AT KIWI UNDERGLAZE, WE’RE ALL ABOUT HELPING YOU CREATE STUNNING POTTERY WHILE STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY. WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF KNOW-HOW AND CARE, YOU CAN ENJOY WORKING WITH OUR UNDERGLAZES WORRY-FREE.

1. WHAT’S IN OUR UNDERGLAZES?
WE PUT A LOT OF LOVE INTO CRAFTING OUR UNDERGLAZES, ENSURING THEY’RE SAFE FOR EVERYDAY USE. BUT LIKE ALL CERAMIC MATERIALS, THEY NEED A LITTLE RESPECT AND KNOW-HOW DURING HANDLING. HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS:

• LEAD-FREE ZONE! KIWI UNDERGLAZE IS 100% LEAD-FREE—ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE.
• VIVID REDS & ORANGES: SOME OF THESE FIERY SHADES CONTAIN ENCAPSULATED CADMIUM. THIS MEANS THAT THE CADMIUM IS BONDED WITH ZIRCONIUM SILICATE, MAKING IT OVER 1,000 TIMES SAFER THAN FREE CADMIUM.
• SILICA SUPERSTAR: SILICA HELPS GIVE YOUR FINISHED GLAZES TRANSPARENCY, DURABILITY AND STABILITY, IT’S AMAZING STUFF! BUT IT’S BEST KEPT IN YOUR GLAZES, NOT IN THE AIR WHERE YOU CAN BREATHE IT IN. LUCKILY, OUR UNDERGLAZES ARE LIQUID, WHICH MEANS LESS DUST AND LESS RISK FOR YOU.

2. IS IT FOOD SAFE?
OUR BOTTLES PROUDLY STATE, “FOOD SAFE WHEN FIRED CORRECTLY.” IF YOU’VE FINISHED YOUR KIWI UNDERGLAZE MASTERPIECE WITH A DURABLE CLEAR GLAZE AND FIRED IT TO THE APPROPRIATE TEMPERATURE, CONGRATULATIONS—YOUR CREATION IS READY TO SHINE AT THE DINNER TABLE! HOWEVER, IF YOU’VE OPTED FOR A MATTE FINISH WITHOUT A CLEAR GLAZE, WE DON’T RECOMMEND USING IT FOR FOOD. MATTE SURFACES CAN BE MORE PRONE TO SCRATCHING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO BITS OF UNDERGLAZE COMING LOOSE. NOT SURE IF YOUR PIECE IS FOOD-SAFE? FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT—WE’RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HELP!

3. LET’S KEEP THINGS SAFE AND SOUND

• KEEP IT CLEAN: WASH YOUR HANDS AND WIPE DOWN SURFACES AFTER USING UNDERGLAZE—THEY’RE NOT FOOD-SAFE IN RAW FORM.
• LET THE AIR FLOW: WORK IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA, ESPECIALLY WHEN SPRAYING.
• GEAR UP: A DUST MASK IS A MUST WHEN SANDING OR SPRAYING. IF YOU’VE GOT SENSITIVE SKIN YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO WEAR GLOVES, BUT WASHING THE UNDERGLAZE LIQUID FROM YOUR SKIN QUICKLY SHOULD SUFFICE IN MOST CASES.
• GO LIQUID: OUR BRUSH-ON UNDERGLAZES ARE A BREEZE TO USE AND HELP KEEP DUST AT BAY.
• STORE SMART: CLOSE LIDS TIGHTLY AND KEEP UNDERGLAZES COOL, DRY, AND OUT OF THE SUN.

4. SAFE FIRING PRACTICES

• CHECK YOUR KILN: KEEP YOUR KILN IN TIP-TOP SHAPE AND MAKE SURE IT’S IN A VENTILATED AREA.
• MIND THE FUMES: FIRING RELEASES GASES, SO DON’T HANG AROUND THE KILN UNLESS THERE’S GOOD AIRFLOW.

5. WE LOVE POTTERY AND THE PLANET!

• DISPOSE OF THOUGHTFULLY: WHEN IT’S TIME TO CLEAN UP, THINK ABOUT WHAT’S AT THE OTHER END OF THE PIPELINE. TRY NOT TO POUR LEFTOVER UNDERGLAZE OR RINSE WATER DOWN THE DRAIN. INSTEAD, LET THE SOLIDS SETTLE TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CONTAINER, THEN CAREFULLY SEPARATE AND DISPOSE OF THEM ACCORDING TO YOUR LOCAL WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES. AS FOR SPILLS, CLEAN THEM UP WITH DISPOSABLE CLOTHS OR PAPER TOWELS, AND TOSS THEM RESPONSIBLY.
• CLEAN SPILLS QUICKLY: USE DISPOSABLE CLOTHS FOR CLEANUP AND TOSS THEM RESPONSIBLY.

6. NEED MORE DETAILS?
WANT TO DIVE DEEP INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY? OUR SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS) HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMPOSITION, HAZARDS, AND HANDLING. JUST ASK—WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

7. A QUICK REMINDER ABOUT LITTLE ONES
OUR UNDERGLAZES ARE FOR POTTERY PROS, PASSIONATE HOBBYISTS AND BUDDING ARTISTS ALIKE, BUT MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE SUPERVISED WHEN USING THEM. HAVING THEM TEST OUT WHETHER YELLOW UNDERGLAZE IS BANANA FLAVOURED ISN’T GOING TO BE THE BEST OF FUN!

WE’RE HERE TO MAKE YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY SAFE AND FUN. GOT QUESTIONS? DROP US A LINE—WE’RE HAPPY TO HELP!