I am still watching all of your videos, but I am curious to see you make your own clay. and how long you wait before you knead it to use on the wheel. I have found that I have to wait at least a week or two before my clay feels right to use.
You dont need to knead it like the spiral for coil pots. You can do the bull head witch i think is way eaiser. Spiral wedging is more for throwing on the wheel.
Hi Simon, do you need to knead clay for slab work and coil pots? I went to a class recently and we didn't knead it. When you are working it anyway and rolling it out etc would that do the job of removing the air bubbles? Is there any other reason to do it? Does all clay need kneading before using? Thanks, Rosie
Hey Simon I am building a wheel and kiln for my mom who wants to start pottery im already to show it to her but i forgot the clay where do you get your clay from great vid
Simon - You mention at the end of the video that the clay is now ready for balling up. Do you cut this wedged clay up into smaller pieces, i.e., for a group of smaller mugs or bowls. I have been weighing and wedging individual balls which can be rather tedious. How do you prepare your clay for throwing twenty or so mugs? Thanks for the videos.- Skip Mathews
Knead the clay first about 100 times, then ball it up by tearing with your hand from the main lump 30 or so balls.Try to get the weight right as near as you can then add or take away bits, finally smack it all together .Herein lies a problem - if you have lots of small bits you smack-trap air back in the lump. Answer have few bits ! Keep practicing !
Hi, just to clarify my question, on the way down into the table, is the right hand pushing with as much force as the left, or more or less force?
Also, when you show the right hand you seem to suggest that it is actively folding the right side of the clay, is this accurate, or is it just pulling the clay up for the next press into the wedging table?
Sorry, I'm sure this is much easier to learn with hands on assistance. Thank you.
How much does wedging help the throwing process? Does it make the clay more forgiving? I don't spend much time wedging mine.. but after hearing you say at least 100 kneads.. I think I need to take a bit more time doing it.
Very good video; thanks for the tips on Japanese wedging. I struggle with wedging myself; I do spiral wedging. Even though I've been wedging for over half a year now, I still never really got the hang of it. Your video really helped me to understand how it's done.
Great video, thanks for posting .Are you related to Bernard Leach? Maybe you can do videos on hand-building techniques,like coil, pinch, extruder and slab construction. ;)
Hello & thanks for your contact.I am glad if my clips have helped you in any way ..there must be many such as yourself whose only recourse is to try & get some teaching from the internet.Keep the comments flowing -all healthy stuff fo invigorate us in our quest to be good potters.Suggestions welcome.
Hello Simon :) - I'm located in the Central Valley of California - 100 miles from San Francisco. Where do you get your clay, or is it a "special blend"? I'm still a novice...at least I've gotten past the exploding pots...I'M ON MY WAY
Hi ..my clay I get from Valencia ,just down the road as it were .Its a blend of different clays that I buy off the shelf , its good at 1300 and under reduction is toasty ,quite nice ! regards SL
I guess if I had a suggestion for a future video it would be on hump throwing... and as silly as it sounds: trimming off the hump. I do an ok job w/ it. and am getting better. But I saw a one guy do it where he just seemed to let the wire go and it seemed to trim so cleanly.
I was working on my kneading today! Your video really did help me out.
Thanks for your contact & feedback. So you are in Japan! ...I wish I could be in your shoes, such a wealth of learning re ceramics.I am not a hump thrower actually so maybe you could teach me a thing or two !..but i am going to try to learn this.
I've managed to get my own studio, am making a lot of progress on my own but seeing how other people work there is always more to learn. Next year I am aiming for an apprenticeship.
I am still watching all of your videos, but I am curious to see you make your own clay. and how long you wait before you knead it to use on the wheel. I have found that I have to wait at least a week or two before my clay feels right to use.
michirhythm 9 months ago
You dont need to knead it like the spiral for coil pots. You can do the bull head witch i think is way eaiser. Spiral wedging is more for throwing on the wheel.
Eagle7913 2 years ago
Hi Simon, do you need to knead clay for slab work and coil pots? I went to a class recently and we didn't knead it. When you are working it anyway and rolling it out etc would that do the job of removing the air bubbles? Is there any other reason to do it? Does all clay need kneading before using? Thanks, Rosie
rosiehewitt 2 years ago
Muy buen video, ¿como haces para que no se pegue la masa de la superficie de la mesa?
angeldetierra 3 years ago
Hey Simon I am building a wheel and kiln for my mom who wants to start pottery im already to show it to her but i forgot the clay where do you get your clay from great vid
meggawatts 4 years ago
Hi - I get my clay from Valencia , here in Spain. I suggest you contact your 'local' pottery supplier - I think you are from North America !? SL
sleachpots 4 years ago
Simon - You mention at the end of the video that the clay is now ready for balling up. Do you cut this wedged clay up into smaller pieces, i.e., for a group of smaller mugs or bowls. I have been weighing and wedging individual balls which can be rather tedious. How do you prepare your clay for throwing twenty or so mugs? Thanks for the videos.- Skip Mathews
smathewspots 4 years ago
Hi Skip
Knead the clay first about 100 times, then ball it up by tearing with your hand from the main lump 30 or so balls.Try to get the weight right as near as you can then add or take away bits, finally smack it all together .Herein lies a problem - if you have lots of small bits you smack-trap air back in the lump. Answer have few bits ! Keep practicing !
SL
sleachpots 4 years ago
Hi, thanks for the videos. What, if anything is your right hand doing?
jbridge337 4 years ago
Hi, just to clarify my question, on the way down into the table, is the right hand pushing with as much force as the left, or more or less force?
Also, when you show the right hand you seem to suggest that it is actively folding the right side of the clay, is this accurate, or is it just pulling the clay up for the next press into the wedging table?
Sorry, I'm sure this is much easier to learn with hands on assistance. Thank you.
jbridge337 4 years ago
You do the spiral wedging much more open than my teacher does. I am going to try your method when I get back to my workshop! Thanks for sharing!
Marihani 4 years ago
welcome SL
sleachpots 4 years ago
How much does wedging help the throwing process? Does it make the clay more forgiving? I don't spend much time wedging mine.. but after hearing you say at least 100 kneads.. I think I need to take a bit more time doing it.
mikecpeck 4 years ago
Hi... keep at it & dont get soft with yourself & say oh well ! 60 will do !! 100 and no less,...you will have your reward ! regard SL
sleachpots 4 years ago
Very good video; thanks for the tips on Japanese wedging. I struggle with wedging myself; I do spiral wedging. Even though I've been wedging for over half a year now, I still never really got the hang of it. Your video really helped me to understand how it's done.
BelleAmelie 4 years ago
Great video, thanks for posting .Are you related to Bernard Leach? Maybe you can do videos on hand-building techniques,like coil, pinch, extruder and slab construction. ;)
hilinwang 4 years ago
Thanks for the contact - yes I am a grandson of BL.
Actually I am not a handbuilder so am not the person to do clips on that - sorry. Regards Simon L
sleachpots 4 years ago
Great videos! Just what I was looking for. Youtube and some DVD's are my only classes so this really helped alot.
Your clay looked lovely...I have a challenge finding good clay.
clearvision5 4 years ago
Hello & thanks for your contact.I am glad if my clips have helped you in any way ..there must be many such as yourself whose only recourse is to try & get some teaching from the internet.Keep the comments flowing -all healthy stuff fo invigorate us in our quest to be good potters.Suggestions welcome.
Where are you based ?
Regards Simon L
sleachpots 4 years ago
Hello Simon :) - I'm located in the Central Valley of California - 100 miles from San Francisco. Where do you get your clay, or is it a "special blend"? I'm still a novice...at least I've gotten past the exploding pots...I'M ON MY WAY
clearvision5 4 years ago
Hi ..my clay I get from Valencia ,just down the road as it were .Its a blend of different clays that I buy off the shelf , its good at 1300 and under reduction is toasty ,quite nice ! regards SL
sleachpots 4 years ago
I guess if I had a suggestion for a future video it would be on hump throwing... and as silly as it sounds: trimming off the hump. I do an ok job w/ it. and am getting better. But I saw a one guy do it where he just seemed to let the wire go and it seemed to trim so cleanly.
I was working on my kneading today! Your video really did help me out.
Kjellhahn 4 years ago
Thanks for your contact & feedback. So you are in Japan! ...I wish I could be in your shoes, such a wealth of learning re ceramics.I am not a hump thrower actually so maybe you could teach me a thing or two !..but i am going to try to learn this.
Keep in touch , regards Simon L
sleachpots 4 years ago
I am living in Japan, been here 3 years now.
I've managed to get my own studio, am making a lot of progress on my own but seeing how other people work there is always more to learn. Next year I am aiming for an apprenticeship.
Kjellhahn 4 years ago
this was a great video for kneading..
I really appreciate you taking the time to post this.
thank you!
Kjellhahn 4 years ago
Thanks for your feedback ! As a matter of interest whereabouts are you ? any suggestion for a more clips ? Regards Simon Leach
sleachpots 4 years ago