Kiln batts

[Sue Korteweg]

Hello, new gal here again!

Please forgive my wierd wording sometimes as I am translating what I learned from French. My kiln manual is in French.

Quick and maybe silly question: I bought a second hand kiln. I have sanded down the ceramic batts for the kiln as much as I could without damaging them too much. But there still remains small deposits of already been dripped glaze. They are really sanded down.

I am now about to do my first firing and wondered if these small deposits could wreck my pieces that I bisque if I were to place them on top of one????

Oh, by the way, thanks for the advise on the plaster slab. I am recylcing clay like mad already!!!!

Sue Korteweg

[Andy Clift]

Do you have kiln wash to paint the surface kiln batts (I call them shelves but batt is a correct term as well)?

Here is a recipe.

Alumina hydrate 40
EPK 30
Silica 30

Mix it to a smooth paste consistency and paint on the entire surface of the top side of the kiln shelf.

This will cover the glaze deposits and protect your shelf so it will make it easier to clean glaze of the next time.

It is possible the glaze deposits could burn through the kiln wash but if the deposits are sanded down very thin it should be all right.

Good luck,
Andy Clift

[Sue Korteweg]

Thanks Andy,

Have done my first bisque being very careful with placement. Will see what happened when I open tomorrow. Have a bucket of wash and will do the shelves (batts) again to be sure before a glaze firing. Sue