Erika gof Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 Hello everyone I am experimenting with making really thin sheets of midfire porcelain paper clay sheets and they're working beautifully. I stacked them on top of each other in the bisque and they were fine but when I refired them to 1220deg c they stuck together slightly and as they were so thin I lost a couple trying to pry them apart. Could I sprinkle silica sand between each sheet or is this likely to stick to the sheets? thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 Do you use kiln wash and does the bottom porcelain sheet not get stuck to the kiln shelf? If this is the case then I would use kiln wash between the sheets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Longtin Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Hey Erika, When you say "trying to pry them art" what do you mean exactly? How did you pry them apart? Another technique is to use heat/cold. Rather than use an actual tool to "pry" them apart use warm water. The warmth will cause one sheet to expand, slightly, and they may separate easily. This is how you separate teapot covers that stick "slightly". Fill the teapot with cool water than hold the cover end under warm water. If you're lucky you'll hear a slight "ping" and the cover will separate easily. The same method may work with your thin sheets. (Apply cool water to one side and warm water to the other. "Ping" and you have separation.) If you go extreme and use cold water and hot water, in an attempt to speed the process, you'll probably hear "CRACK" and know you went too far. Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erika gof Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 Hi Min and Jeff thank you both. I used Silica sand under them ( I stacked about 5 on top of each other) when I first bisqued them and everything was fine. I then refired to 1220 same way again but nothing between the pieces and they all fused together slightly. I was able to get them apart but broke a couple in the process. I am wanting to go straight to 1220, not a seperate bisque and higher firing, but wondered if I can put the sand in between the pieces without them effecting them in any way. I imagine it will just dust off? Jeff I like your idea but I think it might be a bit difficult as the pieces are like pages of a book, very thin and hard to do top and bottom I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 (edited) 1 hour ago, Erika gof said: I am wanting to go straight to 1220, not a seperate bisque and higher firing, but wondered if I can put the sand in between I would test, should be fine with the silica but I think I would default to alumina for more worry free separation. Watch everyone else’s wares though, easy to get this on other folks finished work. Folks often add Alumina to their wax for more control of the application however burning out large quantities of wax requires big ventilation so the alumina wax is a nice solution for keeping lids from sticking but probably not so much for separating sheets Edited January 5 by Bill Kielb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erika gof Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 Thanks Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Banks Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 crushed up and screened soft brick can work nicefly in a flour sifter Magnolia Mud Research 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly in AK Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 I saw Tom Coleman sift alumina on his kiln shelves. He said his porcelain would sometimes pluck (fuse) if he didn’t take that step. I had the thought of painting kiln wash thinly on pieces of newsprint and layering that between your porcelain sheets. It’s an idea, not sure how practical it’d be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 45 minutes ago, Kelly in AK said: pieces of newsprint and layering that between your porcelain sheets Fire in the kiln? Could be a bit of smoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly in AK Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 Definitely will smoke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erika gof Posted January 6 Author Report Share Posted January 6 Thanks everyone. Kiln is on with Alumina dusted between the sheet. Fingers crossed it works. Ill let you all know how it goes Kelly in AK, Bill Kielb and Callie Beller Diesel 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian BLeu J Clay Leu Posted September 13 Report Share Posted September 13 (edited) How did it go? Edited September 13 by Brian BLeu J Clay Leu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted September 13 Report Share Posted September 13 4 hours ago, Brian BLeu J Clay Leu said: How did it go? You will need to PM them, they last visited here on Jan 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted September 13 Report Share Posted September 13 I'm a fan of the alumina over sand myself In terms of Jeffs freeze than thaw-that could work fine as well-the expand and contract cycles will often sepaerate them without prying.Just repeat a few times Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryBurlingame Posted Sunday at 04:50 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 04:50 AM The manual for my L&L specifically says to not use silica sand in the kiln as it will attack the elements and thermocouples. Says it can migrate in the kiln from expansion and movement due to heat 🤷♂️. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted Sunday at 06:23 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 06:23 AM (edited) 1 hour ago, HenryBurlingame said: The manual for my L&L specifically says to not use silica sand in the kiln as it will attack the elements and thermocouples. Says it can migrate in the kiln from expansion and movement due to heat 🤷♂️. They do like alumina or zirconia though Edited Sunday at 06:24 AM by Bill Kielb HenryBurlingame 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.