View Larger Image Tips and techniques in our weekly series "Great Ideas for Potters" come from all levels of experience: studio artists, production potters, students, teachers and industry experts.

August 10, 2007

Great Ideas for Potters

by Ceramic Arts Daily | Read Comments (2)

Each week, we provide you with a selection of helpful hints and ideas drawn from suggestions submitted by Ceramic Arts Daily subscribers and Ceramics Monthly readers. Some are quite serious (especially those directed toward health and safety precautions), while others are more lighthearted. Each week you'll find ideas for forming processes, decorating, glazing and firing, along with tips for outfitting your studio and creating and using tools.

Tip of the Week, submitted by W. C. Heerman
Modern caps have plastic bills covered in cloth. When a hat is soiled or worn out, you can cut off the bill and remove the cloth by tearing out the stitching. The plastic underneath is a perfect flexible rib and can be cut to smaller sizes and shapes. These ribs also work great for scraping wet clay off canvas covered tables. Thanks, W.C.!

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Other helpful tips

• Trimming the foot of a large-diameter plate or platter can be a problem. The pressure of the trimming tool tends to press the plate bottom down toward the bat. For plate support when trimming, try gluing a piece of firm foam, about 2 inches thick, to a bat. The foam is then trimmed to approximate the interior diameter of the plate foot. A leather-hard plate is then placed on the foam, which will not mar the surface, but will provide ample support while trimming.
• To prevent surfaces from looking overworked when stamping or pounding decoration, try sprinkling the clay with cornstarch. It will keep whatever tool you're using from sticking, yet the starch burns off in the firing. It also works well as an inexpensive sticking preventative when checking lid fit, spout placement, etc.
• Glazing is always easier when the bucket is big enough to allow dipping, but for those bowls and platters that are too wide to dip, try supporting the upside-down piece with the back of your hand while pouring glaze around the outside (this avoids the touching up that is usually necessary when supporting the work on sticks placed across the top of the bucket). By supporting the work with the back of your hand, your wrist can turn the piece almost 360-degree and all excess glaze can run back into the bucket. As soon as you've finished pouring the glaze, put down the pouring cup/pitcher and feather the wet glaze on the rim with your fingers to remove drips before they set, again turning the pot as you do so.
• Before handling clay, use a silicone-based hand cream (such as Avon Silicone Glove) to minimize skin drying. It also minimizes the staining from oxides and stains.