This kiln wash is suitable to protect your shelves in any firing UP TO Cone 10.
Kiln wash is applied to kiln shelves to protect them from glaze drips. On a washed shelf, drips can be easily removed without gouging or marring the kiln shelf. This kiln wash is used successfully at all temperatures to Cone 10.
Mix the kiln wash with water to a thin cream consistency. Apply only one coat at a time. Use a wide paintbrush or utility brush (a 2” - 3” wide, soft-bristle brush generally works best). Three individually fired-on coats of kiln wash are preferable. You may fire bisque or unglazed ware for the first two firings, but your shelves will not be completely protected against glaze drips until 3 coats have been applied.
Most potters kiln wash only the tops of their kiln shelves. We discourage applying kiln wash to both sides of your shelf, but if you do, carefully check each shelf when loading to prevent kiln wash from flaking off and dropping onto your ware.
When you’re applying kiln wash to your shelves for the first time, it helps to dampen the top of your shelves with a wet sponge or a water-filled spray bottle first. This makes the kiln wash go on easier and more evenly.
If you notice that your kiln wash is flaking off, use a paint scraper (or something similar) to remove any loose bits, then reapply kiln wash. If glaze drips onto your shelf, use the paint scraper to pop the glaze drip off and clean up any loose flakes around the area, then dab some more kiln wash in the bare spot.
COVERAGE EXAMPLE: furniture kits for a 10-sided kiln with the equivalent of 3 layers of kiln shelves, we include 2# of kiln wash. This is sufficient kiln wash to mix up and cover 3 full coats. You should also have extra dry kiln wash for later touch-ups in the future. We typically have 1# bags, 2# bags, and 5# bags already weighed out and available in our retail store for walk-in customers.
