Independent buying guides for pottery

Glazes & Decorating

Glazes and decorating tools add colour and finish. Underglazes, glazes, wax resist and brushes let you decorate while matching the firing temperature of your clay.

Best Pottery Decorating Tools: Stamps, Rollers, and Slip Tools

Best Pottery Decorating Tools: Stamps, Rollers, and Slip Tools

Find the best pottery decorating tools, from texture rollers and stamps to sgraffito and slip tools. Build a surface design kit that earns its space.

Best Clear Glazes: Crystal-Clear Coats That Do Not Cloud or Craze

Best Clear Glazes: Crystal-Clear Coats That Do Not Cloud or Craze

Find the best clear glazes for sealing underglaze work without clouding, crazing, or bubbles. We compare brushing and dipping clears from cone 06 to 6.

Best Dipping Glazes: Fast, Even Coverage for Batch Glazing

Best Dipping Glazes: Fast, Even Coverage for Batch Glazing

Find the best dipping glazes for fast, even coats on bisque. We compare dry mixes and ready-made buckets, coverage per pound, and reliable cone 5-6 picks.

Best Pottery Glazes: Reliable Cone 5-6 and Low Fire Favorites

Best Pottery Glazes: Reliable Cone 5-6 and Low Fire Favorites

The best pottery glazes for consistent, food-safe results. We compare brushing glazes, colors, and finishes across cone 06 to cone 6 firing ranges.

Best Underglazes: Vivid, Stable Color for Every Firing Range

Best Underglazes: Vivid, Stable Color for Every Firing Range

Compare the best underglazes for painting, sgraffito, and detail work. We compare color accuracy after firing, coverage, and sets with the best value.

Best Glaze Brushes: Soft, High-Capacity Brushes for Even Coats

Best Glaze Brushes: Soft, High-Capacity Brushes for Even Coats

The best brushes for applying glaze and underglaze smoothly. We compare hake, mop, and detail brushes, plus sets that lay down even coats without streaks.

Best Underglaze Pencils: Draw Fine Ceramic Detail on Bisque

Best Underglaze Pencils: Draw Fine Ceramic Detail on Bisque

Compare the best underglaze pencils and crayons for drawing on bisque. We cover line quality, smudging, firing range, and colors that survive the kiln.

Best Wax Resist for Pottery: Clean Lines and Dry Feet Every Time

Best Wax Resist for Pottery: Clean Lines and Dry Feet Every Time

Compare the best wax resist products for glazing. We compare coverage, drying time, and crisp edge resistance, plus tips for feet, lids, and layered designs.

Best Ceramic Stains: Mason Stains and Colorants for Custom Hues

Best Ceramic Stains: Mason Stains and Colorants for Custom Hues

The best ceramic stains for coloring clay, slip, and glaze. We cover Mason stain picks, mixing percentages, firing stability, and building a palette.

Best Slip Trailing Bottles: Precision Applicators for Slip and Glaze

Best Slip Trailing Bottles: Precision Applicators for Slip and Glaze

Compare the best slip trailing bottles and precision applicators for raised slip decoration. We look at tip sizes, squeeze control, and easy-clean designs.

How to choose

  • Match glaze firing range to your clay body.
  • Use glazes labelled food safe for functional ware.
  • Apply wax resist to feet before glazing.
  • Test glazes on tiles before full pieces.

Common questions

What is the difference between underglaze and glaze?

Underglaze adds colour and designs and is usually covered with clear glaze. Glaze melts into a glassy surface that seals the piece.

Are pottery glazes food safe?

Only glazes labelled food safe, applied correctly and fired to the recommended temperature on a compatible clay.