Read the SDS before you open the bag

Every bag of glaze material you buy has a Safety Data Sheet, and almost nobody reads it until something goes wrong. Make it a habit: before you open a new bag, read the hazards section of its SDS. It tells you exactly what's in the material, how it can harm you, and what protection to use. Two minutes of reading beats guessing.

The handling rules that follow are straightforward. Wear a respirator, gloves, and eye protection when weighing and mixing dry glaze materials — every time, no exceptions for “just a quick mix.” Label every bucket and test tile; an unlabeled powder gets treated as hazardous or thrown out. Store materials sealed, up high, and locked away from kids and pets — bright glaze powders look like candy to a toddler. And no food or drink in the mixing area; wash your hands before you eat.

One more thing the SDS will teach you: many commercial glaze makers now offer lead-free and cadmium-free lines, and buying formulated glazes from reputable manufacturers means someone has already tested the recipe. Mixing from raw materials is a real craft — and a chemistry responsibility. Know what you're handling.