Stopped my glaze runs cold with a cheap kitchen tool

I was constantly dealing with glaze dripping off the bottom of my pieces and sticking to kiln shelves. In a pinch, I grabbed a silicone pastry brush from my kitchen to apply a thicker layer of glaze around the rims. This extra buildup acts as a dam, preventing the glaze from flowing down during firing. I tested it on a batch of bowls last firing, and every one came out clean with no drips or scars. It saved me from having to grind off shelf paper residue or re-fire flawed work. Now I have a separate brush just for studio use, and it's become my go-to for glazing anything with a foot. Such a small change that turned a frustrating step into a smooth process.

3 comments

3 Comments

reese_robinson12d ago

Honestly question if that method creates more problems long-term. Tbh relying on glaze dams can mask underlying issues with your glaze thickness or application consistency. You might just be trading drips for other defects like crawling or pinholing.

elliotgarcia12d ago

Well actually @reese_robinson, sometimes those dams buy time to dial in consistency without ruining pieces.

max_mitchell10d ago

Can confirm I've used dams as a safety net before. My last batch crawled so bad it looked like the glaze got stage fright. Probably should have fixed the mix instead.