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Removing
Kiln Wash
from the Kiln Shelf
This is part two of a multi-part tip on removing kiln wash from
the kiln shelf. Click here to go to part one.
One way to minimize the dust that arises
when you remove kiln wash from the kiln shelf is to scrape
(rather than sand) the wash off the shelf.
1. Begin by spraying the shelf
with water from a spray bottle prior to scraping. This
keeps the dust down and makes the scraping a bit easier.
2. Alternatively, you can prepare
the shelf by wiping with a damp sponge or paper towel. The
key is to moisture all the dust particles to keep them from
flying into the air when the scraping begins.
3. There are a number of different
tools that can be used for scraping, ranging from a putty knife
to a paint scraper with a razor. Most will work fairly
well, but one of the best tools is a simple scrap strip of
glass. Use it as a scraper, and you'll be surprised at how
quickly it can remove the kiln wash from the shelf.
4. Taping the nozzle of a shop
vacuum to a putty knife or paint scraper is one way to suck away
the dust as soon as it is created. Just make certain that
the vacuum has a HEPA filter.
5. Even more high tech,
consider building a down-draft table. This is basically a
table with a grid of holes in it and a box attached underneath
the table that connects to a vacuum with a dust collector.
The constant downward air flow will capture most of the dust
before it can become airborne and be inhaled.
Above all, don't forget to wear a mask
or respirator when cleaning kiln wash from your shelves.
Even the best dust minimization technique might not catch all
the particles.
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Copyright 2006 Brad Walker. All rights
reserved.
Most of these tips came from
posters on the Warm Glass bulletin board.
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