Is there a way to "polish" a finished piece to remove slight imperfection???

[Bretta]

It's a boro piece that I reworked after reheating in the kiln and realized too late that I had picked up a tiny scuff of fiber off the bottom of my kiln.

Any way to buff or polish off this scuff?

Thanks!

[hyperT]

Heat the spot back up and then use a cool piece of rod to remove the blight. Warm the rod slightly, take it out of the fire, then heat the spot you want to remove and pick it out of the piece quickly with the rod.
You could grind and polish the spot if you have the right tools to do it with, but you are talking a lot of time and care.

[Bretta]

Thank you very much! I was trying to avoid putting it back in the flame, but I have it in the kiln now heating it back up to remove the offending spot.

it's been a stressful piece I am ready to be done with! Pun fully intended....

[hyperT]

Well I think that's your best bet on this one. Yes if the piece is thick you will want to reheat the piece first. A photo would help. Once you have it hot brush it through the flame slowly until it gives off the sodium yellow color in the fire then go for it quickly and then brush through the flame again to even the heat out and get it in an oven. I used to heat a quartz slab like agate to set the piece on while working on it. The rising heat from the quartz will keep it hot for a long time.

I'm sure you can do this ok? Boro is a lot more forgiving than other glasses.

Have fun, Wayne

[Bretta]

Thanks, Wayne! Seriously, your reminder to "have fun" helped me to relax and remember why I do what I do. I'd start to feel stressed and remember "have fun!"

Piece is in the kiln now....for the third time!