Sept. 30, 2013, was the wheel throwing preparation and demonstration.
Put your name on the wheel throwing sign up sheet to reserve your day on the wheel. Prepare your spheres of clay you plan on using on the wheel the day before you throw.
Every student will get personal help for their first wheel throwing experience. I find students learn how to center clay faster if their hands are in contact with the clay being centered and I put my hands on the outside of their hands and help them center the clay. This way the pressure needed for centering is also felt. If you do not want this kind of help, please tell me at the time (day) you are learning how to throw.
Projects
The first project is a cylinder, with even thickness on the sides from bottom to top. Cut the cylinder in half to expose uniformity. Then us this half cylinder in combination with slab building techniques to create a half cup, wall mount planter, etc.
The second wheel throw project will be a whole container.
WHEEL THROWING HAND-OUT
PREPARING TO THROW:
SELF
Prevent things from tangling up in the potters wheel or clay. Check hair, jewelry, and clothes. Do you want a smock?
Tools
Sponge: to apply water, & remove excess slip as well as water from inside the pot.
Needle tool: To gauge thickness of bottom, pop air bubbles, and trim lip of pot.
Cutting wire: to cut practice pot in half, and cut the finished pot off the wheel head.
Wooden rib: to trim foot rim (bottom outer edge) of pot.
Optional – small piece of plastic or leather for smoothing the lip of the pot.
Clay & equipment
Wedge clay and form a few baseball/softball size spheres, the day before throwing.
Bucket of water ½ filled. (Sponge wet. Wheel throwing tools available.)
Bat for the wheel in place.
Throwing wheel (plugged in, set for left or right hand, start) and chair for sitting.
PROCESS OF THROWING:
Attaching clay (add downward pressure, add water with sponge, and brace arms)
Centering (including cone pillar)
Opening (widening)
Cylinder (gage bottom thickness, pull up roll of clay, and remove water from inside of pot)
Lip(remove uneven lip with needle tool, flatten or smooth lip)
Trim outer base
CHECK, REMOVE, & CLEAN UP (when finished):
Optional: Check the technique of your cylinder by cutting the pot in half with the wire tool.
On 1st or 2nd pot that is good: remove with wire tool and pot lift (or remove bat).
Clean up: Start clean-up 12 minute before the bell. Clay scraps and slip put in slip containers (no chucks of clay in sink), tools & potters wheel washed, tool and clay put away, etc. Mop up if needed.
ASSIST
The day after you throw on the wheel, help the next person on the wheel get set up, attach their clay to the bat, and start working on the wheel.
Other Wheel throwing Hints
Use enough water on the outside so the clay does not get sticky.
Making a strong support with your elbows against your legs or hip helps with centering the clay on the wheel.
Keep removing the water from the inside so the clay does not loose plasticity.