The best glaze advice I can give you is to find a good zinc free clear glaze to use.
GLOSSY GLAZES
I like the Amaco series HF9 Zinc-Free Clear. It is a glossy transparent glaze that produces attractive high fire glossy effects at mid-range, Cone 5-6 temperatures. You can buy this glaze at almost any pottery supply place.
WHY ZINC FREE?
Zinc can cause some pigments in slips and underglazes to shift in color, this clear glaze is formulated to prevent those color shifts.
MAKE YOUR OWN RECIPE
If you like to mix your own glazes here is a good Cone 5-6 zinc free clear glossy.
Cone 6 Zinc Free Clear
Wollastonite 20.0
Frit 3124 20.0
Kaolin 20.0
Silica 20.0
Custer Feldspar 20.0
SATIN MATTE FINISH
This is a gorgeous eggshell finish that is low gloss and lovely.
Cone 6 eggshell matte glaze
Wollastonite 26.2
Ferro Frit 3124 34.9
EPK Kaolin 34.0
Silica 4.9
Mix to a skim milk consistency.
Apply thin. Fire to Cone 6
Non-glaze finish to leave a light sheen on NON-FUNCTIONAL wares.
This solution causes the surface of the clay to flux slightly so you get a very low, lustrous sheen. I do not recommend using this on food bearing surfaces. I would not say it was water tight either. Just for pretty things!
1 part soda ash to 3 parts boiling water.
Make only enough for the current pots and DO NOT put the leftovers down your drains. I think it could corrode your plumbing, so discard safely. I let mine dry out.
There is also nothing wrong with having no glaze on your forms.
I don’t really like the look of glazes on my work and most of my pieces are not meant to be kitchen friendly.
On pieces that are not going to be used for food, I use the soda ash method rather than a glaze. Or, I wet sand the finished work without any glaze. All my pieces … glazed or not ... can be washed with soap and water if for some reason a person wants or needs to clean them.
