clay lover Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 I am making a pile of small impulse items, gift tags, spoon rests, and want to glaze them without the step of waxing the bottom of each, too much time for the little price. How can I get a clean glaze edge without wax, efficiently? These are small round slightly curved items, like shallow tiny bowls, with scalloped edges. It will be fine for the entire bottom to be unglazed, but I want them tidy. Would lining them up and spraying work? or pouring a bit of glaze into them and trying to swirl it around evenly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Spraying sounds like the easiest way if you have the kit to do it. One thing I have done its to use a vacuum and with enough suction and the right sized head you can hold small pots upside down and glaze, one problem is if you get too close the vacuum will suck up glaze just an idea I have always wanted to develop for some kind of upside down suction but never got far with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 get a piece of foam rubber like for a cushion. Dampen it. As you glaze put the piece in the foam and twist. It will wipe it clean...very fast. You may have to clean then foam after a while. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mregecko Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 I've used cheapo carpet samples instead of foam in the past. Glaze everything, wet the carpet a little bit, then wipe off the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Thanks! those are good ideas. and I bet I can use my fingers instead of tongs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IG céramique Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 To avoid glazing some parts of a bisqued piece, we use "window tape" which is usually used to protect the window pane while painting the frame. There's not too much glue on it and it sticks enough on the clay and resists to the wet glaze...By cutting it in forms, you may also use it like a stencil. It isn't expensive and there are several sizes! Hope it will be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSC Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 What kind of wax do you not want to use? When i want wax a bottom i use canning wax and an electric fry pan to melt it(low setting) and just sit the item in the wax to wax the bottom...its very quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 I have never used hot wax, but I can see how it would work well in this situation. I have tried that approach with the forbes wax and it does not work well at all. splashes. I wish I had an electric skillet to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndham Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Get a cheap electric griddle at a flea market of Salvation Army thrift store. Get the wax at hobby lobby when they have 50% off coupon. keep the wax shallow andf just hot enough to quickly wax the bottom but not smoking hot. Wyndham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Use hot wax as PSC says in above post It's faster than all above ways The second fastest is as Marcia says with a wet sponge Be careful with hot wax as you need to keep it away from combustibles ( the hot pan). Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Also, heated too hot, wax fumes are carcinogenic, so keep your studio vented or find out the critical temp and regulate below that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 I only hot wax outside under cover As Babs said fumes are bad Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 When glazing I think of speed in this order Speedy to slowest Dipping Pouring Spraying Brushing Use dipping tongs I'd the form is large enough as this is fastest Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 I got my electric skillet from the thrift store, for maybe $5. Lots of people have donated them away. I use soy wax instead of paraffin. I buy it through Amazon from a candlemaking supply company. Soy wax melts at a lower temp, melts thinner so it makes a straighter edge than paraffin. Doesn't smoke, and doesn't smell as bad. I do this indoors all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Gep Thanks for this tip I will try it. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted April 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 headed to town tomorrow, junk store crawling. I have wanted to try hot wax, the edges are so good, sharp. Time to learn a new skill. thanks for the soy wax tip, Mea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 You're welcome ... I'm fairly certain I read the soy wax suggestion on this forum years ago. In addition to the benefits I mentioned above, the soy wax comes in flake form, sold in 5lb or 10lb bags. I no longer need to bust up blocks of paraffin with a chisel. Now I just scoop up a 1/4 cup of flakes with a measuring cup, and I don't ever have that "darn it, the wax was too deep" problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted April 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 OK, the thrift store man is finding the elec skillet for me. Will I find the soy wax at hobby stores, or is it going to be a special order ? I don't want to buy a bushel of it until I try some out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 OK, the thrift store man is finding the elec skillet for me. Will I find the soy wax at hobby stores, or is it going to be a special order ? I don't want to buy a bushel of it until I try some out. Yes try the hobby store for the soy wax, I think it's pretty common for candlemakers these days. If you need to buy it online, you can buy as little as 1lb. I buy 10lb bags and find it lasts about 2 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayfree Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 hey put some bb's in the bottom of your skillet then melt the wax it stops the splash up from reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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