Pot Melt Residue

[Charlotte H]

Hi, everyone.  I’m posting this because I made my first pot melt some months ago now, and I’m very enamored of the result.  However, I let the glass melt onto a circle of 1/8″ fiber paper (contained inside a steel ring), and fiber stuck to the glass.  I’ve since scrubbed the glass vigorously, and at length, with a wire brush, soaked it in vinegar, and treated it with etching cream to try to remove the remainder of the fiber, but it seems like some particles remain.  I don’t own a lapidary wheel, and I’d rather not labor over the glass with rotary wheels.  Any suggestions for removing the last of the fibers?

And what does everyone suggest I do to avoid stuck fibers in the first place, next time?  Is it better to use a spray-on mold release?  Does kiln wash hold up at 1700 degrees F?  FYI, I made a 6″ circle and used the following schedule in my Paragon Caldera:

600/1700/2hr; full/1500/45min; full/960/3hr; 200/600/5min

[wordana]

You might try wet/dry sand paper (use it wet). Start with fairly coarse grit and work towards a finer grit. Kiln wash is typically the separator that is used, since fiber paper will leave significant texture (and ThinFire/Papyros may “move” and become embedded).

Steve Immerman has a pot melt tutorial on his web site: http://www.clearwaterglass.com/Tutorials/AperturePour.html

Dana W.

Jester’s Baubles Fused Glass Designs

http://www.jestersbaubles.com

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