Xinxiang Ceramic Mug Manufacturer, glazing is an important process in the production of ceramic mugs. This process is characterized by its suitability for glazing the outer surface of ceramic mugs, as it perfectly covers the connection between the handle and the body of the mug and creates a natural glaze flow and texture effect. Although glazing is not very efficient for mass production of ceramic mugs, its unique texture effect makes it an irreplaceable glazing process for some ceramic mugs.

1. What is glazing
Glazing, as the name suggests, is a method of pouring glaze onto a ceramic body (an unfired mug) like pouring water. Imagine holding a pot of glaze and evenly pouring it onto the surface of a mug body placed on a turntable. The glaze flows naturally due to gravity, covering the parts of the blank that it comes into contact with. It's a bit like giving the mug a “shower,” except that it's glaze instead of water.

2. Glazing process
Glazing usually involves the following steps:

Secure the blank: First, the worker secures the dried mug blank (commonly referred to as a “green blank”) to be glazed on a rotating turntable or on a special stand. Make sure the mug is placed steadily.

Preparing the glaze: The glaze is pre-mixed and stirred to the appropriate consistency (similar to thick cream) in a dedicated glaze bucket. Workers use a container with a spout (such as a large glaze spoon, glaze pitcher, or small bucket) to scoop the appropriate amount of glaze.

Pouring: The worker holds the container of glaze and carefully pours it over the rim of the mug. At the same time, the mug is usually slowly rotated on the turntable. This is done so that the glaze flows evenly and continuously from the rim of the mug like a curtain of water, covering the outer wall of the mug.

Covering the mug: Under the force of gravity, the glaze flows down the outer wall of the mug. Workers need to control the speed of pouring and movement to ensure that the glaze completely and smoothly covers the entire outer surface of the mug, leaving no gaps or excessively thick areas. Special attention should be paid to the connection between the handle and the body of the mug, as these areas are prone to insufficient glaze coverage.

Treating the rim and inner wall: Glazing mainly treats the outer wall of the mug. During the pouring process, a small amount of glaze will flow into the mug. Workers need to precisely control the amount and timing of the pouring so that the glaze flowing into the mug just covers the inner wall and the inside of the rim, achieving the desired thickness of the inner glaze. Alternatively, the interior glaze may be applied separately by other means (such as dipping or spraying).

Draining and cleaning: After the glazing is complete, the workers stop pouring. The mug is left to stand for a short time or continues to rotate for a while to allow the excess glaze to drip back into the glaze bucket or collection tray. Finally, workers carefully check the glaze layer for evenness and completeness, and use a sponge or tool to carefully wipe away any glaze residue from the bottom of the mug where it touched the rack or turntable (if these areas are not wiped clean, they will stick to the kiln shelf after firing). The glazed mugs are then sent to dry and await firing.

3. When is glaze pouring suitable
Glaze pouring is particularly suitable for the following situations:

Vessels where the glaze is primarily applied to the exterior: A mug is a classic example! Glaze pouring can efficiently and evenly cover the entire exterior surface of the cup, including that tricky handle. Dip glazing the handle can easily trap air bubbles, and spray glazing may be uneven, but with pouring glazing, the glaze can flow naturally into every corner of the handle.

Medium or large greenware: For greenware of a certain size and weight, such as mugs, dip glazing by hand may be inconvenient or laborious, but pouring glazing is much easier and the greenware can be held steady for more stable operation.

Separate control of inner and outer glazes or only outer glaze required: If the production process requires different colors or types of glaze for the inner and outer walls of the mug (for example, the inner glaze needs to be more food-safe), pouring glaze makes it very easy to apply only the outer glaze (carefully controlling the glaze so that it does not flow into the inner wall) or to precisely control the amount of inner glaze that flows in. Even if the same glaze is used for both the inner and outer surfaces, glazing can simultaneously cover both surfaces.

Achieving specific glaze effects: Under the influence of gravity, glaze flows and can sometimes form natural, dynamic patterns or variations in thickness, creating unique effects that are difficult to achieve with other glazing methods.

Small-batch or artisanal production: Compared to automated spray glazing lines, glaze pouring equipment requires relatively lower investment and offers greater operational flexibility, making it ideal for small-to-medium-scale production or factories emphasizing artisanal craftsmanship.

Glazing involves applying glaze to ceramic bodies using a “showering” method. The core of the process involves pouring glaze + rotating the body, allowing the glaze to flow and cover the surface under the influence of gravity. For mug production, its biggest advantage is that it can perfectly and efficiently handle the outer wall of the mug and the complex handle structure, while also taking into account the glazing of the inner wall. It is particularly suitable for situations where the inner and outer glazes need to be separated or the outer wall needs to be treated with special care. Although it requires skilled workers to control the uniformity and pay attention to glaze recovery, it is a very practical and widely used glazing technique.