What is a kiln wash?

Kiln wash is a barrier to prevent unexpected glaze runs or drips from ruining your pottery kiln shelves, and your work. You brush it directly onto your shelves; it looks similar to a glaze when being applied.

Does glaze stick to kiln wash?

The sole purpose of kiln wash is to protect the glass artwork and the kiln shelf. The kiln shelf is usually made of hard ceramic material. If the glaze comes in direct contact with the kiln shelf, it will stick. To make sure this never happens, we use kiln wash to ensure the glaze won't stick to the kiln shelf.

Apply kiln wash to the top of each shelf but not to both sides as the underside of a shelf can flake onto the items underneath. If the kiln wash is gauged, scratched, or chipped, that's when it's time to scrape the shelf clean and reapply.

Why Do You Need Kiln Wash?

Kiln wash is a protective layer that is applied to your kiln shelves to prevent glazed pieces from sticking while firing.your glaze may run, your pot may tip over, or you may over-fire the clay. This makes kiln wash an important preventative measure for all glaze firings.