How to Use a Pin Tool in Pottery
A pin tool - a simple lancet on the end of a handle - is one of the simplest tools in pottery, but also one of the most versatile. Here are a few of its myriad uses.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Use the pin tool to trim uneven spots off rims. You can do it while the pot is on the wheel by lowering the side of the pin tool onto the spinning rim and cutting the uneven part down to the level of the rest of the pot. You can also use the pin tool as a knife to cut off bulges or bumps on a stationary pot.
-
2
Use the pin tool to thin the walls of a pot. If your pot is well-formed, but thicker than you want it, you can use the edge of the pin tool to slowly thin it out by gently running it along the convex side, sliding it up and down to preserve the overall shape of the pot.
-
-
3
Use the pin tool for detail work. Not only can you poke holes in a pot with it, but you can also carve designs, shape asymmetrical rims, and sign your name.
-
4
use it to test the depth of the base. By pushing the pin tool through the clay and then measuring the distance to the bottom, you can determine the thickness of the base.
-
5
Use the pin tool for texture. By making a large number of shallow slashes or pokes with the tool, you can give your ceramic piece an unusual look.
-
1
