How do I get the pieces of exploded clay out of my pot?
Alright so I am taking ceramics and made two beautiful vases, kiln them and then glazed them. A girl who doesn’t like to do things the way she is supposed to, put the glazed pots on the same shelf as the first time kilned pots. One pot exploded. All. Over. Mine. and suck in the glaze. Is there anyway I can remove these pieces without damaging my art work?
Unfortunately this sometimes happens in a school studio. I have seen it many times. If the pieces are small, you can use a grinder or a Dremel tool with a grinding attachment to grind the bits of clay down. Careful not to grind too much — you don’t want to chip the existing glaze coat. Then dot a bit of the original glaze on top where you had to grind and re-fire.
If the pieces are very large you have a problem. You can try to chisel them off if only attached in a small area. Use a stiff blade putty knife and a hammer to tap it gently at the point of attachment. And then grind down any bit that is left. The worry here is that in chiseling the large piece off you may break the vase.
Sorry to hear this — hope you can fix your vases.
Making / Throwing a square pottery clay vase on the wheel
