January 9, 2009
Ceramics Decorating Video: Slip Cones - Easy-to-Make Pottery Tools for Precise Slip Trailing
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If you ever use slip trailing to decorate your ceramic art, chances are, you have had the frustrating experience of slip spitting out from your slip trailer and ruining a perfectly trailed design due to trapped air. In today’s video, ceramic artist Charan Sachar shows us how to make a foolproof and ergonomic slip trailer out of some inexpensive materials. Sachar says that of all the trailers he has used, these simple homemade tools have given him the best results. Watch the video now and then make some for yourself. Plus, we’ve included some step-by-step written instruction on the process below. Read on! - Jennifer Harnetty, editor |
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Start with the mylar paper and cut it in a 10-inch square. Then cut across the diagonal. This will make two cones. Larger cones can also be made in a similar way but smaller cones are easier to handle. |
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Place your finger in the center of the diagonal and start turning the cone between your fingertips. Keep turning to make the cone until you have turned the triangle into a cone with a tight tip. Keep the tip of the cone tight with your fingers. Tape the seam on your cone and your cone is done. |
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To fill the cone with slip, use a flavor injector. Just fill the cone up to two thirds. |
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Download your free copy of Seven Great Pottery Projects now to learn more great techniques like this one!
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Fold the seams very tight with tape. The cone should feel almost solid and not squishy. |
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When ready to use, just cut the tip off very slightly. Nail clippers work best. |
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Use the trailer to apply your decoration. You will hardly need to apply pressure and the slip will flow smoothly. Once you feel that the cone is going limp, fold the top end again and tape it to make it tight and stiff. Keeping the cone tight and solid is the key. You will hardly need to use pressure, so there is no strain on the thumbs. No air enters into the cone, so there is no spitting. The only disadvantage to these is that you can’t reuse the cones. But they are very easy and cheap to make. Just pop in your favorite DVD and make a bunch of these. |
Download your free copy of Seven Great Pottery Projects today!
To see some of Charan Sachar’s slip-decorated work made using these cones, visit http://creativewithclay.etsy.com.
Tags: Ceramic Decorating Techniques, Ceramics Decorating Videos, Clay Tools, Making Clay Tools, slip, slip trailing
ruth | July 28th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
When I try and download the “Seven Great Pottery Projects” it says the site can’t be found. Help?
Barbara | September 28th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
How thick should the mylar be? Hobby Lobby has 3 thicknesses. It is clear, where else can one purchase the correct mylar for this project?
Mamnoon | June 5th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
I AM CRAZY TO LEARN POTTERY SINCE AS A YOUNG BOY I SAW
THE VILLAGE POTTER WORKING ON THE HAND WORKED POTTER WHEEL
AND DOING WONDERS WITH CLAY. I AM PAST MY 70s BUT STILL MY
FACINATION WITH HAND PRODUCED WORKS HAS NOT DIMINISHED.
UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRYING MY
HAND ON POTTERY MAKING. NOW I HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
I WONDER HOW I CAN GET STARTED. CAN ANYONE PLEASE GUIDE ME?
Gwen | June 15th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Dear Mamnoon,
I started in December, aged 62 with just a piece of clay and worked out how to form a bird. It taught me a lot about clay. Since then I have been obsessed with catching up on what I have missed. I haven’t got a potters wheel (yet)but I think thats a good thing because I have had to learn how to make good pots by hand, and learnt by my mistakes.
I have chosen to work out what I like independently, but this has only been possible with the amazing help of potters on the internet. I really love this way of learning, I can research anything I want to know just by typing a question into google, and I usually find several videos by very congenial people who seem to love sharing their discoveries.
I think that you will be surprised that you can learn at a really fast rate because night or day you can get an answer to your latest question, so your knowledge of any subject becomes very well rounded. You would probably need years of classes to catch up in this way.
The best thing for me is that working alone is that my work is allowed to evolve without comparisons and too many critics to make me doubt myself, and my work is pleasing to me because it evolves in my way.
Obviously this way suits a mature person because there is a lot of practical common sense gained through a lifetimes experience,so I wouldn’t say that working solo works for everyone, you just have to find what works best for you. I think you may find it comes naturally to you since you’ve been incubating the idea for so long.
Best wishes
Gwen
Helen | June 19th, 2010 at 6:45 am
What is Mylar paper? Where do you buy it from. I Live in Australia.
Helen
Helen | June 19th, 2010 at 6:47 am
I am interested in some of the Videos or even better DVDs. The excerps look great. How do I purachase them. Will you be able to send to Australia
joanne | June 22nd, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Nice video - what is the music ?
Karen | June 28th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Would be interested in purchasing the music also. Send information to christkaren@hotmail.com
Charan | July 6th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Mylar paper is nothing but metallic gift wrapping paper that you can get almost any store. You might want to experiment with the different thickness/stiffness of the paper. I prefer the thinner kind. I have even used clear gift wrap as well and it works great.
Regarding the music, it is from the Bollywood movie “Singh is King”