Wedging and Kneading 101 - very basic

Another very basic "how I do it" type video. It took me a while to figure out how to spiral knead, and I'm still not sure I'm doing it the 'proper' way, but it works for me.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• pottery
• clay
• claythrower
• ceramics
• wedging
• kneading
• 101
• preperation
• process
• spiral

[Boondockflyfish]

the MUD on the shirt was a great visual image. But I do have a have question for you. The clay I buy is commercially produced, and when I first started potting, I wedged and kneaded, I had problems with airpockets, bc of my technique.  Since I don't make my own clay, do you think wedging and kneading are really necessary? I do enjoy the process, but sometimes I feel, I'm creating more problems than the benefits. Your thoughts?

[ClayThrower]

What Marihani said. Brand new clay right out of the bag is probably good enough to throw without kneading, but I'd say it is a necessary skill to learn because sooner or later you will need to homogenize your clay. It also helps align the micro-particles better, or so they say.

[pensandcalls]

Very good demo. I do the spiral like you do but for some reason, my large end is on the right.......... Go figure. I guess we all do it the way that works for us. :o) I find that the wire cutting/wedging helps me get the air out, too. Nothing is more frustrating as you pull up a cylinder than to feel air bubbles! Grrrr.

How thick is your wedging table?

Tom

[ClayThrower]

I think there is about 50lbs of plaster in it, maybe 100, I can't remember. It is about 5" thick. The bottom is a shelf where I store bags of dry clay, so the sucker doesn't move.

[turuanu]

I finally understood where the wedge in wedging is, but I must say I find it useless, until proven wrong.

I just spiral knead it, and the clay particles seem pretty well mixed to me.

[ClayThrower]

ya, I agree. Wedging is useful if there is a lot of air in it or it is very inconsistently dry vs wet.

[jmg1957]

peace .

[potterybyjohn]

If you slam wedge, cutting the clay in half then slamming one piece down onto the other, and keep the "plane" of the slam parallel to the table and set the clay onto the wheel with the plane parallel to the wheel head, it will reduce S-cracks in plates & platters. If you spiral wedge counterclockwise, and put the clay on the wheel with the spiral vertical, the clay particles are aligned and make centering easier. As pointed out by others the consistency will be more uniform as well.

[credenza1]

Very good detailed explanation of spiral kneading. Thanks.

[Redshift21]

Another five star video ;)

[Marihani]

Putting my 2 bits in, even if I wasn't asked ;-)

I also had a bit of trouble with bubbles when I started learning to do this. But it is important in order to get the clay homoginized and pliable. Go more slowly and watch that you squish the clay a bit when pushing, don't just fold it. Push down and push it from you onto the table, kind of draging/squishing and then don't to to big a hop to the next place you place your hands.

I think most potters still get air pockets now and then :-)

[Marihani]

LOL! That ram's head was cool!

The bigger your hands, the more clay you can knead. I can't do pieces that big. Might also be that my clay is a tad dryer than your's when I knead it.