Pottery Wheel Instructions

It takes practice to learn to use a pottery wheel correctly.

Shaping clay pottery on a wheel is a fun and exciting craft with nearly endless possibilities. But learning to shape pottery while ostensibly easy, takes hours of practice. Getting familiar with the placement of your hands on the wheel and the correct amount of pressure to apply to center and shape a wheel is something that only diligent practice can teach. And one you learn to consistently create a basic cylindrical piece of pottery, you'll be ready to move on to more advanced shaping techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl of water
• Clay
• Pottery wheel

Instructions

Center the Clay

1. Throw the clay down forcefully so that it is perfectly centered on the wheel. If the clay is not centered, the resulting pottery piece will be off balance.

2. Sit in front of the pottery wheel with one foot on each side of the pottery wheel. Place your forearms on your thighs. This is your shaping position. It will help you keep the clay centered as you shape it.

3. Spin the wheel slowly by pressing the pedal with your foot.

4. Shape the lump of clay into an equilateral cone. Slightly cup your hands and press on the clay lump to shape it. Press your forearms against your thigh and use your body weight to help you push the cone into shape as you keep it centered on the wheel.

5. Moisten your hands and the clay. Press the pedal more frequently to increase its speed. Depress the center of your clay. Press down on the center of the cone with the base of your left hand's palm to make a slight (1/2 inch deep or so) depression in the center of the cone. While you press down with your left hand, cup the side of the cone with your right hand to keep the sides of the clay pat straight and centered (the sides will take on a more cylindrical shape). Keep your right forearm pressed into your thigh with your body weight to keep your right hand still and stable.

6. Press your palms on both sides of the clay (while the wheel is still spinning rapidly) to force the clay upwards into a slightly tapered cylindrical shape that is roughly 4 inches tall. Stabilize your hands by pressing them against your thighs to keep the clay cylinder centered and even.

Open the Clay and Pull up the Sides

1. Stabilize the side of the spinning cylinder with your right hand. Then use the thumb of your right hand to depress the very center of the cylinder. Push down on your thumb with your left hand to help you create enough force. As you press, an opening will form in the center of the clay. Rest your right forearm on your thigh to help keep it still and keep the sides of the clay a uniform cylindrical shape.

2. Widen the opening. Insert the fingers of your right hand (keep your right forearm pressed on your thigh) into the depression you made in Step 1. Place your left hand over your right hand to help you create pressure and apply pressure outward and downward to widen and deepen the depression. Stop once you have a uniform cylinder and the clay is 1/4 inch thick at the bottom of the opening and the sides are are 3/4 inch thick. If water pools in the depression, use a sponge to soak it up.

3. Position your hands to pull up the sides of the cylinder. Stop the wheel from spinning momentarily. Start at the bottom of the depression and pinch the wall between your thumb (on the outside of the wall) and your forefinger (on the inside of the wall). Your forefinger and thumb should be directly opposite. Then wrap your left hand around your right so that your fingers press down on your left thumb to stabilize it and your left thumb rests just below the top of your wrist.

4. Spin the wheel slowly. Use your thumb and your forefinger to squeeze the walls. Then pull your thumb and forefinger up to pull up the walls.

5. Return your thumb and forefinger to the base of the wheel and squeeze and pull up again until the walls of the cylinder are as thick and tall as you want them to be. You may spin the wheel faster as you become more accustomed to the necessary technique.

Tips & Warnings

• After Step 5 in Section 1, continue to moisten your hands as needed to keep the clay slippery and easy to work.

References

• John Hester Pottery: A Beginners Guide to the Art of Ceramics