This is a MUST DO maintenance tip for anyone that is melting glass in a kiln, or annealing lampwork beads as well. Make sure that you have thoroughly kiln washed the interior sides of your kiln also the floor of the kiln, kiln lid, and any kiln posts and shelves that will be inside your kiln when firing! The reason for this is to keep any molten glass from permanently adhering to your kiln and perhaps ruining it! Without kiln wash, molten glass will permanently stick to your firebrick and kiln shelves. And when that happens, you will have to remove all firebrick that has been contaminated with melted glass since subsequent firings will make that glass only melt deeper and further into the firebrick.
I just mix up Primo Primer Kiln Wash in a little plastic bucket and paint it on my kiln with a Hake brush. It can last many firings! My kiln shelf is done the same way but occasionally I have to scrape the old kiln wash off it and then reapply. I put about three coats on the shelf, waiting for the kiln wash to completely dry between coats. When applying to the kiln walls and lid, be sure to keep the wash off of the elements.
Below is a picture of what I found inside my kiln this morning. As you can see, the top green bottle rolled off of my kiln shelf and ended up on the kiln floor and partially up the wall. Since I had all firebrick and kiln furniture kiln washed, I could just pick up the bottle without it sticking anywhere!
YEA!
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