. I just gouge the glaze out and fill with kiln wash. I used to grind it level but where the glaze was would end up shrinking down and making a divot anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 For years, I used a chisel and hammer on hard stuff, finished with a hand grinding stone made for kiln shelves. Slow, but worked. Now, I take off the hard stuff with the grinder, smooth with careful motions and then use a hand stone to finish. It will be interesting very soon, as I will have all new shelves, and kiln. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 1 hour ago, Pres said: It will be interesting very soon, as I will have all new shelves, and kiln. best, Pres That is super exciting Pres! Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 @Joseph FirebornYeah, a little scary also. I have never fired a programmable kiln, and at home have never fired a kiln with a sitter. This will be a change. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 Wow @Pres you are new truly retired.. Are you really ready to let go of that control :-))) You will love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 At 72, 430-5am shut downs don't thrill me anymore! best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 thiamant, if you are still here, those big round spots of glaze will knock off with just a little push at them with a tilted shelf edge. if you ever break a shelf, save it's pieces so you can use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergusonjeff Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 I second the diamond cup wheel. They are much more expensive than a masonry disk, but will remove glaze that masonry disks just seem to heat up. I found a diamond cup wheel at harbor freight for under $30 and eventually replaced it with another cheap one from menards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 42 minutes ago, fergusonjeff said: I second the diamond cup wheel. They are much more expensive than a masonry disk, but will remove glaze that masonry disks just seem to heat up. I found a diamond cup wheel at harbor freight for under $30 and eventually replaced it with another cheap one from menards. There's some cheap ones on Amazon too. They do cut through glaze way faster than a masonry disc. Here's a video I made showing the process: https://youtu.be/2SYuCtHEszc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 Loved the video Liam, but whenever I work with shelves either grinding or otherwise, I wear gloves. Back about 1985 I picked up a shelf after chiseling and hand grinding. Cut myself on a piece of glaze on the edge I hadn't noticed. Took a long time to heal and as it was in the palm of my hand, it hurt quite a bit when centering. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 14 minutes ago, Pres said: Loved the video Liam, but whenever I work with shelves either grinding or otherwise, I wear gloves. Back about 1985 I picked up a shelf after chiseling and hand grinding. Cut myself on a piece of glaze on the edge I hadn't noticed. Took a long time to heal and as it was in the palm of my hand, it hurt quite a bit when centering. best, Pres I usually do, and I usually don't do it right there on the ground. I also do mine wet and then hose them down afterwards, makes for an easy application of shelf wash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thiamant Posted March 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 I'm back! So could a cheap angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel work ? Or should I spend more money in the machine itself? They sell some really cheap ones (500W 115mm $15) out there but I'm not sure if this would be enough. How about this wheel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 3 hours ago, thiamant said: I'm back! So could a cheap angle grinder with a diamond cup wheel work ? Or should I spend more money in the machine itself? They sell some really cheap ones (500W 115mm $15) out there but I'm not sure if this would be enough. Get a cheap angle grinder, as the dust from the kiln wash will eat up the motor at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergusonjeff Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 Thiamant, A cheap grinder is fine. I have about 5 and most were under $20. The wheel you show is for cutting bricks, not grinding surfaces. Look for one more like this: https://www.ediamondtools.com/products/premium-turbo-diamond-cup-wheels?variant=11941428932&gclid=CjwKCAjw9MuCBhBUEiwAbDZ-7qLxkyvo0l-3rMlytTa0pH5Vy9oOgZCtsJfOoLImBx47F3tZP_-VlhoC4SMQAvD_BwE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thiamant Posted March 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 This? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick White Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 Bingo. Remember that it is very aggressive, will quickly grind a divot. Gently apply the wheel flat to the kiln shelf and keep it moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 1 hour ago, thiamant said: This? yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andryea Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 Hi all, I'm jumping in here because I've had an embarrassingly newbie meltdown... cone 06 clay body in a cone 6 glaze fire... Anyway... I get that I could use an angle grinder to remove the puddle but I also wouldn't mind that edge of the shelf. If I could cut the shelf, what tool would you all suggest I cut it with? Thanks, Andryea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 You can cut that type of shelf easily with a masonry cutting disc on a circular saw. Or for small cuts a masonry cutting disc on an angle grinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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