nancylee Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Drats! I mixed two glazes for the first time ever yesterday, hobbit blue and blue snowflake. These are my favorites at my pottery class, and we don't have class until October, so I bought them dry, followed directions, and mixed them. I dipped my stuff, as we always do, and when I opened my kiln this morning, everything bigger than a mug was stuck! How do I get them off? I know I have to grind the shelves clean, but first, I need to remove the pottery! Another newbie mistake. Sigh. I cleaned the bottoms really well, but only left about 1/4 inch of running room. They say mistakes are the best Teacher; well, I sure am learning a lot! My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Drats! I mixed two glazes for the first time ever yesterday, hobbit blue and blue snowflake. These are my favorites at my pottery class, and we don't have class until October, so I bought them dry, followed directions, and mixed them. I dipped my stuff, as we always do, and when I opened my kiln this morning, everything bigger than a mug was stuck! How do I get them off? I know I have to grind the shelves clean, but first, I need to remove the pottery! Another newbie mistake. Sigh. I cleaned the bottoms really well, but only left about 1/4 inch of running room. They say mistakes are the best Teacher; well, I sure am learning a lot! My link Could your kiln have fired hotter than the one at school? Did you use a witness cone? to remove, I'd use a dremel with a diamond cutting blade and gentle go around each piece...unless they can pop off because you used kiln wash on the shelves. Always wear safety goggles when using grinding equipment and a dust mask. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawing Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Oh no! I have seen the studio techs at my school use a chisel and hammer if a piece is really stuck. It almost always damages the shelves, though. Now I am even more paranoid about running my first glaze fire tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancylee Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Hi, I didn't use witness cones because I was thinking this fancy new computerized kiln would work, unlike the 30 year old one I was learning on at home! I will need to get some. Thanks, Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 As marcia said, diamond wheel in either a body grinder or a germel (if the mess is lighter). Work around the bottom from all sides. best, ..................john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 I know I have to grind the shelves clean, but first, I need to remove the pottery! As I always tell my students: If you stick a pot to my shelves, it comes off with a hammer. And in Pot vs. Hammer, Hammer always wins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Drats! I mixed two glazes for the first time ever yesterday, hobbit blue and blue snowflake. These are my favorites at my pottery class, and we don't have class until October, so I bought them dry, followed directions, and mixed them. I dipped my stuff, as we always do, and when I opened my kiln this morning, everything bigger than a mug was stuck! How do I get them off? I know I have to grind the shelves clean, but first, I need to remove the pottery! Another newbie mistake. Sigh. I cleaned the bottoms really well, but only left about 1/4 inch of running room. They say mistakes are the best Teacher; well, I sure am learning a lot! My link Nancy-Lee; You can try a one inch wide putty knife and hammer to gently tap them off. [sLIDE UNDERNEATH THE PIECE]I use a steel table knife cut off to one inch of blade as a chisel.DO NOT FORGET TO WEAR GOGGLES TO PROTECT YOUR EYES. YOU AREDEALING WITH GLASS HERE!Do not run your fingers over the shelf. I only did that once, Cut myself really good. Sorry about your trials. We all have done it.TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perkolator Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 small size cold chisel and a tiny hammer to gently help break the piece loose is what i'd try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 It also helps to put the shelf on a bag of dry clay when chiseling to absorb the shock. I have chiseled a few shelves after decades of teaching. Nancylee's pots don't look too bad. The glaze is not puddled visibly. I thing a gentle scoring with a thin diamond blade on a dremel would do the trick. It there were puddles, a chisel would be needed. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 The reason for suggesting cutting the glass at the bottom instead of chipping is to minimize the vibrational shocks to the shelves. If a gentle tap or two with a chisel does not work...... sacrifice the pots not the life of the shelves. best, .......................john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancylee Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Thank you all for your help with my sad and careless mistake. Now I know why you all say to do test pieces. I figured that since I use these glazes every week at my teacher's, they were the same, but obviously I did something different when I mixed them. Maybe I should stick to umderglazes and clear glazes painted over them! Sparingly! Thanks, Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancylee Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 One more question please? How often do you have to apply kiln wash? I did it a while back and then lost it in our move. Thanks, Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I apply kiln wash as needed. On new shelves I apply thinly and apply several coats. I scrape drips off the edges so they won 't drop onto glaze accidentally. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I apply kiln wash as needed. On new shelves I apply thinly and apply several coats. I scrape drips off the edges so they won 't drop onto glaze accidentally. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancylee Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Thanks, Marcia. We had to really chip to get the pots off, and now my shelves have gouges in them! Can I used the bottom of them instead if I put kiln wash on it? Thanks, Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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