FAQ’s Video – Advancer® Kiln Shelves with Marshall Browne

Some of you may know Marshall. He is the head technical person at Kilnshelf.com and president of Smith-Sharpe Fire Brick Supply… it’s safe to say he’s the “main guy” around here. In this video Marshall covers the advantages and development of Advancer® kiln shelves – and a variety of different applications they can be used for. He also discusses using kiln wash, firing with porcelain, shelf maintenance and why Advancer® kiln shelves cost more than other shelves.

Will kiln washing ADVANCER® shelves or getting a few drops of water on them cause a problem?

No. It takes prolonged exposure to a continuous moisture source to cause problems. It should also be noted that there is no evidence of atmospheric humidity causing moisture problems with ADVANCER® shelves. They are in use almost everywhere in the world!

What kiln wash is recommended for ADVANCER® shelves?

Kiln wash for ADVANCER® should be high in alumina. Many commercially available kiln washes are high in silica and are not recommended for ADVANCER due to the tendency of silica to interact with the oxide glass layer of the shelf. In some cases alumina hydrate can be substituted for silica (flint) in an existing wash formula with success. Please contact us for a wash recommendation or with questions regarding your specific wash formula.

Do I need to use kiln wash on my ADVANCER® shelves?

While many individual customers report that they do not need to use a wash coat on their ADVANCER® shelves, we generally recommend using a suitable high alumina wash on ADVANCER® shelves – particularly in studio or classroom settings where multiple users are present.