You can easily mix your own powder glazes.
Do you know that feeling? The kiln can finally be opened after what seems like an eternity. All of your pots, glazed with so much love and time in 12 new glaze colors, are inside, and you’re incredibly eager to see the results. The moment has finally arrived, you open the lid carefully, and … what a disappointment. Wrong colors, dripped glaze, and other glaze errors. Don’t lose hope. You can perfectly mix your own powdered glazes.
You only need some good tips.
Making your own powdered glazes isn’t that difficult! You just need to follow a few “rules.” Each glaze has its own quirks and needs to be prepared correctly. Fortunately, there are some basic principles that always apply. Once you know these, it becomes a breeze. With these smart tips, you can create your own powdered glazes. Read on and give it a try!
Let's get started. Prepare all the ingredients and supplies in advance. Make sure to have these items within reach:
-
A scale
-
Measuring cup with water
-
Two buckets with lids
-
FFP3 mask
-
Mixer
-
Glaze sieve (80 – 120 mesh)
Also, don’t forget your notebook. Accurate record-keeping is the key to success!
Measuring is knowing
Did you buy a powder glaze or make it yourself? Accurate weighing of the materials or glaze powder is essential. A precision scale accurate to 0.01 grams is useful for small tests or very small quantities of oxides. However, for mixing powdered glazes to be used on plates, mugs, and other functional ware, it's best to work on a slightly larger scale. In this case, a kitchen scale that measures to 1 gram is usually sufficient.
Weighing water
Yes, you read that right. From now on, you'll always weigh water. Consider it as a glaze ingredient, just as important as all the other materials.
For the SOGO glazes available at Colpaert, it’s crucial to measure the exact amount of water specified on the label. For other glazes that you make yourself, it’s essential to start with a small amount of water (75%). At this stage, it’s better to use too little water rather than too much. You can always add more water; removing it is more difficult.
Mixing, blending, and stirring
Add the water to a clean bucket with a lid. Then, slowly add the glaze powder or individual ingredients. Don't forget to wear your FFP3 mask!
Mix the mixture you've just prepared vigorously. There are two options:
-
Use a hand blender, ideal for making up to 1kg of glaze powder.
-
Attach a paint mixer to a drill for larger quantities (>1kg).
Mix for at least 90 seconds, but feel free to go longer. The mixture should be free of lumps.
Huh, such a thick slurry?
Almost all freshly mixed glazes resemble thick yogurt, and some even look like oatmeal. Whatever you do: DO – NOT – ADD – WATER!
I know, you might be tempted to do so because it seems wrong. You might think, "I can’t glaze pots with such a thick mixture." You’re right. But you’re not glazing the pots just yet. You’ll do that at the earliest tomorrow.
Sleep on it
Let freshly made glazes sit for 24 hours after making them. You’ll notice that their consistency changes significantly over that time. Some glazes will thicken further, while others will become much thinner. Creating powder glazes requires a bit of patience, so plan ahead!
Let's glaze!
Your glaze is ready for use after a rest day. Stir it well and get glazing!
Good luck!
Still need a bit of help?
Do you still need some personal advice to perfect your glazes? That's possible! I offer one-on-one online video consultation sessions.