[Raku nut]

I am not sure whether I should try to force them apart, or if I fired them as is would they be attached with the paper towel acting as paper clay, or would it burn away and they would be seperate. I am afraid that if I try to force or use a tool it could chhip or break. Any suggestions?

[Mark C.]

THe paper will burn away-the question really is were they really wet and somewhat stuck by wet clay before. I'd bisque them and tap them apart if needed later.
I'm not sure about why the paper towel was used? But it will be all gone no worries about that.

my 2 cents
Mark

[Pres]

Mark C., on 16 February 2012 - 03:03 AM, said:

THe paper will burn away-the question really is were they really wet and somewhat stuck by wet clay before. I'd bisque them and tap them apart if needed later.
I'm not sure about why the paper towel was used? But it will be all gone no worries about that.

my 2 cents
Mark

Good call Mark! I would also bisque them and then separate by lightly tapping with a wooden mallet or rolling pin. If they were on teapots I would have suggested blowing in through the spout to help release.

[neilestrick]

Yeah, why the paper towels? I assuming the paper caused the lid to stick, as it made it too tight?

[JLowes]

Well, I will take a shot at why the paper towel. When I was first learning to throw, I took class one night per week and our production was stored under plastic for the week between classes. Sometimes it might take most of a class to throw a container, or two, and their lids. So, not having time to dry them so they wouldn't stick together, I would use a paper towel draped across the gallery to keep the lid and wall from bonding. As this story indicates, it doesn't always work out well. At times the plastic would not prevent the pot from drying out too much and it might stick a lid.

On another forum, I have read that depending on how a wall and a lid were made, the difference in shrinkage can lock things up due to different alignment of the clay particles affecting shrinkage. I make my galleries with a rounded taper which doesn't seem to be as affected this way.

John

[Mark C.]

The Unknown Craftsman, on 16 February 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

"On another forum, I have read that depending on how a wall and a lid were made, the difference in shrinkage can lock things up due to different alignment of the clay particles affecting shrinkage. I make my galleries with a rounded taper which doesn't seem to be as affected this way."

This is a problem that I would like to avoid, with my jar lids and such.
How would you make a lid so that it shrank differently than a body? It is my understanding that clay shrinks equally in all dimensions, irrespective of the way it is made.

Clay does not shrink the same in all dimensions-My old brain seems to recall that the forces that come into play is how its pulled and stretched as well as the height and width can shrink differently
Things like different areas of moisture- thickness all come into play-as well say if you do not cut off the bottom from bat all can make it uneven
I'm sure someone will sound off with the formula-I'll go check my clay book library.
I do know I oversize all my butterdish lids as they shrink more than the flat plate bottoms.
Mark

[Lucille Oka]

Just a few questions-
Did you use a strong paper towel, Bounty? Viva? A shop towel? Try lifting just the paper towel near the rim slowly all around the vessel hold the vessel and lid securely. If that doesn't work, you can spritz water on the paper towel, near the rim, all around, and wait a few minutes and then lift off the lid by slowly lifting the paper towel use two hands or very slowly lift in segments. It should become unglued.

[Raku nut]

Lucille Oka, on 16 February 2012 - 04:23 PM, said:

Just a few questions-
Did you use a strong paper towel, Bounty? Viva? A shop towel? Try lifting just the paper towel near the rim slowly all around the vessel hold the vessel and lid securely. If that doesn't work, you can spritz water on the paper towel, near the rim, all around, and wait a few minutes and then lift off the lid by slowly lifting the paper towel use two hands or very slowly lift in segments. It should become unglued.

[Raku nut]

Thanks for everyones advice and enthusiasum! Why the paper towels were to hopefully stop the barely moist (I thought) two pieces from joining. It does usually work when you can't leave them out. The paper towels were Bounty , but they aren't lifting just ripping. So I guess I can try wetting the towels and if that doesn't release them, I should wait and fire them together and cross my fingers.
Thanks everyone!!

[Lucille Oka]

Nice thing about Bounty is that it is two ply you should be able to get the damp layers apart; that feature can be helpful.

[The Mad Mudder]

Raku nut, on 16 February 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

I am not sure whether I should try to force them apart, or if I fired them as is would they be attached with the paper towel acting as paper clay, or would it burn away and they would be seperate. I am afraid that if I try to force or use a tool it could chhip or break. Any suggestions?

I would also bisque and try to gently tap them apart at this point. Use newspaper strips next time. I was taught this technique in school and never have had a lid stick.

[Raku nut]

The Mad Mudder, on 17 February 2012 - 07:38 AM, said:

Raku nut, on 16 February 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

I am not sure whether I should try to force them apart, or if I fired them as is would they be attached with the paper towel acting as paper clay, or would it burn away and they would be seperate. I am afraid that if I try to force or use a tool it could chhip or break. Any suggestions?

I would also bisque and try to gently tap them apart at this point. Use newspaper strips next time. I was taught this technique in school and never have had a lid stick.

[Raku nut]

That's good advice, Thanks!

[Peter]

It may be difficult to insure that the inside of the bowl/pot is dry without first removing the lid. If it was quite wet when stuck, the inside may not be drying properly....
Just a thought..

[Raku nut]

Peter, on 19 February 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

It may be difficult to insure that the inside of the bowl/pot is dry without first removing the lid. If it was quite wet when stuck, the inside may not be drying properly....
Just a thought..

[Raku nut]

Yes that will be a problem . It will be damper inside than the outside. I would imagine if I program a preheat over night and fire slowly the next day, I may aviod a blowup. Maybe even if I place on the lid of the kiln for the next firing that should help to dry it out enough to remove the lid.
Thanks for mentioning it.