How to Center Ceramic Pottery

Centering the clay is an important skill to master as you learn how to throw pottery. How you center the clay on the ceramics wheel determines how balanced the pot will be. It also makes the clay easier to work with.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Start the wheel spinning at medium speed. It should be fast enough to allow you to easily work with the clay, but slow enough to stick.

2. Attach the clay to the wheel. Many people in ceramics toss the clay onto the wheel. This lets gravity give it enough suction to stick when it lands.

3. Push the clay into the center of the ceramics wheel. Use your whole body by bracing your elbows against your thighs and forcing the clay into a cone shape.

4. Force the clay downwards, using your dominant hand to push down and your other hand to guide the process and center the clay.

5. Bring the clay up by clasping it with both hands and pushing inward and upward as the wheel turns.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your hands wet when centering clay. This helps the clay move smoothly and keeps it moist.
• Some people prefer to simply attach the clay to the bat by pressing it down and sealing the edges to the surface. This is a less traditional way to secure clay, but it does work.
• Never wet the bat of the wheel before throwing the clay onto it. The surface and clay you're using should be completely dry when attaching the clay.

[Clayleo]

on 5/13/2008 I like using the MiracleBat attaches quick and easy no pins strong grip great drying ability. Self centers and recenters when I come home from a class I just pop it on my wheel and no fussing I can work right away.