Question:

How do I make a coil pot

Attaching pulled handles

Attaching pulled handles:
Once all handles are pulled and firmed, (approx.1/2 hr), they are ready to attach. I will describe this process as connecting to a mug, though it is the same procedure no matter the form.

1. Take handle and flatten the large end with a flat piece of wood ie ruler, wooden spoon back.
2. With a fork or other tool cross hatch both the flattened end of the handle and the point on the pot you wish to attach the handle, with an old toothbrush, wet these areas with water or slip.
3. Attach the hatched end to the pot and press and wiggle it gently until you feel adhesion
4. Pick up the pot and hold arm extended as when pulling the handle, and continue pulling in the same way until desired thickness, squeeze off any excess clay and join other end to pot by pushing into place.
5. Leave upside down to dry.

Note: Handles dry faster than ware,
so keep them covered with plastic or put on ware board with all handles facing inward.

Coils

Coils are made by rolling clay on a table. Start out by squeezing the clay in your hands to form a rough fat coil. Then roll this coil back and for the on the table, giving it its momentum with the full length of the inside of the hands. To keep the coil from flattening out it is important that you do not press down too hard and that the coil makes at least one complete rotation as it is pushed in one direction. To make a long coil use more clay and when rolling, start with your hands in the center and move them apart to either end of the coil. Rolling dries out the clay so start with moist clay.

Adding handles and attachments

ADDING EXTRUDED HANDLES AND ATTACHMENTS:

These are the easiest handles and lugs to make, though making them look a part of the pot is quite a challenge, but can be achieved with practice.

1. Crosshatch and slip joins and pot at locations of adhesion.
2. Press handle on firmly, wiggling until adhesion is felt.
3. Sponge to clean.

Burnishing

The technique of burnishing pottery can be traced back to ancient times. Burnishing involves no more than rubbing the clay surface with a smooth tool to produce a mirror-smooth surface. In reality it has a compressing effect on the clay particles. It can be done when the clay surface is leather hard and up until it is almost completely dry. Most clays are suitable for burnishing although the finer the clay the smoother the burnished surface. Suitable tools for burnishing include: Smooth rounded beach pebbles, The convex side of metal spoons and smooth knife handles. After the pot is smooth, draw your design with lead pencil then scratch around design with a knife. Designs can either be geometric or organic. Once the pot has been blackfired it can be left without further treatment or polished with oils to enhance the shine.

Burnishing

Burnishing

The technique of burnishing pottery can be traced back to ancient times.

Burnishing involves no more than rubbing the clay surface with a smooth tool to produce a mirror-smooth surface. In reality it has a compressing effect on the clay particles. It can be done when the clay surface is leather hard and up until it is almost completely dry. Most clays are suitable for burnishing although the finer the clay the smoother the burnished surface.

Suitable tools for burnishing include: Smooth rounded
beach pebbles, The convex side of metal spoons and smooth knife handles.
After the pot is smooth, draw your design with lead pencil then scratch around design with a knife. Designs can either be geometric or organic. Once the pot has been blackfired it can be left without further
treatment or polished with oils to enhance the shine.

Making a coil pot

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.

*Happy Potting*

Burnishing

Burnishing

The technique of burnishing pottery can be traced back to ancient times.
Burnishing involves no more than rubbing the clay
surface with a smooth tool to produce a mirror-smooth surface.
In reality it has a compressing effect on the clay particles.
It can be done when the clay surface is leather hard and up until it is almost completely dry.

Most clays are suitable for burnishing although the finer the clay the smoother the burnished surface.

Suitable tools for burnishing include: Smooth rounded
beach pebbles, The convex side of metal spoons and smooth
knife handles.

After the pot is smooth, draw your design with lead pencil then scratch around design with a knife. Designs can either be geometric or organic

Once the pot has been blackfired it can be left without further treatment or polished with oils to enhance the shine.