clay lover Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Do you have a good technique for getting the wax high enough, but not higher than needed, for large, rather flat, irregularly shaped trays? I have hand built some of these and am trying to get this figured out. I have tried sitting the bisque platter on a damp towel and then waxing 1" higher than the wet mark, or putting the tray on the edge of an eye ball high shelf and marking the spot where it leaves the shelf on the underside in the upward curve. both of these ways seems like guesswork and I am afraid an error will result in the loss of the pieces to sticking to the kiln shelf. For other work, I hot wax very successfully. How do you do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 I had a large 18-20" pan for wax on a hot plate. I could dip larger pieces in it. Now I just apply liquid wax to large pieces either with a piece of foam or a paint brush. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted January 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 My large elec skillet is not large enough to do it. I am using liquid wax for these pieces. How do you know where to end the wax? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 I never wax but you might try putting some masking tape around it leaving a fourth of an inch exposed. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 I put the tray/platter on flat surface, then run a sharp pencil on the table top around the piece. I use cosmetic wedges/foam to apply wax and generally go just over the pencil mark -- usually trying to make the wax line more clean and neat looking. Or, leave the bottom glaze-free or add some underglaze accents that don't need a glaze covering. Sometimes bare clay looks nicer than a bad wax/glaze line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLowes Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 If you have any container that your work will fit, then put a 1/4", or just under that, of water in the container. Then carefully keeping flat, set your piece in the water. The water will make an even line all around. If you let the piece soak up water for a short time, the piece will resist glaze, or make glaze easy to wipe away, leaving a nice separation. Try it out on a smaller piece to get the timing down, and see how it works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Use another wax besides hot dip. I use moblicer A with a small cut sponge for just what you are talking about. I get clean lines. I also hot dip then finish other forms with hand wax-thats two waxes on same pot if edges are irregular . Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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