Glazing is a protective coating over clay pots.
If you like to make your own clay planters, you can take your craft one step further by painting the surface of the pot with ceramic glaze. It's also possible to glaze premanufactured clay pots that you purchase from a store. To harden the glaze, you'll need access to a kiln. Kilns heat clay to very high temperatures and cook the clay and paint to create a permanent bond between the two media.
Instructions
1. Place the clay pot on a metal sheet.
2. Paint the surface of the clay pot with a ceramic glaze. Use a paintbrush to create a completely sealed surface. Use a painting sponge for a speckled look with bits of clay showing through. Or dip the paintbrush into the glaze and splatter the glaze onto the surface of the pot for a different look.
3. Place the clay pot inside the firing kiln. Set the temperature to the suggested temperature on the packaging for the glaze. The firing temperature depends on the brand and type of glaze you choose to use. Using too low a temperature could cause a failure to bond and too hot a temperature could cause the glaze to melt off.
4. Cook the glaze for the specified amount of time listed on the glaze packaging. As with the temperature, the length of time depends on the brand and type of glaze you use. Heating the glaze for too short or too long a time could have a negative effect. In addition, review the glaze packaging to determine the cool-down period or the amount of time the glaze needs to rest inside the kiln to allow for cooling down. If the glaze cools too quickly, it could crack.
