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Pottery Decorating Video: Inexpensive Homemade Pottery Tool Makes Even Decoration a Cinch

By Jennifer Harnetty, June 11, 2010 Read Comments (22)

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On Monday of this week, I shared a great tip for a measuring device called a Dividing Web. This tool is quite handy for making precise repeated decoration all the way around a pot. So I thought I would follow up with a video of another great tool for dividing round pots up into equal segments. You’ll especially find this one convenient if you like coffee or enjoy a cocktail every now and again. – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

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This clip was filmed at the Potters Council Porcelain Conference
in San Diego, California.

Don’t miss Porcelain II October 22-24, 2010!

Learn more about this and other
upcoming Potters Council Workshops here!

22 Comments on "Pottery Decorating Video: Inexpensive Homemade Pottery Tool Makes Even Decoration a Cinch"

Francoise LEDOYEN December 1, 2012 at 1:37 pm -

I have just finished my new tools. Thanks a lot for sharing. It is a great idea.
sue August 5, 2010 at 3:42 pm -

I love the decoration and would have loved to see the finished and fired pot.
yi July 1, 2010 at 3:59 am -

these small ideas are actually the big ones. love it. a very good video piece as well. thanks for sharing. 非常好
rosfa June 14, 2010 at 8:41 am -

رائع طريقة سهلة وبسيطة شكرا لكم
silvia June 13, 2010 at 9:38 am -

great tool!.Excellent
nicole June 11, 2010 at 9:27 pm -

Great tool Meira! I’m thinking that with much larger pots one could use much larger straws with longer dental floss, as long as the straws are all the same length. Cheers, Nicole
John June 11, 2010 at 8:57 pm -

If your rim is larger, then put the straws in the pot, centered as best you can. The idea here is to pull the deformation from the approximate center of a straw to its intersection with the next straw. You are still eyeballing the measurement, but just with better accuracy. Same thing if the straws are larger than the rim; put it on the outside to help with dividing the circle.
andrea June 11, 2010 at 8:16 pm -

QUE GENIAL YA LO ESTOY PROBANDO GRACIAS POR COMPARTIRLO….ANDREA LEY
janet June 11, 2010 at 6:40 pm -

A great tip. It will make our work easier. Thanks so much
Liz June 11, 2010 at 6:10 pm -

I love it… I can’t wait to make one for my tool box. Thank you for continuing to share your wonderful skills.
debra June 11, 2010 at 5:48 pm -

I am not quite sure how you fit the straws “exactly” to the rim? What happens on a larger rim?
Brian June 11, 2010 at 4:28 pm -

That’s one of the better homemade tools Iv’e seen yet. Look out kemper tools. Making mine tonight. You can probably use the coffee straws instead of hitting all the local bars to get them..But…..A beer sounds good right now to. Thanks guys.
Susan June 11, 2010 at 3:56 pm -

very cool idea!I love making my own tools…another great idea is using the jagged piece of metal from a tinfoil box and cut it into 1/2 inch pieces and glue them with epoxy to Popsicle sticks..makes a great “Scorer”…great for students of all ages and can be used to make decoration as well.
Eric June 11, 2010 at 2:00 pm -

Lynette, it’s 5 straight and separate pieces of straw cut to equal lengths, then strung together on the dental floss. This way they make a perfect but flexible pentagram.
Vicki June 11, 2010 at 1:56 pm -

It was 5 small bar straws threaded together with the dental floss.
lynette June 11, 2010 at 1:42 pm -

Hi I seem to have lost the plot here. HOw does the dental floss fit in with the straw? HOw is the straw bent to fit the rim? Thanks morrishale@yebo.co.za
Sonja June 11, 2010 at 1:36 pm -

Very interesting, I like these tools. Thanks. http://www.fler.cz/sona
adi June 11, 2010 at 1:22 pm -

these small ideas are actually the big ones. love it. a very good video piece as well. thanks for sharing. adi
cindy June 11, 2010 at 12:46 pm -

Excellent Tip, Thanks!!
Kim June 11, 2010 at 11:59 am -

I love homemade tools! I also really love the simple and elegant decoration she put on the vase :-)
Travis June 11, 2010 at 11:48 am -

Simply is always best, thanks
Charan June 11, 2010 at 11:41 am -

Excellent tool. I love it when simple (and cheap) tools can be so effective. Thanks for the tip! Charan http://creativewithclay.etsy.com