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Tips, Techniques and Tools for Getting the Most Out of Your Pottery Wheel: From Centering to Trimming, Tips for the Potter’s Wheel is our gift to you when you sign up for your free Ceramic Arts Daily newsletter.


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Throwing on the potters wheel is exciting and fun. Once you can center then you’ll never get tired of the many things you can do with wheel thrown pottery. Here we’ve gathered some tips and techniques that will increase your enjoyment for wheel throwing. Mel Jacobson demonstrates how to quickly center large amounts of clay by using your legs and arms as levers. If you want to throw sets on the wheel, here are some simple gauges for the potters wheel you can buy or make. Or for duplicating profiles, you can make wheel throwing templates that can take your sets to the next level. Another ingenious technique is to facet freshly thrown clay then continue throwing the clay and watch the pattern expand. and finally, you’ll enjoy the survey of trimming accessories for wheel thrown pottery — maybe there’s a tool that’s right for you.

Tips, Techniques and Tools for Getting the Most Out of Your Pottery Wheel: From Centering to Trimming, Tips for the Potter’s Wheel
includes the following:
Potter Mel Jacobson demonstrates how to use your legs for more leverage when throwing on the pottery wheel.

How to Control Clay on the Potters Wheel
by Mel Jacobson

If you’re having problems centering your clay on the pottery wheel, here are a few tips for getting that clay under control. No special equipment is needed and there are no pottery tools to buy — just use your body and apply some basic leverage.

The Japanese Tombo is an excellent tool for making consistently sized multiples on the pottery wheel.

 Gauges for Wheel Throwing

Sooner or later every potter wants to make multiples of a form — a set of bowls, mugs, whatever. Two basic measuring devices for throwing sets on the wheel are the Western pot gauge, which measure pots from the outside and the Eastern tombo, which measures pots from the inside.
This easy to make throwing gauge is perfect for the potter who wants to make consistently sized sets of pottery. How to Make a Gauge for Wheel Throwing
by Don Adamatis

For the potter who likes to make simple tools for the pottery, here’s a simple throwing gauge for the potters wheel that’s easy to make. With a T-bevel and a metal mending strap for the base, a little epoxy will give you a handy tool for next time you want to throw on the pottery wheel.
By using a throwing template, potters can make sure their sets of pottery have the same curvature. Throwing on the Potters Wheel with Templates
by William Schran

While throwing gauges can get pots the same height and width, templates will help you get the same profile. This technique involves using templates to repeatedly create an even, symmetrical form. These easy to make templates can be used to scrape the surface as it’s rotated on the potters wheel to create a smooth, uniform surface.
Potter Hank Murrow facets a thick pot on the pottery wheel. He will then continue throwing to alter the shape further. Faceting on the Potters Wheel
by Hank Murrow

Faceting something you’ve thrown on the potters wheel is a little tricky, but here’s a technique that’s even trickier. Once you’ve faceted a freshly thrown pot, you can continue throwing the pot from the inside and create a whole new effect with your wheel thrown work.
The Trimming Disc works like a miniature lazy Susan, the top part rotating while the bottom part stays put. Trimming Accessories for the Potters Wheel
by Frank James Fisher

Trimming the bases of pots on the potter’s wheel is another opportunity to bring unity and beauty to your artwork. But different shapes and sizes of work create challenges, and if you throw a lot of large bowls and platters, pots with delicate necks, lids, etc., then you should evaluate trimming accessories for the potter’s wheel.

About Ceramic Arts Daily:
Ceramic Arts Daily is a free online website and newsletter written and produced for the benefit of potters and ceramic artists worldwide. The newsletter features both renowned and emerging artists, their work, techniques and artistic perspectives. Regular features include tips and techniques designed to help every artist expand their skill set and widen their artistic horizons. Ceramic Arts Daily also delivers video tips, in which potters and ceramic artists demonstrate various projects and processes. Think of them as e-workshops!

Ceramic Arts Daily is designed to be interactive, inviting your comments and fostering a community in which each person can contribute to the growth of their own and others’ skills. You may be surprised at what you learn!

Ceramic artists on Ceramic Arts Daily know what ceramic art is all about - from functional pottery to abstract ceramic sculpture. This is about community. You’ll be drawn in by artists’ stories, inspired by their work and find confidence to try some of their techniques. With Ceramic Arts Daily, you’ll learn a little bit of everything. Then you can choose the techniques you enjoy the most to create something new!

So start today by downloading our free Tips, Techniques and Tools for Getting the Most Out of Your Pottery Wheel.  Then, get ready for Ceramic Arts Daily to introduce you to new artists and show you new techniques!