How to mix AMACO Dipping & Layering Glazes in 3 easy steps

Achieving the best results with glaze powder is no longer difficult. With AMACO Dipping & Layering (DL) Glazes, which are designed for easy mixing without the headache of chemical calculations—and following the guide from Pottery Clay below—it's even simpler, and the resulting glaze will create beautiful, smooth pieces that you will love.

Equipment to prepare before mixing the glaze

  • 1 bag of AMACO DL Glaze powder
  • 1 gallon or 3.8 liters of distilled water (Do not use tap water under any circumstances, as the minerals can compromise the final results and glaze color)
  • A tall, 2–3 gallon capacity plastic bucket with a tight-fitting lid
  • Tools to help stir the glaze to a smooth consistency, such as a stainless steel whisk, hand mixer, or spatula
  • An 80-mesh glaze sieve
  • Personal protective equipment, such as an N95 / NIOSH-rated dust mask and safety goggles

3 steps for mixing and preparing AMACO DL glazes

Step 1: Mixing

Pour the distilled water into the plastic bucket (it is recommended to set aside about 1 cup of water to adjust the viscosity later). Wear your dust mask and safety goggles, then slowly pour the AMACO DL glaze powder into the water. Use your stirring tool to mix until the consistency is smooth. If using a motorized tool, mix on medium speed for 15 minutes.

Pass the glaze through the 80-mesh sieve into the storage bucket to remove any lumps or undissolved flakes.

Caution: Never sieve DL-59 Brick Red and DL-63 Stardust! These two colors contain unique pigments and speckles. Sieveing them will trap these special particles, resulting in inaccurate colors. Use a drill mixer to blend them until smooth instead.

Step 2: The Waiting Period

Seal the bucket tightly and let it sit for at least 24 hours to allow the glaze powder to fully absorb the water. The particles will expand uniformly, ensuring consistent specific gravity and density before use.

Step 3: Dipping & Firing

Open the lid and stir the glaze well again. Use a damp sponge to clean any dust off your bisqueware (pieces that have been bisque-fired to Cone 04). Dip the piece into the glaze for 1–3 seconds, then lift it out and gently shake off the excess. Fire at a medium to high temperature, between Cone 5 (1184°C) and Cone 6 (1241°C).

How was that? It wasn't as hard as you thought, right? Just mix and let it sit, and you're ready to dip. Share your results or any new techniques you discover with us!

Order authentic AMACO Dipping & Layering glazes directly from the USA today.