Best Clay Slip and Magic Water
Updated How we research
Slip and magic water are the two workhorse solutions for joining clay, and knowing when to use each prevents the heartbreak of handles popping off in the kiln. Slip is simply clay suspended in water, best for filling gaps and attaching pieces at similar moisture levels, while magic water uses sodium silicate and soda ash to partially dissolve the clay surface, creating stronger bonds on stiffer or leather-hard joins. For home potters, a small investment in proper joining materials eliminates the most common cause of cracked attachments. This guide compares premixed slips, magic water ingredients and recipes, and commercial joining products, and explains which option suits handles, sculptural joins, and slip trailing decoration so your attachments survive drying and firing.
The short version
We compared 5 picks. Our scores range from 6.1 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Penguin Pottery Sodium Silicate, 16 fl oz. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Alliance Chemical Soda Ash, 5 lb. Value score of 8/10, overall 6.9/10.
- Solid build:MAXTITE Soda Ash Lite, 2 lb. Build and materials score of 7/10, overall 6.9/10.
- Feature-rich:Sodium Carbonate Soda Ash, 20 lb. Features score of 7/10, overall 6.3/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change our picks. Affiliate disclosure
Penguin Pottery Sodium Silicate, 16 fl oz
Penguin Pottery's 16 fl.oz / 473 ml sodium silicate, a liquid glass deflocculant and sealant for magic water and slip.
Alliance Chemical Soda Ash, 5 lb
Alliance Chemical's 5 Lb soda ash (sodium carbonate), a raw material used in magic water recipes and glaze mixing.
- 1.Penguin Pottery Sodium Silicate, 16 fl oz8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Alliance Chemical Soda Ash, 5 lb6.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.MAXTITE Soda Ash Lite, 2 lb6.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Sodium Carbonate Soda Ash, 20 lb6.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Liquid Sodium Silicate for Pottery Deflocculant6.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
| # | Product | Our score | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penguin Pottery Sodium Silicate, 16 fl oz | 8.4/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 2 | Alliance Chemical Soda Ash, 5 lb | 6.9/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 3 | MAXTITE Soda Ash Lite, 2 lb | 6.9/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 4 | Sodium Carbonate Soda Ash, 20 lb | 6.3/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 5 | Liquid Sodium Silicate for Pottery Deflocculant | 6.1/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
Penguin Pottery's 16 fl.oz / 473 ml sodium silicate, a liquid glass deflocculant and sealant for magic water and slip.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Key ingredient for mixing magic water to join and repair clay
- + Also thins casting slip as a classic deflocculant
- + 16 fl.oz bottle covers many batches since only small amounts are used
- - Alkaline liquid needs gloves and careful handling
- - Can harden plaster mold surfaces if used for casting slip long term
Alliance Chemical's 5 Lb soda ash (sodium carbonate), a raw material used in magic water recipes and glaze mixing.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Soda ash is a common ingredient in DIY magic water for attaching clay
- + 5 Lb container lasts a very long time for pottery use
- + Alliance Chemical supplies it as a pure chemical with clear labeling
- - Marketed for tie dye and cleaning, so pottery instructions are absent
- - Irritating powder needs gloves and a dust mask when handling
MAXTITE Soda Ash Lite, 2 lbs of 100% pure sodium carbonate in a resealable HDPE container, usable in magic water mixes.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Resealable HDPE container keeps powder dry between uses
- + 100% pure sodium carbonate avoids unwanted additives in clay mixes
- + 2 lbs is a practical size for small pottery studios
- - Sold for pools and laundry, so pottery dosing must come from elsewhere
- - Handle with care, as the dust irritates skin and eyes
Sodium carbonate at 99.95% purity in a 20 lbs. bag, a bulk soda ash supply for glaze and magic water recipes.
Fit for the job 5/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + 99.95% purity is well suited to precise glaze and slip recipes
- + 20 lbs. supply suits studios mixing glazes in quantity
- + Bulk buying lowers cost for regular chemical users
- - Far more than a hobby potter will use for magic water
- - Large bag needs dry, sealed storage to avoid clumping
A liquid sodium silicate waterglass for pottery, used as deflocculant, magic water base and high temperature sealant.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 6/10
- + Works as a base for homemade magic water to join clay pieces
- + Multi-use product also serves as a slip deflocculant
- + High temperature sealant use makes it handy beyond pottery
- - Check the concentration percentage before calculating your dosing
- - Label the container clearly since it looks similar to other clear liquids
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Alkaline liquid needs gloves and careful handling (Penguin Pottery Sodium Silicate, 16 fl oz)
- Marketed for tie dye and cleaning, so pottery instructions are absent (Alliance Chemical Soda Ash, 5 lb)
- Sold for pools and laundry, so pottery dosing must come from elsewhere (MAXTITE Soda Ash Lite, 2 lb)
- Far more than a hobby potter will use for magic water (Sodium Carbonate Soda Ash, 20 lb)
- Check the concentration percentage before calculating your dosing (Liquid Sodium Silicate for Pottery Deflocculant)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among clay slip and magic water?
Penguin Pottery Sodium Silicate, 16 fl oz is our top overall pick. Penguin Pottery's 16 fl.oz / 473 ml sodium silicate, a liquid glass deflocculant and sealant for magic water and slip. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Alliance Chemical Soda Ash, 5 lb is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Alliance Chemical's 5 Lb soda ash (sodium carbonate), a raw material used in magic water recipes and glaze mixing.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Pottery Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
Popular right now
- Underglaze TechniquesArticle
- Best Underglaze Pencils: Draw Fine Ceramic Detail on BisqueBuying guide
- Best Clay Storage Containers to Keep Clay Workable for MonthsBuying guide
- Why Glaze Crazes and How to Prevent ItArticle
- Recycling ClayArticle
- Best Ware Boards for Moving and Drying Pots SafelyBuying guide
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.