Kiln wash keeps peeling off

This will happen if the wash is applied too thickly. I sometimes wet sponge the shelf before applying wash. Did you mix up the wash fresh or has it been sitting? If it has been sitting then evaporation will might have made it thicker. I put on a real thin coat, do the bisque fire with the shelves, then apply another thin coat for the glaze fire. I never have been able to get the shelves like I like them though.

Donna

Thanks, will do. I do think I had it to thick, and it has been sitting around. Wetting the shelf also sounds like a great idea, duh, I shoulda known. Sa

You don't want to wet the shelf before you apply the kiln wash... except maybe to lightly sponge off the dust from sanding off the old kiln wash. Applying wash to a wet shelf could cause it to flake off. just like applying glaze to wet bisqueware could cause glaze to shiver/ flake off.

You should sand off the old kiln wash (so no wash flakes off and falls into your glazed pieces) and flip the shelf to stifle warpage. There are a lot of kiln wash recipes out there on the web... a simple one is:

100

Some recipes additionally call for ball clay and/or silica (AKA flint or SiO2). the application may vary too as some clays like to stick to anything with silica.

I apply wash with a large paint brush, I find I have more control of the thickness that way... However if you have tons of shelves to do it might take all day. The roll on might be more time efficient. The key to applying kiln wash STIR OFTEN! like every 4-5 brush strokes or every time you dunk the roller; kiln wash settles lightning fast.

I brush on two coats leaving them to dry fully between coats. Then I scrape the edge to make sure I don't have any excess wash on the edges that might flake off onto a glazed piece. Then I use the newly coated shelves in a bisque firing first before I use them in a glaze firing. The selves get used from ^06 electric to ^10R.

Peace, Darin