How to throw on a wheel?
Learning how to wheel throw can be challenging. It is a skill that requires a lot of practice, just like playing the piano, or driving a car. Often, beginner potters will get frustrated and ask what the "magic trick" is to centering clay.
Learning how to wheel throw can be challenging. It is a skill that requires a lot of practice, just like playing the piano, or driving a car. Often, beginner potters will get frustrated and ask what the "magic trick" is to centering clay.
Before clay can be thrown, it must first be worked in a method called wedging, which reduces the number of air pockets in the clay and creates a uniform texture (2). The wet clay is then thrown onto the center of the wheel so that it will maintain contact with the wheel head while the wheel is in motion.
It doesn't have to be expensive.
While classes can be pricey, they aren't always — if you look online, you may find low-cost classes at a smaller local studio or at a YMCA. And classes aren't the only way to learn how to wheel-throw.
Pottery is not tidy or clean. It's a messy, raw, getting back to nature, chaotic creation. You'll end up with clay splattering around and flying off the wheel, you'll forget you have clay on your hands and you'll scratch your head or wipe your face, and you'll almost definitely wipe your hands on your clothes.
Learning the basic premise of throwing can be achieved in my 5 week class. Learning to feel the clay so that you know how far you can push it on the wheel- and being able to get the shape you want- takes longer.
With pottery, your hands become your creative outlet and the stress relief is palpable. Believe it or not, it's also a good physical workout as you use your arm muscles to “wedge” the clay (to get air bubbles out), and your core muscles to remain steady, especially when trying to center clay on the wheel.
Once your shoulders are in the correct position, take a step with the foot opposite of your throwing arm to your intended receiver, building kinetic movement and momentum.
That being said, you need to be sure that the wheel isn't moving too slowly. It is possible to open, pull or lift the clay faster than the wheel is turning. If you do this, it can put pressure on the clay. As a result, the clay can tear or go off-center.
Dry clay is also known as 'greenware'. It is when clay is at its most fragile, and needs careful handling to prevent breakages. Dry clay needs to be fired in the kiln in order to make it strong enough to use. Use: Any sharp edges that are not smoothed at this stage will become solid in the bisque firing.
What tools do you need for wheel throwing?
For all potters, an essential set of tools will include the basics like a needle tool, metal or wood potter's rib, a wire cutting tool, and a couple of trimming loops and a sponge. These are the basics that a beginner in pottery will find helpful, whether you are hand building, sculpting, or wheel throwing.
What's the best clay for pottery wheels? Well, all stoneware, earthenware and porcelain clays work well on pottery wheels. As we explained before, some are easier to shape than others, but they are all suitable for wheel throwing.
Keep your hands touching, using them together as one for better control. Use your entire body to work the clay, focus on the center. Always move your hands into/out of contact slowly while the wheel is going round.
Handbuilding is often deemed the easiest form of pottery making. You have more control over the clay.
A potter's wheel may occasionally be referred to as a "potter's lathe".
For a wheel throwing studio, you will need a space large enough to have a wheel, a work table, a clay storage area, (ideally under the work table), shelves to keep your work on, a sink with running water, a tool storage area, a separate room for glazing and kiln firing.
Working with ceramic clay inside an apartment is totally doable (obviously). There are a couple of safety considerations; mainly, control the dust from dry clay and be careful not to put clay down your drains, but other than that, have at it!
Clay will easy wash off clothes on a regular wash cycle, and even better it tends to brush off once dry. What should I wear? Most people opt for trousers as you sit on a stool, with your knees on either side of a potters wheel, but again the apron covers most things!
Origin of "To throw": Old Engilish - twist, to turn, to propel. Some potters describe their work at the potters wheel as turning. The Old English word thrawan from which to throw comes, means to twist or turn. Going back even farther, the Indo-European root *ter- means to rub, rub by twisting, twist, turn.
Consistency is the most important aspect when throwing clay on a wheel. If the clay you are working with is too soft it won't hold its shape for long and the water you add during throwing on the wheel will weaken it, leading to collapse.
Can anyone be good at pottery?
There's a steep learning curve before you get to the point that you can make what you want how you picture it in your head. Nobody is born good at pottery. It takes practice. Especially the wheel.
If the clay sticks to your hands or the table it is too soft. How do you determine just the right softness? You should be able to tear a ball of clay in two easily. If you can press your thumb into it easily without any clay sticking to you like mud, that is a good indicator too.
Since clay is slightly alkaline, the acidity of vinegar makes it act like a glue for clay. Apply it to both surfaces and press the pieces directly together without slipping or scoring.
Earthenware Clay
[6] It is very easy to work with and shape earthenware and, therefore, is a great type of clay for those making pottery for the first time It is very versatile, so can be used both on the wheel and to practice hand building.
If you mess up a piece on the throwing wheel, it's best to put the clay on the side in a separate bucket and reclaim it before you use it again. Since the clay has already been played with, it's too soft to try and throw it back on the wheel.
Mid-range pottery wheels typically cost between $400 and $1000, offering more features and higher-quality materials. These wheels are ideal for those who want to take their pottery-making skills to the next level.
Today, I'm going to tackle one of my biggest pet peeves in the baseball world: people saying that throwing builds arm "strength." Sorry, but it doesn't.
When you feel no more movement under your hand and your hand no longer moves at all as it rests on the top and sides of the clay as the clay rotates at full speed, the clay is centered.
Besides what Mike said about momentum, lifting the leg allows you to twist the torso, which helps get the ball from a further starting point behind you, and thus helps generate the extra torque needed for increased velocity.
In the world of Japanese traditional ceramics there is not one form held in higher esteem than a chawan, a 'mere' bowl used to serve whipped green tea.
Why is it so hard to center clay?
Speed: When centering, the wheel should be spinning rather quickly, at about 80% of capacity. The potter's hands should move up and down the clay rather quickly as well. Slippery: Keep the clay wet with water or slip. Dry clay means friction between hand and clay, which can pull the clay off center.
Bone dry is a term used to describe clay that has almost no moisture content in it. At this point it is past the point for joining with other pieces or carving and is ready for bisque firing. The clay is very hard and dry and can no longer be manipulated. This is an extremely fragile state of the clay-making process.
Greenware: Unfired clay ready or nearly ready for firing.
These polymer clay brands, when properly baked, will flex without breaking include Cernit, Fimo Professional, Fimo Soft, Sculpey Souffle, Hobby Lobby Craft, Hobby Lobby Advanced, Papa's Clay, Prism and Pro, CosClay, Sculpey Premo, and Sculpey UltraLight.
First, be sure your clay is not too dry. Dry clay is hard clay. It is difficult to throw and is rough on your body. Second, be sure your clay is not too soft.
Hand building is great for beginners. It involves learning how the clay responds to action. The finished results are characterful and unique. Wheel throwing is good for developing hand skills and gentleness with clay.
Overworking and the resulting over saturation of the clay during centering erodes the strength of the clay, ultimately compromising the thrown form.
Problems centering clay
Ball flying off wheel. If this happens you may have put too much water on the wheel to start with. I don't use any water before sticking the ball firmly in the middle.
(The wheel head should be about belly button height.
The type of potter's wheel can affect the set up a little bit. Mine (a Soldner) has more leg room underneath than others. Because I like to change speed mid-throw if necessary and prefer to keep both hands on what I'm throwing, I keep my foot pedal on the floor.
Right handed potters should let the wheel spin anti-clockwise and left-handed throwers should switch the direction of the wheel head to a clockwise motion. Throwing on the wheel is easier if you use technique instead of force.
Does pottery wheel need to be level?
Remember when adjusting the height of your potter's wheel, that it needs to be stable. This is important to protect you and also affects how your work will turn out. And it needs to be level.
