The clay pot that is so familiar to our daily life has a long history. Our ancestors needed containers to transport water and store food and they discovered that naturally water-resistant clay was ideal for these purposes. Although today we can buy containers in stores and water is piped in, clay remains a material for producing beautiful and practical crafts and works of art.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Getting Ready
Step 1. Knead the clay
You can start with about 250g of clay. Kneading by hand will slowly warm the clay and release any air bubbles in it. This will give the clay a more even consistency, remove any loose parts, and make the clay look more pliable and more malleable. Try not to fold, poke the clay with your fingers, or do anything else that could cause air pockets to form. The presence of air pockets can cause the pot to explode during baking.
Step 2. Cut the clay in half with stiff wire and check for air bubbles or voids
Step 3. After kneading the clay, you can start making pots using one of the methods below
For more information, you can search the internet for articles on kneading clay
Method 2 of 4: Making a Pot with the Twist Technique
Step 1. Make a clay twist
Once warm and pliable, take a lump of clay and twist it to form a long axis or cylindrical tube. The diameter of the twist will determine the thickness of the pot wall. For your first pot, twist it until it reaches a size slightly larger than a pencil, about 30-60 cm long. Make sure the twists are the same thickness.
When making a twist, there may be parts that are thin and brittle. Try to avoid those sections when you start working. If this creates a problem, you can cut the brittle portion of the spool, set it aside, and continue working with the other spool
Step 2. Make the bottom of the pot
Start at one end of the twist and wind it in a spiral until you get the bottom of the pot to the size you want. For example, if you use a 0.6 cm thick spool, the bottom of the pot will have a diameter of about 8 cm.
You can also roll clay out to about the same thickness as a twist to make the bottom of the pot, then trim off the excess with a knife, using a cup or saucer as a guide
Step 3. Prepare the clay and get to work
Scrape the outside of the bottom of the pot (approximately 6 inches from the edge, and moisten it with water or slurry). Do the same with the bottom of the twist as you work. This trick will make clay stick well and the pot will become stronger. Put the first twist on the bottom of the pot and loop it around so that it forms a wall.
Step 4. Strengthen the pot
To make the resulting pot more durable, strengthen the clay bonds by smoothing the inside of the pot, while pushing the clay from the top twist toward the joints below.
- To keep the shape of the pot, hold the outside of the pot with one hand as you smooth the inside.
- If you want, you can smooth the inside and outside of the pot.
Step 5. Shape the pot as you work
Create contours by adjusting the placement of the twists and shaping the clay while you are smoothing and strengthening the pot.
Step 6. Complete the potting process
Add decorations or varnish if desired. You can let the pot dry on its own, bake it, or burn it in a kiln, depending on the type of clay used. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the correct method.
Method 3 of 4: Making a Pot with the Massage Technique
Step 1. Make a ball
Roll the clay into a ball. Make sure it's damp.
Step 2. Make a hole
Press your thumb in the center of the clay ball, until it's about 0.6 cm from the bottom.
Step 3. Form the walls of the pot
Use your thumb and forefinger to massage the clay and push it up. Work the entire inside and each time you complete a turn, massage the clay from the bottom to the top. Repeat the same process until you get the desired shape of the pot.
Step 4. Flatten the bottom of the pot
Press the inside of the pot into the surface of the table on which you are working so that the bottom of the pot is smooth and even.
Step 5. Smooth the inside and outside of the pot as desired
You can decorate the pot and follow the manufacturer's instructions to properly dry and finish making the pot.
Step 6. For more information, learn about making pots with this massage technique on the internet
Method 4 of 4: Using the Spindle
Step 1. Pat the clay firmly
Slide the clay from one hand to the other while tapping it vigorously into a ball.
Step 2. Dry the spinning wheel
The clay will stick more easily when the wheel starts to move. You certainly don't want the clay ball to float across the room.
Step 3. Prepare the water
Place a bucket of water in an easy-to-reach place so you can wet your hands as you work.
Step 4. Smash the clay
Slam the ball of clay as close to the center of the wheel as possible, then press it so that it forms a cone.
Step 5. Start turning the wheel
As the wheel accelerates, with one hand on the side of the clay ball and the other on it, gently push the clay toward the center. Use your hand at the top to keep the clay in place, not flying around.
You'll notice that the clay is right in the center of the wheel if it doesn't wobble, but sits upright and doesn't move. Keep turning the wheel
Step 6. Wet hands
Then, shape the clay into a cone, then press it into a thick disc. Repeat this step several times. This technique is known as “wheel wedging” and helps prepare the clay. Make sure the clay stays in the center of the wheel as you work.
Step 7. Push your thumb into the center of the rotating clay until it is about 1.5 cm from the bottom
Step 8. Push 4 fingers into the hole and move in such a way to make the hole as big as you want
Continue to make holes, while using your outstretched hand to shape the pot.
Step 9. Work slowly
Gradually pull the clay up with steady pressure, until it reaches the desired height.
Step 10. Expand the top
If you want the mouth of the pot to be slightly wider than its neck, simply pull the clay outward with your fingers on the inside. Don't pull too hard.
Step 11. Lift the finished pot off the spinning wheel
Wet the wheel (not the pot), take a stiff wire or fishing line and hold it with both hands and pull from the back of the pot forward (towards you) until the pot separates from the wheel.
Step 12. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for drying and baking the clay pot
Tips
- A great trick for removing air pockets is to keep the shape of the clay round. Never flatten clay more than half its thickness. You can also slam the clay on a hard surface (such as a table) a few times.
- If you are using clay that must be baked in the oven, place the pot on a glass surface. That way, the pot can be removed when finished. Plates that are placed upside down can be a good choice.
- Do not use your fingertips when kneading the clay.
- You can also use molds to make pots using the twist technique. Simply place the bottom of the pot in the flowerpot and wind the twists in the pot and attach them to each other before removing the pot by loosening the top while pushing it from the side with your finger. Then, you can put the outsides together and shape them with a flat-shaped tool or roll them out on a table. If you want to make a closed pot, do this process twice and secure the two halves together with a slip (surface covering material).
- Make sure when using the furnace you use nicks and slips to hold the other parts together.
- If the pot collapses during the twisting process, simply knead the clay to release any air bubbles and start all over again.
Warning
- If you're using clay that won't dry on its own, carefully read the instructions on how to bake a pot. The reason is that dry clay that flies or is scattered in the air will form dust called silica dust, which can cause long-term health problems.
- Follow the instructions given for the material you are using. Some types of clay can leave stains on wood surfaces.
