Wax resist

in article snipped-for-privacy@enews4.newsguy.com, Wendy Cyrenne at snipped-for-privacy@island.net wrote on 10/20/03 7:09 PM:

I haven't had much luck. No luck at all with real wax. Water soluable may come off with washing. I've tried with not much luck.

Try liquid rubber latex. Brush it on. It doesn't run like water soluable wax resist, doesn't splash or run like dip in hot wax.

Marty

"Martin J. Kenny" wrote in news:BBB9EB4A.5581% snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net:

The only real way to get wax off is to refire the pot. If it is in the bottom of the pot a blob of glaze over the wax may do it. In my experience the problems I have had with wax is dipping a bowl upside down or a footring and an air bubble bursts up one of the sides. I find it impossible to fix that.

Rubber latex works well but it is hell on brushes. Dip your brush into laundry detergent before you dip it into the latex. This will help when you come to clean the brush. I have been told that there isn't a solvent for the latex and there is no way to clean your brushes once the latex is set.

If anybody knows of some way to clean brushes up after using latex I would appreciate any ideas.

Burn it off with a torch. Sometimes sanding it off works too, if it's a really small splash.

Deb R.

Getting wax off - sanding, lots and carefully so as not to damage the pot, then wash the sanded area really well or the components of the sandpaper can affect the glaze.

Latex off brushes - John I use the same method, just dip it in neat dishwashing detergent, but as soon as you feel it gumming up slightly as you use it you wash it off well in water and dip it in detergent again. A brush carefully used like this will usually not be ruined.

Thanks for the idea of dipping the brush in detergent. It will probably make cleaning easier for me.

So far I haven't ruined any brushes. I use a natural bristle 3/4 in 'filbert' style (I had to look the name up) usually used in oil or acrylic painting. The brush has about inch long bristles in a flat shape with rounded edges. I never let the liquid latex set (or the oil paint). Clean it immediately. If it starts clogging up clean it. I use warm water and lava soap. There is then still some residue in the brush. I then use a wire brush to brush/comb out the residue. Sometimes a residue gets stuck at the bristle base and won't brush out. Then I use a thick pin to pluck out this recalcitrant glob. It usually all comes out in one pluck. Whole process 5 min max.

Incidentally, I've had bad luck torching - darkening that didn't all burn away in firing and incomplete wax removal.

Marty

in article BBB9EB4A.5581% snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net, Martin J. Kenny at snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net wrote on 10/20/03 7:43 PM:

would a brush comb work? you can get these in paint stores, used to remove latex paint from brushes.

I have microwaved the wax off in the past - put the pot on a piece of paper towel to soak up the melted wax. Or I put the piece on top of the kiln while it is firing. Last ditch I rebisque the piece. Fiona

Some of my students have had problems using melted wax. We have had some success using a heat gun to remove the wax. Chris

We've found a few hours at 350 degrees works but you must bring the temp in your oven up with the pot !!! The piece has to be very very dry though.

Cheers, D.

Wendy Cyrenne wrote: I just splashed wax resist on places of a pot where I didn't want it. Is there a way to get it off?

Thanks.