August 10, 2001, Newsletter Issue #50: Making a coil pot

Tip of the Week

Making a coil Pot.

You must have an idea of your shape in mind before you begin. If it is a difficult shape, prepare a template from cardboard (any cardboard box will suffice), cut out your shape and use the negative template during building to keep the form true.

1. Cut rolled slab for base.
2. Cross hatch the outside of the base with the fork, approx. ½ “.
3. Apply slip with the toothbrush, ensuring roughness.
4. Place coil onto base, so the outside of the coil sits on the outside of the base. Supporting the outside of the coil with one hand, take your paddle-pop stick, and in a downward motion spread the coil onto the base, do this all around. In an upward motion, supporting the inside with other hand, join the outside of the base to the coil. Back to the inside, spread the clay back up from the base to the top of the coil stretching it against your supporting hand. Turn the piece over, and in and upward motion, join coil to base.
5. Turn back and with your fingers spread the clay, always supporting the opposite side, and keeping shape in mind till about ½ thick.
6. Place next coil in position. The shape dictates where the coil is placed. If it goes out, place the coil on the outside, or on the inside if you want to narrow the shape. Start on the inside with the paddle-pop stick joining coil to pot, then outside pot to coil, inside pot to coil and outside coil to pot. Once again build and smooth with your fingers to ½” thick. Smooth inside and out with your knife.
7. Repeat the above until piece is complete.

Note:
The form must be supported at all times. I really can’t stress this enough!!!
If the form is too soft, let it stand, if you continue to work on it, it will collapse.
Keep form in plastic, to keep it from drying out, from day to day.
If it does dry out, spray lightly with water and cover with plastic.

About LifeTips

Now one of the top on-line publishers in the world, LifeTips offers tips to millions of monthly visitors. Our mission mission is to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Expert writers earn dough for what they know. And exclusive sponsors in each niche topic help us make-it-all happen.

Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Ceramics Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


Guru Spotlight
Kristle Jones