Throwing a Basic Pot on The Potter's Wheel Tutorial / Lesson | Step By Step Illustrations

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Throwing a Basic Pot on The Wheel Lesson

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Throwing a pot on the wheel video lesson - 15 minutes | YouTube

		Page 1


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Place clay on bat firmly with tip pointed down										Tap to center with dry hands while wheel is turning slowly															Get your hands wet


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														Push clay forward as shown (plow forward). Wheel speed - fast
Let the clay turn while wet hand and wet clay create slurry / slip
																											Sit close to the wheel & anchor your elbows tightly against body


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When clay complies (feels calm), squeeze clay and cone up
																												Both hands are touching and elbows are against body
															Level top of cone with thumbs pressure


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Coning down - place left hand as in previous step securing elbow into body
																Place right hand on top of cone while interlocking with left hand
																													Right hand pushes down. Left hand pushes forward. Wheel speed - fast.

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Right hand touches only half of the top surface from center to edge.
																															Slow wheel a bit. Place thumbs in center and mark the center
																Left hand smooths outer edge of clay with palm

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	Decisively, make a hole in center - both hands are touching each other
																															Pull clay out - both hands are touching each other and clay is wet
																Leave enough clay for pot's bottom


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	Move clay evenly and keep constant distance from bottom for flat surface
																														Do not overhang clay . When finished pulling, let go gradually to stay in center
														Smooth all unevenness. Make sure clay is not too dry
		Page 2
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													Apply constant pressure on bottom. Move slowly towards center. Wheel speed - medium
																										Take off extra clay
	If bottom too thick or uneven pass thumbs on bottom as shown
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													Raise the wall - squeeze clay w/ fingers using a sponge. Use fingers tips only. Hands touching
																										Note that the thumb is helping in squeezing clay
Compress bottom to avoid "S" cracks
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Contact clay with finger tips to avoid unnecessary friction												The pull - squeeze and lift. Don't be afraid to be a bit aggressive. Clay needs to be wet
																													Smooth the rim at end of each pull


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Second pull - stay on bottom until you get desired thickness
																													... to avoid too much friction and possible torquing
												As the wall gets thinner, use less finger surface contact ....
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																								Collar top portion of cylinder in and even the rim
										Even cylinder's rim
	Even wall of cylinder
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																											Note that only finger tips are touching the pot
		Shaping - Push inside of cylinder out while outside hand gently supports clay									Touch hands as soon as able for stability
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												Clean bottom with wooden tool. Sharpen Wooden tool every so often																		Under cutting -Clear clay from bat for easy access to the cutting wire
Smooth rim with Chamois

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	Clear as much clay as possible to minimize trimming effort later
										Watch the angle of the wooden tool.																					Hold the cutting wire as shown
			Page 3


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Push the wire against the bat with thumbs or index fingers											Run wire all the way through keeping it tight and straight																					If throwing for practice, slice pot to view wall uniformity
																	To trimming tutorial - how to trim a pot Throwing a large platter tutorial
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	Good luck! Lakeside Pottery