[Mark C.]

I would be very careful applying anything to a lid or kiln roof-The kiln wash seems to be not the thing to use on inner walls. The alumina does not stick well and is always powdery-The colloidal silica (liquid) and milled Zircon sticks very well and does not come off easy unless you build up to much thickness.
LilyT-sounds like you have coated your fair share of old kilns
Mark

[LilyT]

Mark C, Your suggestion of avoiding coating the lid/roof is probably most wise.
I am eager to try your colloidal silica / zircon coating idea... I came across it
a few days ago in an independent search on a different topic. It sounds *great*,
thanks also for sharing the detailed instructions.

Would you also be so kind to share your technique for sandblasting? I have
not done that before as I tend to go low tech and manual first. I am
wanting to try it and am curious what machine / tool etc you use and
how to control it? Any tips and suggestions would be appreciated!

What an interesting conversation this is :-)

-LilyT

P.S., sorry to slightly hijack the topic...

[Mark C.]

You can pick up a cheap sandblaster at Harbor freight.com and get the sand from a lumber store- you need an air compressor as well to use one-you could rent one or borrow one.
The gun blasts sand which you will have to vacuum up later and can be reused if screened.You need eye and head protection as its messy-One could also use a small 4 inch grinder with safety guard removed-Do so at own risk-You did not hear that from me.
Mark

[LilyT]

Mark C., on 20 June 2012 - 02:49 PM, said:

You can pick up a cheap sandblaster at Harbor freight.com and get the sand from a lumber store- you need an air compressor as well to use one-you could rent one or borrow one.
The gun blasts sand which you will have to vacuum up later and can be reused if screened.You need eye and head protection as its messy-One could also use a small 4 inch grinder with safety guard removed-Do so at own risk-You did not hear that from me.
Mark

Aha, I love harbor freight... I will check it out. I am geeky and
like gadgets, I just don't use them as often as I should.

But ooh, I already have the 4 inch grinder with safety guard removed
(we didn't hear that from me, either) which we use to clean up the bad parts
on hardbrick after wood firing. What a good idea to use it on soft
brick, too. Your ideas are so innovative... brilliant! Do you think that
the sandblaster is more stable and the grinder sometimes takes out big
chunks by accident?

Lily

BTW I've been reading your post about spoon rest production.
Love it. All the details about making production and sales go fast
and efficiently are wonderful.