1. Brushing Glazes Application
- Application: Apply 2–3 even coats using a soft fan brush, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before the next.
- Consistency: Ensure the glaze has a creamy consistency. If the glaze is too thick or cracks upon drying, consider adding a gum solution or water (1 tablespoon gum solution to ¼ cup distilled water) to improve brushability and prevent defects.
2. Dipping Glazes Mixing
For Laguna dry dipping glazes, mix to a specific gravity of 1.46–1.47 for clear dipping glazes, 1.55 for color dipping glazes.
Application: Dip the bisque-fired piece for 2–4 seconds to achieve a uniform coat.
3. Spray Application
Technique: Apply multiple thin, even layers, allowing each to dry before the next. This method helps achieve a uniform surface and is ideal for avoiding brush marks.
4. Clay Body Considerations
Interaction: Glaze behavior can vary significantly depending on the clay body. For instance, glazes may appear more vibrant on white clay bodies and may run more on porcelain due to its higher bisque absorbency.
5. Running Potential
High-Flux Glazes: Glazes with high flux content, such as certain glossy like or our crystalline glazes, are more prone to running, especially when applied thickly or on vertical surfaces. It's advisable to avoid heavy application near the bottom third of vertical pieces.
6. Specialty Glazes
- Dry Lake Glazes: Apply 2–3 coats, allowing each to semi-dry between applications. The thicker the application, the more pronounced the texture. These glazes are recommended for decorative surfaces only. They can be applied over gloss glaze for a slightly flatter texture.
- Crystal Glazes: Stir thoroughly before use to evenly distribute. Apply 2–3 coats, ensuring crystals are not concentrated near the bottom of the piece to prevent excessive running.
7. Firing
Temperature: Most of our Mid-range glazes are formulated for firing at Cone 5–6.
8. Testing
We recommend that the distributor encourages customers to do small-scale test firings on their local clay bodies to assess glaze fit and behavior before committing to full-scale production.