Working with Clear Dipping Glazes

1. Using dipping glaze can save time and money but it requires some knowledge and practice to make it an easy and simple process. Each dipping glaze has it’s own characteristics and dipping techniques will vary accordingly.

2. Store dipping glaze in a cool, dry place away from heat and vibration. (Vibration can accelerate glaze settling.)

3. Keep container tightly closed when not in use as evaporation can cause a slight thickening of the glaze. If you transfer the glaze to another container, keep it tightly closed when not in use.

4. Upon opening, stir glaze well until it has a rich and creamy appearance without lumps. We recommend a Jiffy Mixer on a variable speed electric drill. Please note: It is normal for clear dipping glaze to settle during shipping. The amount of settlement may vary with the time and distance of shipment and the actual glaze product. You should always mix all solid material into the glaze with the exception of C-109. When using C-109, it is necessary to smoothly mix the gelatin like sediment into the glaze.

5. Check viscosity using the method you prefer. Many people get a feel for the glaze and do not need instruments; other find the use of a viscosity drip cup or hydrometer useful. We recommend the use of the DuPont© brand M-50 cup. For C-109 and S-2000 Clear Glaze, the cup should empty within 16-18 seconds.

6. To use a viscosity cup:

• Holding cup in one hand and a stopwatch in the other, submerge the cup into the glaze.
• Begin timing the flow of the glaze through the cup as you lift the cup from the glaze.
• When the glaze stream breaks, stop the clock. Cup should be empty or nearly empty.
• If the glaze is too thick, add distilled or bottled water 4 oz. (per 5-gallons of glaze) at a time until the glaze runs through the cup in the recommended time frame.

7. For best results, bisque should be properly fired to shelf cone 04. Bisque should also be clean and free of oils from hand lotions or food and dust free. We suggest wiping down bisque with a damp sponge before applying color to remove any dust.

8. Make sure that decorating coats are thoroughly dry before clear glazing. Be very cautious of pieces where you can see that the decorative color coats were applied thickly. Let pieces air dry for best results; force drying with fans, hair dryers, heat lamps and hot plates is not a recommended practice.

9. While dipping, re-stir the glaze every 15-20 minutes to maintain proper consistency.

10. Dip with a smooth, easy, in-and-out motion. We recommend using dipping tongs to dip pieces. Be sure your tongs, gloves or hands are clean and dry. The length of time necessary to properly coat the piece will vary on the type of bisque. As you dip and fire pieces, you will develop a feel for the appropriate time required. On shelf cone 04-03 bisque, some say that the coverage should be the thickness of a postcard; others say you should be able to make out a medium or dark design beneath the surface. Too little glaze will give a rough, grainy or starved looking surface. Too much glaze will pool and may discolor the piece. Let your own experience be the best guide.

11. When removing the piece from the dipping glaze, shake off the excess, and then rotate in slow motion to minimize drips and runs. With practice, drips and runs will be minimal. While wet, touch up tong or finger marks with a soft fan brush (RB-618) and a small amount of glaze.

12. Please note: Some people prefer to dip very large pieces, like large platters, in two stages dipping one half at a time. Overlap the seam and shake hard. By overlapping the seam approximately ¼” and then shaking hard, you can feather the new edge to be very thin on top of the previously shaken edge. Or you can carefully smooth the seam between the two halves with a soft fan brush loaded with a small amount of glaze. Another option is to dip within 1/8” to ¼” of the previously glaze line and then close the gap with a soft fan brush. Please note: Non-toxic clear glazes require more attention than leaded glazes. With non-toxic glazes you should be much more careful to even out drips and runs, as they may be apparent after firing. Place piece onto a drying rack or a stilt.

13. Use a soft fan brush to touch up and smooth any finger marks, drips or runs.

14. Do not apply the clear glaze too thickly. When the piece is wet with clear glaze, you should be able to clearly see medium and dark colors beneath the surface. With S2000 you should see light, medium and dark colors. When totally dry no color will show through.

15. Allow glaze to dry thoroughly before firing. Firing pieces that have not thoroughly dried can create a cloudy finish, bubbles and even glaze that crawls and picks up the color from the bisque. Overnight drying is ideal, but at least a half day or 4-5 hours is recommended. Recommended firing range is shelf cone 06.

16. We have done extensive testing of our own and competitors’ clear glazes to see if you can mix them in case you want to switch from one kind of glaze to another in your dipping tank. We had good results with some and very poor results with others. However, we really do not recommend mixing. Each product is formulated using different frits and with difference objectives in mind and are not designed to be compatible with each other. This is how we recommend that you make the transition:

• Continue using your present glaze until the volume in the tank makes dipping difficult. Then drain the tank into five-gallon buckets. It is a good idea to strain the glaze through cheesecloth or a fine strainer. Use this left-over glaze to dip small pieces until you have used up most of it.
• Of course, if you have been having problems with your clear, it might be contaminated and should be disposed of properly.
• To dispose of old glaze you should check to determine requirements of your city, state or county.
• We recommend cleaning dipping tanks periodically.