Whether you're new to glazing or have been doing it for years, there are always ways to perfect your glazing technique. Even when glazing seems to have gone wrong, you can often fix the problems if you're aware of do so.
Keeping Pottery Clean
One of the main keys to a well-glazed piece of pottery is making sure that the pottery stays completely clean, from firing to glazing. Unglazed pottery should be handled with disposable gloves, as even the oil from your fingertips can cause imperfections in the glaze. Use an air compressor to remove any dust from pottery before glazing, but do so in an open area. If you need to sand any areas on the pottery, remove the sanding dust with a damp sponge rather than by rinsing the pottery under a stream of water.
Preparing the Glaze
Make sure that your glaze is mixed well before using. If some of the glaze has dried on the sides of the bucket, or if you find pieces of dried glaze in the bucket, use a stiff brush or a sieve to remove the impurities before glazing.
Methods of Glazing
The best way to glaze in the inside of pottery is by pouring the glaze into the piece of pottery and then rolling the piece of pottery in your hands so that the glaze covers the entire interior. Pour out any excess glaze. For smaller pieces of pottery, glaze the outsides by pouring the glaze into a shallow bowl and dipping the piece of pottery into it, being careful to cover the entire exterior. If the pottery doesn't lend itself to pouring or dipping, you can use a glazing brush to apply the glaze to the outside of the pottery.
Mistakes and Fix Them
Do not apply a second coat of glaze before the first coat has completely dried. You can tell whether the first glaze has dried because it will lose some of its shine. In addition, remember that gravity will cause glaze to drip downward. If you drip unwanted glaze on a part of the pottery that was already glazed, do not wipe off the drip. Instead, wait until it dries and scrape it off with a metal tool.
