Buying guide
The Glaze Bench
Updated How we research
Color, gloss, and finish for every firing. The page is split into five sections (Go-To Glazes; Clear Coats; Glaze Brushes; Dipping Glazes; Wax Resist), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 18 picks. Our scores range from 6.5 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Mayco Stroke & Coat Glaze Kit #1, 12 x 2 oz. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Penguin Pottery Ceramic Wax Resist, 1 Pint. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:AMACO DC-10 Clear Dipping Glaze, 1 Gallon. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:GACDR Pottery Glazing Brush Set, 15 Pieces. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Go-To Glazes
- Mayco Stroke & Coat Glaze Kit #1, 12 x 2 ozOur score8.6/10
- Mayco Speckled Stroke and Coat SP231, Blues, PintOur score8.1/10
- Penguin Pottery Clear Glaze, Cone 06-04, 1 PintOur score7.8/10
- Penguin Pottery Gentoo Sky Blue Glaze, 1 PintOur score7.6/10
Clear Coats
- Amaco LG-10 Clear Gloss Glaze, 16 ozOur score8.1/10
- AMACO Celadon C-11 Clear Gloss Glaze, 1 PintOur score8.0/10
- Penguin Pottery Clear Glaze, Cone 06-04, 1 PintOur score7.8/10
- Duncan Pure Brilliance Clear Brush-on Glaze, 16 ozOur score7.8/10
Glaze Brushes
- GACDR Pottery Glazing Brush Set, 15 PiecesOur score8.4/10
- Arucxlzq Pottery Glaze Brushes Set, 12 PiecesOur score7.8/10
- Pottery Glazing Brush Set, 10 PcsOur score7.4/10
- Pottery Glaze Brushes Set, 14 PiecesOur score6.5/10
Dipping Glazes
- AMACO DC-10 Clear Dipping Glaze, 1 GallonOur score8.4/10
- Mayco Crystal Clear Dipping Glaze, GallonOur score8.1/10
- Penguin Pottery Clear Glaze, Cone 06-04, 1 PintOur score7.8/10
- AMACO LG-11 Liquid Gloss Glaze, Opaque White, GalOur score7.4/10
Wax Resist
- Penguin Pottery Ceramic Wax Resist, 1 PintOur score8.6/10
- Wan2tlk Ceramic Wax Resist for Pottery, 500 mlOur score8.0/10
- Pasler Wax Resist for Pottery, 16 fl ozOur score8.0/10
- Penguin Pottery AccuBlue Wax Resist, 16 ozOur score7.8/10
All 18 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
Mayco's Stroke and Coat ceramic glaze kit #1, a set of 12 colors in 2 Fl Oz bottles for decorating.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 12 colors give a full palette for painting pottery designs
- + Stroke and Coat colors stay true and bright after firing
- + 2 Fl Oz bottles let you try many colors without big jars
- - Small bottles empty quickly on large pieces
- - Needs a clear coat for the glossiest finish on some colors
Penguin Pottery's ceramic wax resist, 1 Pint (473 ml), an alternative to latex resist for glaze and slip work.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Pint size is economical for waxing bases on a full kiln load
- + Alternative to latex resist, so there is no peeling step needed
- + Pottery-focused brand with clear application guidance
- - Wax cannot be removed once applied except by firing
- - Needs full drying before dipping or glaze may still stick
GACDR's 15 Pcs pottery brush set with wool bamboo hake brushes and a storage box for glazing.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Wool hake brushes hold heavy glaze loads for even coats
- + Storage box keeps bristles protected and organized
- + 15 Pcs set covers broad glazing to fine detail work
- - Wool brushes need thorough rinsing to prevent glaze buildup
- - Bamboo handles can crack if left soaking
AMACO's low fire liquid dipping glaze Clear DC-10 in a 1 Gallon jar, made for quick, even dip glazing.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Dipping formula coats pieces evenly in seconds
- + 1 Gallon jar is deep enough to dip mugs and small bowls
- + Clear DC-10 suits low fire classroom and hobby ware
- - Low fire only, so it is not for stoneware firings
- - Needs regular stirring to keep solids suspended
Mayco's Speckled Stroke and Coat glaze SP231 The Blues in a pint, a speckled blue for decorative pottery.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Speckled finish adds depth and a handmade look to blue ware
- + Stroke and Coat formula brushes on evenly and fires reliably
- + Pint jar is enough for a full set of plates or mugs
- - Speckles vary with application, so tests are recommended
- - Color and opacity shift with firing temperature, so test a tile before a full batch
AMACO's LG-10 lead free liquid gloss glaze in clear, a 16 Oz pint for low fire earthenware.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + LG-10 is a classic low fire clear widely used in classrooms
- + Lead free formula is suitable for functional ware when fired correctly
- + Brushable liquid glaze is easy for beginners to apply
- - Low fire only, so it will not mature in stoneware firings
- - Thick coats can look cloudy over dark clay bodies
Mayco's Crystal Clear dipping glaze in a Gallon for fast, uniform low fire clear coats.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Crystal Clear finish is bright and glassy over underglaze
- + Dipping version saves time over brushing multiple coats
- + Gallon jar is practical for studios glazing in batches
- - Low fire clear, so mid fire potters need another option
- - Dipping leaves drips that need sponging off the foot
AMACO's Celadon C-11 mixing clear transparent gloss glaze, 16 oz. (473 mL), Cone 5-6 for bisque ware.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cone 5-6 clear gloss suits the most common mid fire kilns
- + Mixing clear can be blended with colorants for custom celadons
- + Transparent gloss shows underglaze and clay color beneath
- - Mixing clear is meant for tinting, so plain clears may be simpler
- - Pint jar covers limited ware if dipping rather than brushing
WAN2TLK's 500ml ceramic wax resist for keeping glaze, slip and underglaze off feet and design areas before kiln firing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 500ml bottle covers the feet of many pots before glazing
- + Works with glazes, slips and underglazes for layered resist designs
- + Burns away in the kiln, leaving clean unglazed clay behind
- - Brushes must be washed immediately or the wax ruins the bristles
- - Lesser-known brand, so drying time and consistency may vary
Pasler's 16 fl oz / 473 ml wax resist for pottery bisque or greenware, used for glaze and slip application.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Works on bisque or greenware, so you can resist slip or glaze stages
- + 16 fl oz bottle lasts through many glazing sessions
- + Handy for mishima and slip resist decoration as well as feet
- - Brand has less studio history than AMACO or Mayco resist
- - Drips of wax on the wrong area are very hard to fix
Penguin Pottery's clear low fire glaze, Cone 06-04, in a 1 Pint jar for low fire clay bodies.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cone 06-04 range matches common low fire kiln schedules
- + Clear glaze protects and brightens underglaze designs
- + Pottery-focused brand with clear labeling for beginners
- - 1 Pint jar is small for dipping larger pieces
- - Low fire range will not work on mid fire stoneware
A 16 ounce jar of Duncan Pure Brilliance brush-on clear glaze, fired to cone 06. This is a low-fire clear for earthenware and low-fire underglaze work, not a high-fire stoneware glaze.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Fires at cone 06 to a brilliant gloss that the maker says enhances the colors underneath.
- + Listing states it is nontoxic and will not crack or craze when fired to shelf cone 06.
- + Clear directions in the listing: two flowing coats with a glaze brush, letting it dry between coats.
- - Low fire only: the listing covers cone 06, so it is not a clear for cone 5 to 6 stoneware.
- - Brush-on formula in a 16 ounce jar, so it is not practical for dipping anything but very small pieces.
A 12 piece pottery glaze brush set with goat hair bristles, three wool hake brushes, liners and a round tip for glazing, underglaze work and detailing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Three hake brushes in different sizes cover broad, even glaze coats on bisque
- + Natural goat hair bristles hold plenty of glaze and release it smoothly
- + Liner and round-tip brushes handle underglaze detail, so one set covers most decorating jobs
- - Unbranded set, so bristle quality can vary from one batch to the next
- - Natural hair needs careful rinsing or dried glaze will stiffen the bristles
Penguin Pottery AccuBlue wax resist in a 16 oz bottle, a brush-on liquid wax emulsion that repels glaze on foot rings, lids and decorative patterns.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Listing explains it is applied to bisqueware to keep glaze off, protecting feet and lids from fusing to kiln shelves.
- + Described as a smooth, fluid wax for brushing broad areas or painting designs, with soapy water cleanup for brushes.
- + Conforms to ASTM D-4236 art materials standard per the listing, and is made in the USA.
- - Brush-on only per the spec sheet, so it is slower than a wax pen for fine line work.
- - The blue tint is the product's own feature, but the manufacturer does not say how quickly it dries or how many coats it needs.
Penguin Pottery's Gentoo Series Sky Blue low fire glaze, Cone 06-04, in a 1 Pint jar.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Sky Blue gives a soft, cheerful color on low fire ware
- + Cone 06-04 range fits classroom and hobby kilns
- + Gentoo Series offers matching colors to build a palette
- - Low fire color will not survive stoneware temperatures
- - Color can vary with clay body and application thickness
A 10 Pcs pottery glazing brush set with goat hair mop and blending brushes for ceramics and acrylic painting.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Goat hair mop brushes hold lots of glaze for smooth coats
- + Blending brushes help soften underglaze transitions
- + 10 Pcs set covers broad glazing and fine painting
- - Natural hair can shed on the first few uses
- - Rinse and reshape bristles after each use to keep them soft
AMACO's LG-11 lead free liquid gloss glaze in opaque white, a Gallon for dipping low fire ware.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Opaque white covers dark or red clay bodies completely
- + Lead free gloss is a safe choice for student functional pieces
- + Gallon quantity is economical for dipping many pieces
- - Opaque finish hides underglaze designs rather than showing them
- - Low fire glaze, so check it suits your clay and kiln
A 14PCS glaze brush set of pottery art painting tools for DIY ceramics design and glaze coloring.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 8/10
- + 14PCS gives a range of sizes for glazing and details
- + Suited to DIY ceramic painting at home or in class
- + Budget set makes it easy to keep brushes per glaze color
- - Check bristle shapes suit the detail work you plan to do
- - Cheaper brushes may leave streaks in glaze coats
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Pottery Nest curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.