The Pour: Control Without Immersion

Not every pot fits in a glaze bucket. Tall vases, large platters, and wide bowls sometimes need glaze buckets larger than you have available. Pouring solves this: you pour glaze over or into the pot, directing where it goes.

Pouring is also useful when you want to create gradient effects, apply a different glaze to the inside versus outside, or work with small amounts of a special or expensive glaze.

Glazing the Inside

The interior of any closed or tall form cannot be reached by dipping evenly. Pouring inside is the standard method, and once you have a rhythm it is fast and very consistent.

Measure roughly 150–250ml of glaze (depending on the pot size) into a small jug.
Hold the pot over a bucket or tray.
Pour the glaze into the interior in one smooth stream, rotating the pot with your other hand as you pour so the glaze coats all inner walls.
Once the interior is coated, tip the remaining liquid glaze back into the bucket quickly and in one motion.
Set the pot upside down briefly to let any excess drain from the rim area.

Timing the Inside Pour

Pour the inside first, then let it dry for 15–30 minutes before glazing the outside. If you glaze the outside immediately after the inside, the two wet glaze layers can slide, and thick areas form at the rim junction.

Choosing Pour vs. Dip vs. Brush

Before you even pick up the jug, pause for ten seconds and decide if pouring is actually the best choice:

Use pouring when the form is too tall, wide, or awkward to fit into your bucket, or when you are working with limited amounts of a special glaze.
Use dipping when you want a single, even coat over a form that fits easily in the bucket.
Use brushing when you only want to treat specific zones, like a contrasting rim or carved band.

This quick decision moment prevents you from fighting a method that is wrong for the shape in your hands.

Inside Pour Routine

For each piece:

Inside: pour, rotate, drain, and check coverage.
Rest: 15–30 minutes until surface is dry to touch.
Then move to exterior glazing.

Following this rhythm keeps rims from becoming problem zones and stops the inside glaze from re-wetting when you pour over the outside.

Keep Exploring

Pouring is especially useful for tall forms that cannot be submerged, and the Wikipedia article on ceramic glaze covers how different application methods suit different pot shapes. The absorption rate of the bisqueware determines how quickly the poured glaze sets, a property directly related to how far the clay body has progressed through sintering during the bisque firing.

Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes

Inside pour with no pre-measured glaze: Measure first so coverage is complete in one pass.
Outside glazing immediately after interior coat: Respect the 15-30 minute dry window to prevent rim buildup.
Random method choice: Decide pour vs dip vs brush before touching glaze.
Over-rotating during the pour: Keep movement smooth and controlled, not rushed.

Practice Exercise

Take three similar vessels and run an inside-pour timing test: 10 minutes dry, 20 minutes dry, 30 minutes dry before exterior glazing. Fire and compare rim quality to lock in your ideal studio interval.