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"Wetting" Your Pots Before Glazing Do you find small pinholes in your glaze-fired pots? Do you have trouble getting your glaze to
apply evenly? We may know why...
KPS experts recommend that you always wet your bisqueware prior
to glazing. Wax your foot and let the wax dry, then provide a quick rinse under cool
water. This will remove any dust, lint, pet hair, etc., that may interfere with your glaze performance (and cause those
nastly little pinholes).
A rinse will also start the capillary action within the clay body, leaving
it not as "thirsty," which allows the piece to accept the glaze application more evenly (eliminating clumping
or blotching glaze). Let your pot dry for approximately 2-5 minutes after the rinse, before you apply your glazes.
The quick rinse also allows you to see where your wax is applied - in case you have tracked waxy fingerprints or smears
to unplanned areas.
Note: We do not recommend dipping or sponging your piece instead of the
rinse. This will only smear any debris, and may contaminate your piece if the sponge or dipping water is not clean.
Brush Selection Archival Tip-September 2007
Proper brush
selection is critical to any decorating project, whether you are working with glazes, underglazes or slips. Below
are a few guidelines to aide you in selecting the proper brush:
-Natural bristles hold more material than artificial
bristles. If you are attempting to cover a very large area, use a brush with bristles made of goat, wolf, rabbit,
etc.
-Shorter bristles give you more control over your design. Even if two brushes have the same bristle
count and are made of the same material, the one with shorter bristles will allow you to write and create controlled
designs with ease.
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