Tekta Glass and Haze

[eablitz]

I've recently been having trouble with Crystal Clear Tekta glass forming a haze or scum when used as a top layer on pieces. I've not noticed this before, although in the past I have usually used it on the bottom of pieces. But, I know I've used it on top at least in strips for years. Why now? I clean thoroughly with Spartan glass cleaner. I don't have this problem with other colors in the same kiln load. I've been able to remedy the problem on some pieces by re-firing with a dusting of clear powder frit. I'm just wondering if I should avoid using this glass on top? Anyone else dealing with this issue?

[Twin Vision Glass]

I myself really love the 1401 clear and have not used the Tekta as much. But when working on a large project with a friend, the Tekta was good. That is strange isn't it.
Les

[Mary Kay Nitchie]

Hi Eablitz,

Can you tell us about the towels you are using to dry the glass?
If these are cloth, are they being washed with fabric softener or dried with fabric softener sheets?
What shelf separator do you use?

Mary Kay

[ajmckee]

I am having the same exact problem with the Tekta. In the same firing I had a few pieces that were not capped with clear and they turned out beautiful. However the Tekta has a haze on it and a lot of the top tekta caps slid off too. I never had this problem before with clear bullseye. Can you please give me some insite on why and what is the best way to "fix" the problem.

[Mary Kay Nitchie]

Hi ajmckee,

There are many causes for glass to get hazy in the kiln. This effect can be prevented by using specific cleaning methods, and possibly by venting your kiln (if you are using some form of refractory paper as a shelf release). To help you prevent the haze, we would need more details about your cleaning and firing methods.

As far as the tops sliding, I haven't seen this happen in the kiln. Do you use any kind of glue to stick the cap to the base? If so, might the glue have water evaporating, or otherwise off-gassing to the extent that the glass moves before it has heated up to softening temperature?

As far as fixing the haze: you can sandblast the piece and refire (as Charlie suggested in another thread recently) or you can sprinkle clear glass powder on the properly cleaned piece and refire. But you might want to delay refiring until you understand what caused the haze in the first place.

I hope this helps.

Mary Kay

[Delberta D]

A while back I was having a very bad problem with the haze also. I am now thinking that maybe something got into the sponge that I use to clean the glass. like fabric softener or some other laundry product. I have since only washed my glass towels by them selves and no detergent, always an extra rinse, paying attention to what was in the washing load before. If I add a towel to my glass towels I always wash it by itself for 3-4 times. no detergent. Now when I clean my glass the final time I spray the spartan cleaner, rub the glass (with my spartan cleaned hand), rinse with water, dry with a clean towel and buff the glass with another dry clean towel. I haven't had a problem with the haze since all of these precautions... Except I almost think that my top element in my kiln may cause it sometimes...

[ajmckee]

Mary Kay,
Thanks for the reply. I use Bullseye Shelf paper and clean my glass with water and paper towel. I also vent my kiln from the top temp to 980 and close the lid to let it soak.
As for the glass sliding I use Klyr Fire as my glue.
Hope this helps in giving me more insight as to what is causing this. It is not happening to the pieces i do not cap with Tekta.
Thanks
Angiee

[teddyd]

I've been having problems with Tekta haze too, and I think it has to do with certain batches of the glass. I use only the Bullseye blue glass cleaner and washed cotton cloths with no detergents and no fabric softeners. We did some samples from the glass shop (Carolina Stained Glass) using different home kilns and we had varying degrees of haze on them from very little to quite a bit.

[Mary Kay Nitchie]

Hi Teddyd,

Sorry to hear that you and your friends are still seeing hazing when using the recommended cleaner, and clean cotton towels without laundry additives. Can you send us a couple of 4 inch square pieces of Tekta from a production date that you think will haze? We would like to test it here.

We will need your firing cycle, and the production date of the glass.

I hope you can help us get to the bottom of this issue.

Mary Kay

[valerie_adams]

Well, here I am.

Nine years of fusing with Uroboros Machine Rolled clear and I've never had streaking or hazing issues.

Bought a case of Tekta a couple months ago and everything I make with a clear cap is now crap.

Microfiber towels, washed in extra hot water without fabric softener. Sprayway cleaner or Zep non-ammonia cleaner. I use a new towel for the Tekta piece.

I'm doing more laundry than ever, wasting more glass than ever, using more energy than ever, and I'm throwing pieces away.

I am sick about this case of glass. I shouldn't have to spend extra energy for the results I had with average cleaning methods with the Uro. I don't have access to a blaster and don't feel sprinkling with clear frit and refiring pieces is a reasonable solution.

Now what?