Must-have Glazing Tools
I've been sharing a lot of glazing videos on my Instagram lately and I've received many inquiries about the tools and glazes I use. So, I decided to share my favorite glazing tools in this week's email, along with information on where to find them.
In terms of glazing technique, I use both brush-on and dip-and-pour glazing techniques. Though I mostly share the brush-on glazing videos, only because they are relatively easy to record.
Brush-on glazing involves using a glaze specifically formulated for brushing onto your pots. As the name implies, these glazes are applied with a brush. Here's my list of essential tools for the brush-on glazing technique:
- Glazes Formulated for Brushing- These glazes are typically available in liquid form, packaged in pint jars or gallon bottles. They are specially designed to make brushing easier on the clay surface. They contain certain additives mixed in with the glaze materials which make the glazes more brushable. And thats the reason they usually require 2-3 coats to get an even coverage. Some brands I've used include Amaco, Mayco, Spectrum, and Botz. You can find some of these on Amazon, but local clay suppliers are usually the best option due to high shipping costs for glazes.
- Brushes- Using the right brush can be a complete game changer. I tried using some fan brushes from amazon but they weren't just fluffy enough to give me an even coverage. I recommend fan brushes by Mayco—I use a No. 8, but they come in various sizes. Amaco also offers fan brushes, though I haven't used them due to availability issues. Chinese/Japanese calligraphy brushes are also excellent because they are absorbent and can hold a lot of glaze. Hake brushes, typically used for watercolors, are another great option for glazing. Many of these brushes are available on Amazon, and I've included links to some in this email.
- Banding wheel- A banding wheel comes in handy for glazing larger flat pieces like plates and platters. It allows you to easily rotate the piece while applying the brush-on glaze.
- Small hand blender/ milk frother- This is not essential but nice to have. I use it to mix glazes that have been sitting for a while, as the glaze materials tend to settle at the bottom. It's good practice to mix the glaze thoroughly before starting. You can also use the handle of a brush for this purpose.
Dip & Pour is another glazing technique that is much faster than brushing on glazes, though it can be messier and requires a few additional tools. Here's what you'll need:
- Glaze formulated for Dip & Pour- These glazes are typically available in powder form and need to be mixed with water before use, following the manufacturer's instructions. They contain pure glaze materials without any additives, usually requiring just one dip to achieve a good coat. This method involves either dipping your piece into the glaze or pouring the glaze over it, hence the name Dip & Pour. Due to their formulation, these glazes don't always work well for brushing, although there are ways to adapt them for that purpose, which is a topic for another time.
- Vessels for dipping- Depending on the shape and size of your pieces, you'll need different vessels. For example, deeper containers like buckets are suitable for mugs, while flat and broad containers are better for plates and platters.
- Large blender, whisk or brush for mixing- Since these glazes do not have any additives added to them, the glaze materials tend to settle at the bottom of the vessel with the clear water sitting on top. So before you can use the glaze, you have to mix it thoroughly. A large whisk, a large brush or a blending stick attached to drill work well to mix the glaze well and get an even consistency.
- Dipping tongs- When dipping pieces, using your hands can leave finger marks on the pot surface. Some people embrace these and leave them there. But if you'd like to get rid go them, you have to go in and do some patch work by dabbing on some glaze on the bare spots. This is where dipping tongs come in handy. They don't leave a mark on the surface and make the process a lot more efficient and quick. There are a few different types available. Some work well for dipping plates and platters, some are better suited for mugs.
- Container/Jar with spout- When pouring the glaze over bisque pieces, a container/ jar with a spout comes in handy to get a more controlled pour
- Wax resist- When using the Dip & Pour technique, I add a layer of wax resist on the bottom. This makes it easy to wipe off the glaze beads formed on the waxed surface instead of cleaning the entire surface covered with glaze- saves time, effort and the glaze!
- Brushes- Absorbent hake brushes can be used to dab on the glaze in areas that dipping or pouring might have missed.
These are some of the tools that make the glazing process easier and more efficient for me.
If there's a tool or technique that helps with glazing, please share by replying to this email. I would love to discover new tools that could make this process more convenient.
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