Chucks Hollow or solid clay forms made by the potter on the wheel to hold pieces, often upside down, to be trimmed without breaking them. Chucks can be shaped as close as possible to the aperture of the form being trimmed and can be used when the clay is leather hard or fired. They are essential for trimming rounded forms, for example. This is also the name sometimes given to the rods used for firing beads in the kiln.
Wire for cutting clay Clay cutting wire is used to ... cut clay! To cut balls to the desired size, to remove unwanted clay from a surface, to cut pots in a vertical way when learning to throw. Also used in a multi slab cutter, a frame with a number of parallel wires arranged across it, and used to make slabs in batches. The wire can be simple fishing line or metal wire attached to wooden handles; it can be U-shaped, harp-shaped, bow-shaped, lyre-shaped. These are often called slab cutting harps.
Dryers a studio must have enough space to accommodate the pieces produced. Dryers can be mobile if they are on wheels. There are very sophisticated industrial dryers (see section on drying, microwave...)
Hole and shape cutters Usually made of metal. Used to punch out shapes in a clay slab or on a pot. Hole cutters can be round or square.
Kiln furniture made of refractory materials. There are different types of shelves, pins, plate and tile racks, etc.- Modelling tools small tools, usually made of wood, used to shape clay.
Needle or pin tools Mainly used to measure the depth of the bottom of a piece, but they can also be used for signing, incising (sgraffito)...
Ribbon tools Made of flattened metal ribbons with sharp or blunt edges. They are used extensively in modelling and for trimming thrown shapes Ribbon tools: Made of flattened metal ribbons with sharp or blunt edges. They are used extensively in modelling and for trimming thrown shapes. They can also be used to “pull” shapes.- Ribs Tools made of wood, flexible or rigid metal or rubber, used by potters to finish a piece when throwing or modelling (smoothing, removing slip, etc.). Also used as a throwing tool to achieve a particular shape, and to create flat bases when throwing. Those shaped in the form of a kidney are referred to as metal or rubber kidneys.
- Rulers Ordinary metal rulers used to measure objects; they are also used to level surfaces when making plaster moulds.
Slab roller Tabletop or free-standing, manual or electric, slab rollers can produce large sheets or slabs of uniform thickness.
Sponges Used to absorb water, smooth the lip of a pot, or create decorative patterns... Smoothing the lip of a pot can also be done with a small strip of chamois leather, or even a strip of plastic.
Template and jig Tools made of wood, flexible or rigid metal or rubber, used by potters to finish a piece when throwing or modelling (smoothing, removing slip, etc.). Also used as a throwing tool to achieve a particular shape, and to create flat bases when throwing. Those shaped in the form of a kidney are referred to as metal or rubber kidneys.- Throwing gauge An adjustable stick attached to the side of the wheel or wheel shelf. It can be set up to measure the dimensions of a pot. Using the gauge, you can then create a series of pots of the same dimensions. This cuts out the problem of having to constantly manipulate rulers and calipers. If you don't have a commercial throwing gauge, you can DIY your own (using wooden rods with studded shafts ...).
- Throwing gauge An adjustable stick attached to the side of the wheel or wheel shelf. It can be set up to measure the dimensions of a pot. Using the gauge, you can then create a series of pots of the same dimensions. This cuts out the problem of having to constantly manipulate rulers and calipers. If you don't have a commercial throwing gauge, you can DIY your own (using wooden rods with studded shafts...).
- Tripods and saddles made of refractory materials. There are different types of shelves, pins, plate and tile racks, etc.
- Turning or trimming tools Used to trim or turn and shape leather hard clay. Available in many shapes and sizes.
0 Comments