How To Fix Frozen Glaze!

Depending on where you live, freezing temperatures in your clay studio may be an issue. We have our best tips for dealing with frozen clay and glazes.

What to do if your liquid glaze freezes

Freezing glaze, like clay, causes the water to separate into ice crystals, making it difficult to get an even application. The good news is that most glazes can be saved after freezing by thorough mixing with a whisk or immersion blender. Freezing can shorten the shelf life of the Gum Solution that makes brushing glazes flow evenly during application, so your glaze may need new Gum Solution sooner than it might have. 

What to do if your clay freezes

If your bagged or scrap clay has frozen, the water will have separated out of the clay, leaving some areas hard and some very soggy. Once the clay has thawed, the best option is to wedge your clay thoroughly or even reclaim it to make sure moisture is evenly distributed.

If wet clay projects freeze, the crystallizing of the water will cause the clay to shear apart. Unfortunately, the pieces will usually fall apart when fired. It’s better to recycle the clay. Dry greenware is usually unaffected by freezing.

Preventing clay and glazes from freezing

If you have a studio that regularly drops below freezing (32°F or 0°C) in winter, it may be best to either invest in heating or bring your clay and glazes into the house or other place where they will stay above freezing. Schedule clay and glaze deliveries for warmer months or have them delivered to a location with climate control.

For a video where we tested frozen glazes, go here: