Glazing and Glaze Firing

Clear glazing adds a sparkling protective finish to wares.  There are a wide range of clear "ready-made" dipping and brushing glazes on the market.

Our glazes require very little skill or experience - you just need to know how to apply the products and make sure that the consistency (viscosity) of the glaze is appropriate for the clay (greenware) or bisqueware item that you intend to kiln fire.

Dip Glazing or Brush Glazing?

Dipping items saves time and is especially good for businesses or establishments with high output.

Brushing or sponging on glaze is more time consuming but offers excellent control and application.

Support From Duncan 

Duncan have produced an excellent step by step guide and process document to help novice glazers master the basics of glazing.  Click here to view the PDF.  The documents below may also benefit ceramicists or potters:

• "How to use Gold" (white, bright and premium gold overglaze) with Cleaning Essence 
• How to use Mother of Pearl" (iridescent overglaze) with Cleaning Essence 
• Duncan Clear Glaze options and how to use Duncan Clear Glaze 
• Duncan Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze and how to use Duncan Pure Brilliance 
• Duncan Mask n Peel and how to use Duncan Mask n Peel
• Duncan Wax Resist and how to use Duncan Wax Resist

Support from Country Love

If you need support regarding any of these kiln firing issues, please feel free to contact us by e-mailing sales@countrylovecrafts.co.uk or telephoning 01235 861700.  Regrettably, we are unable to support businesses that are not existing customers. 

Typical kiln firing issues are:

• Firing Decals - see pages 69 and 70 of our Issue 5 catalogue
• Crazing or delayed crazing
• Under developed pink, purple and red underglazes or glazes not firing correctly
• Milky, hazy or matt glaze
• Blisters, craters, pinholes, crawling (also described as pin pricking or orange peel)
• Rough bisque after firing
• Uneven colour after firing (running, pinging-off, shivering)
• Visible pencil marks after firing
• Large Plates and Platters Splitting or Cracking During Firing 

Our Glazing and Kiln Firing training courses includes tuition on:  bisque (pre-decorating & decorating for best results), leaded versus unleaded glaze, storage of glaze, glaze preparation, dip glazing, brush glazing, spill or roll glazing, firing beads, kilns, dry-footing, stilting, loading your kiln for best results, glazing defects/results/anomalies.  We also have a frequently asked question session:  Q. Does glaze go out of date? Q. What causes glaze to resist in “patches” on a single item? Q How often do you need to stir glaze? Q. Where should I store glaze? etc. This course is free to anyone that buys a Nabertherm kiln from Country Love Crafts.

Support from Orton

In addition, we would recommend that you read the kiln firing tips found online at Orton - click here.   The article headings are as follows:

• Firing Lead Free Glazes 
• Firing Red Glazes 
• Solving Glaze Defects
• Understanding Crazing or Delayed Crazing 
• Avoiding Carbon Burnout
• Cracking and Warping
• Cracking and Thermal Shock
• Firing Ceramic Bodies
• Firing Hand Build or Thick Castware
• Making Foodware Safe
• Porcelain Firing Guide
• Success with Decals - also see pages 69 and 70 of our Issue 5 catalogue
• Success with Gold Firing - also see Duncan "How to use Gold" (white, bright and premium gold overglaze) with Cleaning Essence
• Success with Lustre Firing - also see Duncan "How to use Mother of Pearl" (iridescent overglaze) with Cleaning Essence
• Understanding Heat Transfer During Kiln Firing
• Improving Kiln Uniformity
• Loading a Kiln for Best Results