tips
Zip Seal Bags
Zip seal bags
are excellent for keeping small pieces of clay in working condition (e.g. teapot spouts and lids) till ready to be assembled.
Pottery Log App
Pottery Log App.
This app which only works with Apple products, is free and a great way to keep a record from start to finish of your projects, including your photos.
Photograph Glazed Pots
If you are photographing glazed pots try this. Spray artists' matt finish fixer (used to fix charcoal drawings) on the "hot spots".
Having Trouble Centering?
Having Trouble Centering Your Clay on the Wheel?
Take a small spirit level that fits within the splash tray of your wheel. Lay it across the wheelhead in various directions and make sure it is level at all times…
Build Your Own Spray Booth
MARCH 2013
Make yourself a spray booth by cutting a square hole in the side of a 20 litre bucket with a hacksaw or angle grinder. Put a small plastic turntable…
Build Your Own Wire Tool
MARCH 2013
For a great little wire tool take a 'U' bolt with two nuts on either side and a taught wire in between. Put Loctite on threads before screwing nuts in place. U bolts come in different sizes.
Thick Dribbles?
It is very annoying to get thick dribbles on a pot during glazing. Efforts to remove them by rubbing with finger often results in removing glaze on body of pot and getting thin patches.
Clay Sealant Mix
To help with extruding clay, spray kitchen cooking oil into clean barrel before dropping in clay. This makes it easier to extrude and to clean.
Extruding Clay Tip
To help with extruding clay, spray kitchen cooking oil into clean barrel before dropping in clay. This makes it easier to extrude and to clean.
Easy Stand To Make
A polystyrene block with 3 nails in it pointing upwards (see illustration) will give a good stand on which to place your work
Easily Release Stamps
When you require intricate, unpressed decoration from metal, wood or plastic stamps…
Use a Pizza Cutter
A pizza cutter may be used in conjunction with a straight edge or ruler to produce clean lines when cutting slabs…
Keeping Your Clay Moist
Old Tupperware storage containers make brilliant boxes to keep small clay pieces in when you want to keep them wet.
To Prevent Glazes From Smudging
To prevent underglaze or overglaze coloured decoration from smudging, spray over the decoration with a light coat of…
Pots Too Dry?
Pots too dry? To bring overly dry pots back to leatherhard without cracking…
Handbuilding Tip
Handbuilding: Keep a large wet sponge on a plate next to you when working…
Clay Gone Hard?
Hard Clay: If clay has become too hard to use, cut it into pieces, spray with…
Broken Bisqueware
Broken bisqueware: Mend using paper clay slip. Wet the broken pieces extremely well…
Raku Crackle Results
Raku: For excellent crackle results, fire your pot, take out of the kiln and allow to rest…