Glaze firing with drilled holes

[Rockhound]

I want to have small open drilled holes in my pieces, maybe 1/8" in diameter. How can I prevent the glaze from filling the holes when firing? How big would the holes need to be to remain open during firing? Any help would be appreciated, thank you :)

[Mark C.]

 

Welcome to the forum

Ream them out with a needle tool after the glaze dries. Many glazes are different-shiny matt etc.I just use a needle tool and clean them. You will not notice tham once fired.

For me the the hole had to be 1/4 or larger not to clean them out. To end up with a 1/8 inch hole you will need to ream out the glaze-you can also use a small hand held drill bit

Edited April 21, 2023 by Mark C.

[PeterH]

From http://www.potters.org/subject03706.htm  my emphasis

Vince Pitelka on thu 21 nov 96

I have been putting holes on the foot(s) of my platters for hanging, and
they keep
>filling up with glaze.

I also place holes (1/8"-dia.) through the foot of my platters. I have
eliminated the problem of glaze flowing into the holes by threading a damp
pipe-cleaner through the holes and leaving it there while I glaze the wares.
I then remove the pipe cleaner, re-moisten it, and run it in and out of the
hole a few times. This seems to remove enough glaze from around the
openings that the glaze does not flow into them. Of course, I tend to apply
my glazes thinly, which certainly makes them less likely to flow.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166

[Rockhound]

Thank you, your help is much appreciated!

[Babs]

I have used toothpicks or skewers placed befire glazing. Use the above to grab and dunk in glaze,  remove before glaze dries, no chips on glaze around hole. You can get tiny "bottle" brushes these days if any need cleaning out

[neilestrick]

Thick or runny glazes can still fill small holes even if you clean them out before firing. I have always used 1/4" holes for colanders, and they almost always stay open even with double dips of glaze and no cleanout. The trick is to blow out the holes immediately after dipping before the glaze has a chance to dry in the holes.

[Callie Beller Diesel]

If it’s just a single hole like a flower pot or in a small area like a teapot strainer, blow sharply into it while the glaze is still dripping. Hold it over the bucket to minimize splatter. That should clear enough of it out to leave it glazed, but not have it clog. This method works less well if you’re making something like a luminary or berry bowl with a lot of intricate hole patterning. 

+1 for not usually going under 1/4”. I like 3/8” for berry bowls.

[Sandi G]

I am having trouble when I make pipes. Some of my pipes are not straight so blowing them out sometimes doesn’t work and the hole is clogged with glaze after firing. What can I do?

[Babs]

Could try plugging each end of the hole with...blue tack?, soap?, wax? Match stick? Pre glazing

[PeterH]

Do you want/need the inside of the tube glazed?

Would some sort of bellows help you blow out the glaze -- e.g. an air-filed glaze trailer.

Pipe cleaners, or a more durable equivalent such as:
5 x Straw Cleaning Pipe Cleaners kit, Bristle Metal Pipe Cleaner for Drinking Straws, easy to brush and clean pipes, Pipe Cleaner Kit, Straw Cleaner Brush and kit for craft supplies
https://tinyurl.com/5ftme7n7