85. Preventing "S" Crack When Throwing off the Hump with Hsin-Chuen Lin

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The following is my respond to one of viewer's s crack question on my video#25:

"There is nothing to do with the string cut-off or throwing part. My way of avoiding S crack is to trim the bottom thin enough. How thin? I'd say about 1/8 inch. Also, dry your pots naturally instead of put them under the sun."

So far, if I trim the foot within the range of the thickness, 99.9% of my pots are all perfect without crack. The problem is how can you tell the thickness of your bottom?

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• wheel
• throwing
• pottery
• ceramics
• porcelain
• bowl
• off
• the
• hump
• 林新春
• 陶藝
• 手拉坏

[aquqad]

Oh no! I almost cried when you cut that beautiful bowl in half ;[

I REALLY appreciate this, but why make it so beautiful with all the "chattering" and everything if you were just going to cut it?

[hsinchuen]

@aquqad Hi, to cut the bowl is for educational purpose. How can I prove my points if I didn't cut them open? Another purpose is to show people that don't be afraid of scarifying pieces when they are in learning process. Once they have learned the skills they can make lot of good pots after all.

[MamereClaire]

Thank you. You are very kind to share your knowledge with all of us.

[willowpottery]

Your skill is only matched by your generosity! I've been watching your videos with great attention.I have learned so much by watching your patient moves. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.

[disisdkat]

Do you use that same thinness for stoneware? I have never seen chattering put in with such ease and control. How do you do that? Wonderful video even though it made me cringe. Yes I know that you need to make the sacrifice but it does hurt to watch such a beautiful piece not be fired. Thank you for doing that for us.

[Fraserlangford]

Thanks again. You are the best teacher in the house. 

[GindaUP]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll keep this measuring tool and listen to the tap in mind the next time I set up a studio. I just started using Porcelain and have to give up making for a while. I think my pieces still look too much like stoneware. We will see after I fire the wood kiln in the next week or so. I would be honored if you watch my videos of firing this kiln design and give some ideas to make it successful. I'm probably needing a hundred Kiln Gods? Thanks and stay in there eh.

[lynnie32757]

Thank you so much for such a wonderful measuring system. May I ask you a question?......... Would the different moisture levels in bowls make the 'sound' different each time you trim? It's not always possible to trim at the same level of dryness and I think if the work had a bit more moisture in it the sound would be duller. Hope that makes sense. Many thanks again for sharing your skills

[mimdesigns1]

That's a terrific way to measure. After 25 years in clay the bottoms of my pots are still a bit too thick. But I am never too old to learn. Thanks for the idea for this simple but nifty gadget!

[laurelneth]

Thank you so much for this help. Previously I would stick a cut off push pin into the center of the bowl and when my trim tool hit it I knew how much clay I had left. Not ideal but it worked. Your idea is much better and I will plan to learn to hear by tapping and sacrifice some bowls. You have helped me learn to throw and I am soooo grateful. Many blessings to you and your family.

[scott12358]

@hsinchuen This is a short term pain but a long term gain. It makes sense to sacrifice one pot to make sure the registration of the measurement system is working accurately. One sacrificed pot followed by thousands of accurate measurements is worth it.

When my daughter taught me the basics of throwing, she made me intentionally drop a piece of greenware onto the floor. Her purpose was to break my attachment to every pot and to reduce my pain if any one pot had a problem. It helped me!

[vicensmansergas]

Como siempre fantástico. No tengo problema con ninguno de los pasos, solamente hacer las piezas iguales partiendo del montón de pasta..Si lo hago desde el plato una a una el problema es menor, pero tomar la misma cantidad de pasta del montón si.¿será falta de profesionalidad o solo es cuestión de intuición.Un abrazo.