Speedball 001085 Underglaze Sampler Pack, 12 Pack, 2 oz, Multicolor Review (2026)

Who this pack is for

This sampler suits potters and students who want to try a dozen colors before deciding which to reorder in bulk, especially anyone working in detail painting, sgraffito line work, or mishima style inlay where opaque underglaze that does not bleed matters. The wide cone 06 to 10 firing range makes it flexible across low, mid and even some higher stoneware firings, so it is a reasonable first purchase for someone whose kiln schedule is not fully settled yet. Because each bottle holds only 2 ounces, potters glazing large batches of production ware will run through favorite colors quickly and should plan to reorder those shades in bigger containers once they know what they like.

The colors and how they behave

The set includes 12 colors at 2 ounces each: white, yellow, pink, royal blue, sky blue, medium green, brown, black, grey, orange, red and purple. Speedball formulates them as opaque, meaning they are meant to sit as solid color rather than move or bleed into surrounding glaze or underglaze during firing, which is part of why they work well for fine line and detail work. The line is rated for cone 06 up to cone 10, a notably wide span that covers most home studio and school kiln schedules, and Speedball markets the colors as lead-free and dinnerware safe when fired and applied as directed.

Getting good results with a small jar

For solid, even color, plan on two to three liberal brushed coats, letting each dry before adding the next so the opacity builds evenly rather than streaking. Because these underglazes do not move or bleed, they suit sgraffito, where you scratch a design back through a painted layer, as well as watercolor style washes where you want a clean edge instead of a soft blend. The 2-ounce size is comfortable for detail brushes and small test areas but will not stretch far if you are covering a large surface, so budget accordingly if a project calls for full coverage on bigger pieces rather than accents and linework.

How it stacks up against similar sets

Compared with AMACO Velvet Underglazes, also 12 colors in 2-ounce jars but rated cone 05 to 10, this Speedball set covers a slightly wider low end at cone 06, which can matter for earthenware-leaning studios. Against Penguin Pottery's 8-color set in larger 4-ounce jars rated cone 04 to 6, this pack trades jar size for more colors and a broader firing ceiling, better suited to potters who fire higher or want more shades over more volume per color. If your studio regularly hits cone 10, this set's range makes it one of the more versatile samplers on the shelf.

Bottom line

This is a dependable, well-priced way to sample a broad color range that holds up from low-fire electric kilns through cone 10 stoneware, and the opaque, non-bleeding formula is genuinely useful for detail and line work. The 2-ounce bottles are the main limitation, since heavy users will need to reorder favorite colors in larger sizes fairly soon. For students, classrooms and hobbyists who want flexibility across firing ranges without committing to full-size bottles up front, it is a sound starting point, and the twelve colors give enough variety to cover most beginner palettes without an immediate second purchase.

Frequently asked questions