7 Things You Should Do Before Brush Glazing Pottery

A single speck of kiln dust can ruin an entire glaze firing, creating bare spots the size of a quarter where the glaze never bonded to the clay. Before you ever dip your brush in glaze, there are seven critical steps most potters skip that determine whether your brush glazing succeeds or fails. From cleaning bisqueware with a damp sponge to stirring settled glaze from the bottom up, each step prevents common problems like crawling, thin coverage, and patchy color. Learn how to test glaze viscosity on scrap bisque, plan your coats strategically, load your brush for different surfaces, and why cold bisqueware makes every stroke fight you. These pottery glazing techniques turn frustrating results into professional finishes.