SIMON LEACH - kneading & balling up tips !

www.simonleachpottery.com
Kneading & balling up.
A few simple tips to get us going in the right direction....SL
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[89qtvj5]

At the beginning it looks like there are lots of complicated numbers and diagrams on the chalk board. Are these glaze recipes or something? Thank you so much for the videos, constantly inspiring. Helps keep the learning going.

Hope your throat feels better soon.

[sleachpots]

Hi- no nothing complicated on the blackboard just general reminders etc. Thanks re throat - on the mend !

SL

[clearvision5]

GREAT! I am like others in saying that your videos are very easy to follow and give more info than the general "how-tos" out there.

Question about wedging: After you press down with the left are you pulling up with the right? Also, how do you create the cone shape at the end without trapping bubbles...it look so uniformed!

[sleachpots]

Hi -the uniformity comes with practice.Yes pulling or lifting with the right hand .I'll knead i think from a different angle next time so folks can see better. SL

[PaisleyPlace]

Since wedging this way, I've had few to no air bubbles in my clay; though I can't wedge quite so much at one time. I start w/ a smaller lump b/c of smaller hands & weaker arms but they are building up. on occasion I have to change from this manner to the ram's head wedging but I stay with this the most. I get the occasional hard thick plug of clay when pulling but it's better than air. What's easiest way to store leftover balls of clay? Can I use it w/o re-wedging the next day as long as moist?

[warpigx808]

Kneading is what you do to bread which adds air, wedging is what you do to clay, which removes air. Typically 14-20 is more than sufficient, unless it is recycled clay. Then a few more is required. Much better to be over weight and remove, than be under and add. I, however amateur I may be would re-wedge under weight clumps.

[ourspain]

Hi S

Kneading pretty much gets the same results as wedging but is easier once you have conquered it.I tend to wedge if the clay is lumpy to start with then finish off with kneading. SL

[smathewspots]

Simon - I worked on my kneading this morning with about 5.5-kilo, may have been to much but it went pretty well. I did end up with a similar spiral to what you showed, just not as refined, as you say, do it again and again. I was able to ball up enough for about 18 tumblers. Much easier than wedging 18 individual pieces.

Just to clarify, is kneading the same thing as wedging? I was thinking that wedging included cutting with a wire and recombining the pieces.

Thanks again - Skip Mathews

[warpigx808]

What sleach is doing is called the rosette wedge. The key is to take a small amount of clay and wedge that in your hands. This is typical for large amounts of clay, #5+

[dashpots]

this new clip inspires me to try again--and i will go back to watch the excerpt about kneading that you posted earlier. thanks for your dedication to helping us mere mortals!

[mariannenyc]

I am also greatly enjoying your clips - thanks for sharing your expertise! For some things I like my clay a bit groggier than the way it is sold, and have wondered when and how is the best way to add grog to the clay. Does adding additional grog make for a weaker piece?