How many types of ceramic glazes are available?

What types of clay are used for mugs that you can drink from?

• I just took a beginner's ceramic course, and all the pieces I made were for display purposes only. But now I want to make some coffee mugs that I can drink from. Can I use any type of clay? Also, what types of glazes are nonhazardous for making usable mugs? Thanks!

• Answer:

  There are a lot that will work You could continue taking classes and talk with the teacher If you can't do some in class, the teacher can recommend a class you can A lot of places sell glazes that are food safe or dinnerware safe Read the description http://www.clay-king.com/glazes_ceramic_pottery/amaco/amaco_teachers.html The first question is how pieces will be fired then choose a clay and glazes accordingly EDIT after reading Mike's answer. A good answer that I gave a thumbs up I admit starting different from most people in ceramics I started with ceramic sculpture. The first ceramic sculptor teacher I had We fid figurative sculpture only We had models in the center of the room and sculpted the figure Later I took classes from a different teacher that was arranged by the first teacher where I learned the other techniques of pinch pots, wheel throwing coil building, using slabs, mixing glazes from raw ingredients It was like starting with a master class then going to the basics I took 3 years with te first teacher and 4 years from the second teacher Nobody made a mug but it might have been permitted It would likely need to be coated with a low fire glaze and single fired. Here is a glaze that may work that way These glazes are cone 06 or cone 05 some have a bigger range http://www.dickblick.com/products/amaco-f-series-glazes/ http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-low-fire-gloss-glazes/ http://www.dickblick.com/products/mayco-stroke-and-coat-wonderglaze-for-bisque/ Talk to the teacher before buying any of these