How to Prevent Pottery Sticking to the Glaze Kiln

The final stage in making pottery is firing in a glaze kiln. This is when all the hard work comes together. However, glazing errors can cause pieces to stick to kiln shelves. When that happens, you must smash the piece to remove it. Here are some tips to prevent pottery from sticking to the glaze kiln.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soft sponge or cloth
• Warm, clean water
• Small section of plywood (optional)

1. Grip the object at the bottom using hands or glazing tongs when submerging into the glaze. Get as much of the piece into the glaze as possible while leaving the bottom untouched.

2. Lift the piece out of the glaze slowly. Keep it suspended upside down over the glaze and allow the excess to drip off.

3. Check the bottom, as some of the glaze is bound to run down when the piece is overturned. Wipe off the glaze drips with the sponge and clean water. Clean the area as thoroughly as possible.

4. Give pieces that require total glaze submersion a few minutes to dry. The glaze will not be entirely dry at this point, but it should be dry enough to allow gentle handling. Pick up the piece using the lightest touch possible and proceed to wipe off the bottom using the sponge and water.

5. Place the glazed piece on a small section of plywood before placing on the kiln shelf. This is especially important when dealing with thicker glazes or pieces that have been coated several times. Worse case scenario, the piece will stick to the piece of wood, but the kiln shelves will be spared.

Tips & Warnings

• Study your glazes and firing temperatures to make sure there is no overheating in the kiln. Overheating can cause glazes to liquefy quickly and run off onto the shelves.
• Using a spray booth to glaze pottery allows for more control over glaze dispersal. The coating is more even as well.