Burning Off Decals

[fruch]

Good afternoon,

I have been using decals for awhile and have not had many issues. I usually do several test fires but I got lazy and suffered the consequences. I fired some decals onto some mugs.  My kiln runs hot so I know to fire a ^ lower than what I want. Unfortunately, for the specific decals  I am using I guess I should have fired even lower. I had parts of the decals burn away. Just wondering what temp one might think to fire the decals the rest of the way off. I use ^6 clay and glaze so I am not worried about the glaze burning out I don't think it will get hot enough. I fired at ^015 so I am thinking if I fire at ^017-018 it will burn them the rest of the way off.  I have burned off decals in the past but I just threw the piece in with some low fire bisque ware at ^04 knowing good and well it would burn off at that temp. I was just trying to get a better pin point. Thanks.  

[Mark C.]

Decals are fired to the temp that the colorant fuzes at  and in commercial ones that temp is stated when you buy them-usually 018  like lusters,but if using  homemade  ones can be much hotter. What are yours rated at???From China? no info on the temps?

 

[Callie Beller Diesel]

015 is hotter than 017 or 018, so I’d think you’d have to go in the other direction. 

I agree with mark that we’d need to know what brand, or the manufacturer’s specs to be able to say. 

[fruch]

O'my. I realized what I typed. Sorry about that. Yes, I know ^017 is cooler than ^015. I had it in my head that is what I am going to fire my next test at and typed that out, lol. What I meant to say is fire at ^014-013 to burn them the rest of the way off? I draw up my images and have a company print them for me. They are  for ^016 so I fire them at ^015. I think I am just going to go for it at ^012. I think it will do the trick. I was just looking for some quick insight. But, as we know ceramics is never quick ,). I'll keep you posted. 

[Mark C.]

Ceramics is technical and if they say cone 016-thats what they should go to.Unless the melt is not enough after testing.

[neilestrick]

There's a chance that some of the colors won't burn out at all, depending on how they're made.

[fruch]

Well, I re-fired the mugs with the decals at ^012 to try and burn them off. I thought that would be hot enough to get rid of them. But, it was not. So since the mugs are toast anyway I am firing them again at higher temp, lol. I know they will burn out at some point just trying to find the right temp. Always experimenting. I'll keep you posted. 

[Callie Beller Diesel]

You might save yourself a few firings if you call the place that printed them and ask if they have specifics or recommendations. They know how they’re made, they’ll know how to “break” them.