For your two-hour practice session this week, make at least eight pots (mugs or bowls). Keep the best two and recycle the others.
Tips: Drying and finishing your pots
- cut the piece off as soon as the water has dried from the surface of the bat
- Let piece stiffen on the bat
- As soon as the piece is stiff enough to handle without distortion, flip it over so the bottom can dry
- Dry slowly; wrap in plastic to keep moist (newspaper square top and bottom)
- Remember to label your piece with your name and the date while it's on the shelf
- When piece is leatherhard (about the hardness of cheddar cheese)
- Clean up the bottom edge with a metal rib
- Roll the bottom edge on a smooth surface
- Write your name and the date on the bottom
- Put the piece back on the class shelf (unwrapped) until it is bone dry
- When piece is bone dry:
- clean up rough spots with a metal rib or fettling knife and a damp sponge
- put the piece on the "to bisque" shelf for bisque firing
Next class we'll talk about:
- glazing and decorating
- softening clay
- reclaiming clay
- handles for mugs
Cheers,
Jay
