Clay and Pottery Tools

This Week's Featured Products in Clay and Pottery Tools

Opening Clay in Pottery
Many find making a piece of pottery to be very relaxing and rewarding. It is often a challenge to become skilled at the craft. With time and practice, you will soon be making usable pieces for friends and family.



Cutting and Molding		Shaping and Patterning

Rectangular Molds
Large: 103/4" × 71/2" × 1" Small: 91/2" × 41/2" × 11/2" Hump: 71/4" × 51/4" × 11/2"

Set of 6, Designs
This set includes 6 different designs, including a triangular spiral, round spiral, square spiral, 2 flowers, and spiral with radiating lines. These plaster press tools are smaller in diameter than those in the Sets of 4. They're ideal for stamping out clay beads that can be used in jewelry making.

8-Piece Beginner Pottery Tool Set
This set contains all the basic tools needed to get started in sculpting or refining thrown or hand-built pottery. The 8-piece set includes a sponge, wire clay cutter, rib, and essential needle, ribbon, wire-end, and boxwood tools.

Following are some basic tips for opening clay for pottery projects such as vases.

Clay should be wedged and centered on potter’s wheel in order to prepare for forming a vase.
Place wheel at highest speed with foot pedal. Inspect form from above to ensure that is exactly centered. If form is not centered, clay will open crooked and collapse.
Place right thumb softly on form’s center. Clay and hands should be wet at all times during process. Use left hand to firmly press thumb into center using steady pressure. Hole should be one half inch from bottom of vase.
Turn potter’s wheel speed down by half. Position right hand gently on outside of pottery piece. Keep thumb in hole.
Use left hand to apply pressure. Pull thumb toward body slowly. Keep vase bottom even during opening of clay. Make opening wide enough to put hand into as work on the form continues.