Wedging Clay vs. Kneading and 'Ways to Weigh'!

[jmg1957]

peace

[DirtKickerStudio]

I really like your cutting tool. Thanks for another great clip:)

[MsRedHare]

You take special requests? :-) Can you show more using your tools? For example, I have the corrugated boards. I really like the photos on your website but I'm having trouble copying them. Also, how to use the hole cutter and make all the holes the same size!?! Thank you!

[vangilderpottery]

@MsRedHare as a matter of fact, I have the corrugated boards covered in another clay clip due to be uploaded soon! Maybe will even try to get that one up next. I will be demo-ing each of my tools including the hole cutter eventually. I'm trying to fit the tool demos in between the other instructional videos.

[mudpuppy61]

@MsRedHare I can tell you what I do with the hole cutter to make the same size holes. I'm sure Bill doesn't need to do it this way but if I'm making a colander or something where I need a lot of holes the same size, I'll make the first hole and before pulling the tool out, I'll take a thin sharpie and draw a tic mark on the tool itself where it meets the outside of the bowl. From then on, I just push the tool up to that line and voila - they are all the same size. The mark wipes off afterward.

[MsRedHare]

@mudpuppy61 Thanks, I tried doing that and I failed miserably. I'm not very coordinated :-(

What I did finally do is wrap tape around it so I couldn't fail. I don't want to ruin the tool though if I have to do that every time. Maybe it just takes lots of practice with using the line? My first try ended up in the recycle bucket!

[mudpuppy61]

@MsRedHare you can try the tape but that might get in the way. Try putting your index finger right at the tick mark when you put the hole cutter into the clay. That way, you can't push the tool further than you should. Practice on a leather hard slab first - better than recycling pots :) Once you get used to using it, you will never want to use anything else. I saw someone do a demo using an electric drill - that's crazy - this tool is much quicker!

[MsRedHare]

@mudpuppy61 I never thought of using my finger!! Brilliant! I will give it a try! On slab! Thank you. This is one of those things where you say to yourself "why didn't I think of that?"

[hobbypotter]

Wow, I never knew there was a difference...I called everything "wedging" :) Also really enjoyed the explanation of why you put clay on the wheel in a specific way to avoid it tightening and creating s cracks. Thanks so much for making this videos!!

[MeemsChamplin]

Wow, thank you so much!! To tell you the truth, I never knew there was "kneading" and "wedging" and I never understood how my first teacher got the swirl when she kneaded the clay. Your explanation and the angle of the video has made all of this much more clear for me. THANK YOU!