The fun thing about shopping for pottery glazes is there are so many great colors to choose from. The bad part is there are so many glazes to choose from! The good news is, I’m here to help you sort it out and give you my recommendations on the glazes that work best for me.
On this page, I will be sharing top picks based on the glazes I have used. Keep in mind I won’t be going through in detail about glazes. These are just recommendations for glazes you may want to try.
What To Look For When Buying Glazes
Because all glazes are not the same, it’s good to know what to look for when choosing your glazes. Here are a few things to be aware of.
Because all glazes are not the same, it’s good to know what to look for when choosing your glazes. Here are a few things to be aware of.
- Is Application easy
- What Cone size does it fire to for best results
- Are you looking for a shiny, flat, or mat finish
- Is the glaze going to stay put, or does it like to run
- Are the glazes food-safe or non-toxic
- Can you mix the glaze colors
- Are the glazes suitable for layering
I made a list of Popular Glazes that I use.
The Glazes listed are not only my favorites, but you will see them being used
by famous and not so famous potters on websites, such as Facebook, Pinterest,
and YouTube, to name a few.
If you want to see some of the cool glaze combinations I’ve created, head
on over to my YouTube Channel, where you will see me applying some of
the Glazes that I recommend for you to try.
A Few Popular Glazes
Here is a list of a few popular glazes that I put together for you to help create beautiful pottery on your amazing glazing journey. These glazes are great to use alone or in combinations.
1) Amaco Blue Rutile
The Amaco Blue Rutile is a beautiful glaze on its own or in combination with other glazes. It may become one of your favorites for these reasons.
Coverage:
To achieve a beautiful Shinny Blue color with this glaze, the coverage has to be thick. At least three thick coats or the Blue Rutile will come out of the Kiln looking more Brown then Blue.
You get very good results with textured work; the Blue Rutile is blue where it’s thick and brown where it breaks and is thinner. This glaze will stay put on its own but will float nicely if applied thicker with other glazes.
Blue Rutile glaze is great for laying with beautiful results when topped with glazes like seaweed and Oatmeal.
Ease Of Use:
This glaze can be poured and brushed on smooth and easy, also safe to spray on. Blue Rutile in bottle form has a brushing medium that keeps the glaze more stable, so you don’t have to mix it as often. After mixing this glaze well just once and putting the glaze through a strainer to catch any clumps or debris, you can easily float a coat on with your brush without having to remix.
Other Product Features:
The Blue Rutile is best when applied to Cone 04 bisque pottery and fired to Cone 5-6 and is Dinnerware safe. Click Here to purchase a bottle.
2) Amaco Seaweed
Amaco Seaweed is a beautiful glaze to have in your collection. You may find yourself using it much more than you thought because it goes so well with other glazes.
Coverage:
If you love to layer your glazes, this glaze is a must in your growing collection. It’s a beautiful shiny glaze on its own but because Seaweed loves to flow down, it’s wonderful to dip on your rim also. If you dip this glaze on the rim or even a third of the way down and then dip another glaze on top, the seaweed will actually help the other glaze float down.
Ease Of Use:
Seaweed mixes fast and easy. Because it has a brushing medium, it brushes on nice and smooth also is great for dipping or pouring. It will keep its consistency if you keep the cover and rim of the bottle clean and tightly sealed.
Other Product Features:
This lead-free glaze is made to be applied to Cone 04 bisque pottery and fired to Cone 5-6. It is dinnerware safe and contains no raw cadmium bearing ingredients. Click Here and try it out for yourself.
3) Spectrum Pearl White
If you like your glaze to mingle with other glazes, you will love Pearl White Glaze by Spectrum. It is a floating glaze that produces a beautiful shiny cascading effect.
Coverage:
I mainly use this glaze as a topper over base coats because of its wonderful floating quality. Since white can go with almost any color, this Pearl white is great to use if you want to brighten up any darker color or show a dramatic contrast like icing melted over a hot brownie.
You can dip just the rim or go halfway down, depending on the effect you want to achieve. You can dip twice but be careful because this glaze loves to run. That’s why test tiles are the way to go.
Ease Of Use:
When mixed well, you will find this glaze has a good smooth consistency when dipping the rim, pouring, and brushing.
Other Product Features:
This glaze is non-toxic, lead-free, and dinnerware safe. It is a good mid-range fire glaze. I apply to cone 04 bisque and fire to cone 4-6 with wonderful results. The Spectrum Pearl White marries well with all the Amaco Glazes I have used so far.
4) Amaco Deep Firebrick
Deep Firebrick Glaze produces a rich deep shiny red color that you will want to add to your collection.
Coverage:
This glaze stays put and covers well when dipped, poured and brushed on 3 to 4 coats. You will find glazes like Spectrum Pearl White and Amaco Seaweed are wonderful to dip on the Firebrick.
Ease Of Use:
Deep Firebrick dips pours and brushes on smooth and easy. Because this glaze contains black specks, it may clog spray guns.
Other Product Features:
This glaze is best when applied to cone 04 bisque and fired at cone 5-6. It is a non-toxic, lead-free, and food-safe glaze.
5) Amaco HF Turquoise
If you’re looking for a base glaze on the lighter side, this is a great shiny glaze to have.
Coverage:
Amaco HF Turquoise glaze has great coverage and stays put when you apply 3 to 4 good coats. It can also be successfully layered and topped with other glazes like Spectrum curry and Pearl White, just to name a few.
Ease of Use:
I like how this glaze floats onto my pottery when brushed on. You can also dip, pour, and spay on.
Other Product Features:
You can apply this glaze to greenware and bisque ware to cone 04 and fire successfully at cone 5. It is food-safe, lead-free, and non-toxic which makes it a great overall glaze.
Popular Glaze Sets
Finding the right glaze combinations and colors can be fun and sometimes frustrating. These Amaco glaze sets are a great value plus add great glazing creativity to your pottery by mixing and laying the colors together.
1. Amaco Potters Choice Glaze Set
Amacos Set of Six Potters Choice Glazes gives you Iron Lustre, Umber Float, Indigo Float, Toasted Sage, Frosted Turquoise, and Deep Firebrick to create different effects. These glazes all have a shiny finish. They are beautiful on their own and layered with other glazes. The great value makes it so worth bundling these glazes.
Coverage:
You can mix these glazes together to make your own custom colors with no changes in performance, application, or coverage. The look and feel of the finished pieces are very nice. These glazes are not known to run unless you apply really thick. You get good coverage with at least three coats. If the glaze is on the thin side, you will want to apply 4 coats.
Ease Of Use:
These glazes are made with ease of use in mind. Because of the consistent stability of these glazes, they are easy to use, especially if you keep the rim and cover of the bottle clean and sealed tightly. Pour, dip, or brush on good smooth, even coats to produce great results.
Other Product Features:
It’s interesting to see what kind of color combinations you can come up with this Set of Six Potters Choice Glazes. All these Amaco glazes are certified non-toxic and dinnerware safe. These glazes also turn out best when applied to cone 04 bisque and fired at cone 5-6
2. Amaco Potters Choice Glaze Set – B
This Potters Choice glaze set is a great way to decorate your pottery with 6 cool colors to choose from. Seaweed, Textured Turquoise, Saturation gold, Chun Plum, Ironstone, and Lustrous jade.
Coverage:
The consistency of the Amaco Potters Choice Glazes is nice. Potters Choice has a beautiful shiny finish. You will notice a good consistency on different textured surfaces. These colors turn out vibrant and are great on their own or layered.
Ease Of Use:
You can feel the Glaze Brush glide on your pottery, especially after the first coat has been applied because the first coat has absorbed into the porous bisque piece. You can also pour dip and even sponge them on. These glazes are easy to use when taken proper care of. If your glaze is too thick, just add a little distilled water and mix well.
Other Product Features:
Amaco glazes are certified non-toxic and dinnerware safe. The glazes turn out best when applied to cone 04 bisque and fired at cone 5-6.
This Set of 6 Glazes is a great value.
3. Amaco Celedon Glaze Set
It’s always nice to have a bigger selection, and with this Pack of 12 Celadon Glazes, I knew I couldn’t go wrong. You’ll love the different colors you get from this Set Of 12 Celadon Glazes.
Coverage:
Celadon Glazes are on the transparent side. Some Celadons will be more transparent than others, while the Snow and Obsidian glazes are more on the opaque side.
If you apply three good coats, these glazes make glossy, vivid accents with beautiful results. Remember Brushing on too thin, will produce streaks on your pottery.
Ease Of Use:
These Celadon Glazes brush on nicely. They are glossy and totally mixable. Potters Choice glazes mix and combine well with Celadon Glazes. You can dip, pour, and brush these glazes on.
Other Product Features:
All of these Amaco glazes are certified non-toxic and dinnerware safe. The range of colors will depend on how many coats and how thick you apply them. These glazes also turn out best when applied to cone 04 bisque and fired at cone 5-6.
#1 Speedball Underglaze Set of 12
When it comes to having a choice of colors, this Speedball Underglaze Sample Pack of 2-ounce bottles have a beautiful array of twelve colors. White, Brown, Black, Yellow, Pink, Orange, Red Royal, Sky Blue, Blue, Medium Green, Grey, and Purple.
Coverage:
They are great for Mishima, Decorative Designs, Sgraffito, and brushing on Names or Sayings. You can also Sponge it on, Flick it on, or anything else your imagination can come up with. The results are great with a more solid color when you apply two to three coats. You can add white underglaze whenever you want more of a pastel look.
Ease Of Use:
These underglazes mix well and don’t run because they are made to mold right in with your clay body. This is a nice plus when decorating. Just shake, and you are ready to apply.
If it gets too thick, you can add a touch of water, but be careful, only a little at a time. If you add too much water, the underglaze will be runny and not go on properly unless you intended on having a runny result.
Other Product Features:
You can apply underglaze when your clay is Wet, Leather hard, Bone dry, or Bisque ware. If you missed a spot or want to apply more underglaze, you can do so at any time, even after you bisque your piece. When applied after you bisque fire make sure the underglaze is dry and apply 2 coats of Speedball Clear Glaze for a beautiful shiny finish.
Applying a clear glaze would ensure a good food-safe seal.
All colors are lead-free and dinnerware safe when fired as directed. These glazes fire from cone 06 to cone 6. They are also certified AP Non-toxic.
#2 Amaco Velvet Underglaze Set of 12
This Amaco Velvet Underglaze set has an excellent choice of colors that create beautiful designs, which makes this set of 12 perfect for mixing and matching. The colors include White, Jet Black, Amethyst, Electric Blue, Bright Red, Flame Orange, Intense Yellow, Rose, Medium Blue, Light Green, Dark Green, and Teddy Bear Brown,
Coverage:
They are great for Decorative Painting, Sgraffito, and Mishima. You can also Sponge it on your pottery. I can get good coverage from just 1 coat depending on how thick I apply these underglazes, but 2 to 3 coats are recommended. If unsure It’s best to do a few test tiles.
The underglaze colors are very mixable. You can create your own colors and shades.
Ease Of Use:
You can apply to all stages of clay, including after your pottery is bisque. Just mix and apply. Add a touch of water if it gets too thick, but be careful, only a little water at a time. If you add too much water, the underglaze will become runny and thin.
Other Product Features:
These glazes also fire successfully all the way to cone 6. They are also certified AP Non-toxic. Applying a Clear Glaze would ensure a good food-safe seal.
#3 Sax True Flow Underglaze Set
These colors, Apple Green, Leaf Green, Bright Blue, Regal Purple, Wedgewood, Pansy Purple, Chocolate, Jet Black, China White, Flame Red, Bright Yellow, and Orange leave a beautiful finish. They will give you both shiny effects and matte effects. Get yours Here.
Coverage:
You get nice coverage from True Flow Underglazes. You can Brush, Sponge, Bubble, and other fun techniques to your pottery. Just one coat will cover depending on how thick you apply these underglazes, but 2 to 3 coats are recommended. It’s always best to do a few test tiles.
You can create your own colors and shades buy mixing the glazes together.
Ease Of Use:
You can apply to all stages of clay, including after your pottery is bisque. You can apply these glazes right out of the wide mouth jars. Open the Top, Mix, and Apply. Add a touch of water if it gets too thick, but be careful, only a little water at a time. If you add too much water, the underglaze will become runny and thin.
Other Product Features:
These glazes fire from Cone 06 to Cone 6. They are also certified AP Non-toxic and Lead-free. Applying a Clear Glaze would ensure a good food-safe seal.
Popular Dry Glaze Picks
Dry Glazes are cost-effective and easy to store.
You will need a gallon of distilled water for 10 pounds of glaze which will yield around a gallon and a half of glaze. Two and a half gallons of distilled water for 25 pounds of glaze yielding between 3 and 4 gallons of glaze.
(Since every glaze is different make sure you check the labels)
1) Coyote Dry Glazes
When it comes to dry glazes, the Dry Coyote Glazes have an excellent selection to choose from, including Celadons, Satins, and Shinos.
Coverage:
Dipping is easy and gives you a nice even coat throughout your piece. They also work well when pouring, spraying, or even brushing. Coyote Glazes were designed for mixing and layering. You can come up with some beautiful colors and patterns by overlapping the colors.
Ease Of Use:
Coyote dry glazes have the same ingredients as their wet glazes, except of course the water.
These dry glazes may take a little longer to dry than you are used to with other dipping glazes because they contain CMC and bentonite, but they dip very well, and the glaze particles stay suspended longer in the bucket. Therefore, you don’t have to mix it as often while glazing.
Other Product Features:
Dry glazes give you the option of making large or smaller batches of Glaze. All these Coyote dry glazes are food ware safe and certified non-toxic after adding water.
They are formulated to fire at cone 5-6.
2) Amaco Dry Glazes
Amaco is another popular glaze for you to try with a great selection of dry glazes.
Coverage:
These dry glazes have great coverage when dipping. They do behave differently than brushing glazes. They may be difficult to layer and require testing first but are great for base dipping giving you a nice even coat.
Ease Of Use:
Dry Glazes come in a 2-gallon bucket for you to mix and store your glazes in, making it easy and convenient to use and store. These glazes are made with mixing in mind. You can tint, shade, and create your own personal colors.
Other Product Features:
Being able to make large or small batches, ease of use and good storing ability is a great reason to have these dipping glazes in your growing collection.
Amazon has 10 pounds of Dry Amaco Celadon Pear, Wasabi, and Iron Glazes in 2-gallon buckets for you to try.
Amaco dry glazes are food ware safe and certified non-toxic after adding water.
Results are best when applied to cone 04 bisque ware and fired to cone 5-6.
Mixing and Storing Dry Glazes
Here are a few sensible tips when using dry glazes.
When mixing dry glazes, it’s essential to wear a good dust mask and mix in a well-ventilated area. I found this Dust Mask with Replaceable Filters good for mixing both dry glaze and dry clay.
Mixing your glaze well is very important for your pottery to turn out as lovely as you imagined it in your head.
I highly recommend using a drill with a mixing attachment. I found this Cordless Drill along with this Mixing Attachment to work pretty well. It’s nice not to have to plug it in, so you can take your glaze bucket outside and mix without fiddling with a cord.
Using clean buckets that seal well is an important part of proper glazing. I use these Buckets with Gamma seal lids. The twist seal covers help keep the glazes from drying out and getting contaminated.
Labeling your buckets helps to save time and takes the guessing game out of the equation.
To get rid of your unwanted glazes, you can check out this article Properly Disposing Of And Recycling Glazes there are some useful tips on the safe and correct procedures.
Don’t Forget Wax Resist
Keeping the bottom of your pottery clean is one of the most vital parts of glazing. Wax resist helps to keep the glaze off any area you apply it to. Wax resist works exceptionally well when dipping. It takes much longer to wipe the Glaze off the Pottery when you don’t apply wax resist.
I like Wax On Resist because of the purple color. The other wax resists I use are white and dry clear, and I have a hard time seeing where the wax was brushed on. There is no guessing With Wax On Resist. You can see exactly where you apply it.
Wax resist is excellent for creating designs.
This wax resist is easy to control on the brush, and once it goes in the kiln, it burns right off. Since I hate to waste, once I finish using the white Wax Resist I will always use Wax On Resist.
Note: Make sure you keep your wax resist brush separate from your glaze brushes. It’s a good idea to label your wax resist brushes.
Applicators
A good Glazing Brush is essential when applying your glaze and underglazes. Check out my top picks on the Glazing Brushes I use. All of these Glazes have Brushed on nicely for me, but only when applied correctly.
I found this Xiem Applicator Set to work well with Underglazes as well as Glazes. It comes with a 3-ounce bulb, a nickel-plated connector, and 4 tips. I like the variety of the 4 different sized tip applicators. I found the bulb to be easy to use and clean. You will find this applicator is good with slip trailing, writing, and other decorating.
To keep the tips from clogging up, it’s smart to put a needle in the tips when not using or clean after every use, and it also comes with 2 needles.
I also have other pages recommending my favorite Wheels, Clays, Other Pottery Tools, and Accessories on our Recommended Tools Page of this site. These are all the pottery-tested tools and supplies that I love to use.
Final Thoughts
We all have favorite colors and designs we love to incorporate into our pottery. With so many colors to choose from nowadays, it’s more fun than ever to craft your own unique piece of pottery. It’s best to record your successes and mistakes, so you learn from them and know which recipes work best or don’t work at all.
The main problem for me was not applying enough glaze. Once I applied the glazes thicker, the results were beautiful with brilliant colors. I hope this helps you to choose the right glazes. Happy Glazing.
