do i need to put kiln wash on nitride bonded silicon carbide kiln shelves?

** Kiln Laundry on Silicon Carbide Shelves: Yes or No? Let’s Settle This. **.

(do i need to put kiln wash on nitride bonded silicon carbide kiln shelves?)

Okay potters, glaze wizards, kiln masters … listen up. We’ve all existed. You open up the kiln after a firing, heart packed with hope, just to find your gorgeous pot welded securely to the kiln rack. That awful * split * seem as you attempt to pry it loose? Pure ceramic broken heart. It ruins your work. It damages your shelf. It damages your whole dang day.

So, we resist. Kiln clean is our shield. We rub that gunk on our shelves like protective armor, hoping it quits the molten polish from sticking its touchdown gear down completely. It works. Mainly. Yet it’s unpleasant. It needs reapplying. It can flake. It’s just … another task.

Then, enter the superhero of the kiln furnishings world: Nitride Bonded Silicon Carbide racks. These things are tough. Truly hard. They poke fun at high temperatures. They brush off thermal shock that would split minimal shelves. They are smooth, thick, and unbelievably difficult. They guarantee flexibility from glaze sticking problems. Seems ideal, ideal?

Yet that old behavior dies hard. You consider that streamlined, dark grey surface. Your hand naturally grabs the kiln wash container. You pause. A concern pops into your head: “Wait … do I * really * require to place kiln clean on these fancy nitride bound silicon carbide shelves?”.

Hold that brush! Put the container down. Take a deep breath. The response, 99 times out of 100, is a resounding ** NO **.

Think about why silicon carbide racks are unique. That super-dense, lustrous surface area they establish? It’s naturally non-stick. Polish simply does not want to bond with it. It resembles Teflon for your kiln, but way tougher. Including kiln clean on the top resembles placing economical cling wrap over a non-stick frying pan. It’s unneeded. It might also create issues.

Kiln laundry needs a somewhat porous surface to hold onto. Silicon carbide shelves, particularly after a couple of shootings, are incredibly smooth and non-porous. The wash may not stick well. It can flake off during firing. Those flakes can arrive on your pots, producing unsightly blemishes or perhaps adhering to the glaze itself. You traded one migraine for an additional!

And also, why hide that gorgeous, useful surface area? The entire point of purchasing these shelves is their toughness and low upkeep. Slathering on wash every few shootings defeats the purpose. You bought a Ferrari and afterwards chose to just drive it in first equipment.

Now, exist * any kind of * exceptions? Perhaps one. If you are doing something absolutely wild, like firing incredibly thick, drippy lusters best onto the shelf surface area without any wadding or stilts, you might consider a * thin * layer. But truthfully? Also after that, it’s usually better to make use of small bits of kiln laundry wadding or alumina hydrate under the pot instead. Secure the pot, not the entire shelf. Keep that silicon carbide surface clean and free.

(do i need to put kiln wash on nitride bonded silicon carbide kiln shelves?)

So, ditch the container. Embrace the bare shelf. Fire your pots straight on that particular smooth nitride adhered silicon carbide surface. Allow its natural magic do its job. Your lusters will launch cleanly. Your racks will certainly thanks. Your sanity will certainly thank you. Delight in the liberty. Fire with self-confidence.