Tools I Use the Most

My tools never look this clean on a daily basis. They are normally covered in clay and scattered about this tray.

Some of the tools I purchased, some I made, some are altered to fit my needs, others are repurposed from ordinary items and some like my signature stamps were designed by me but manufactured by someone else. 

The reason for this post is that I will be teaching a beginning throwing class at the Sedona Arts Center and I want to share with students the tools I use the most.

Students can purchase a Kemper Basic Tool Kit from the Sedona Arts Center for $15. The tools in the basic tool kit will get you started but when you want to move up to more professional grade tools you can visit the sites listed below.

The places I frequently order my tools from include Mudtools, Bailey Pottery, Axner Pottery and Dick Blick for square throwing bats.  You can get some of these tools at Marjon Ceramics if you happen to be down in Phoenix, AZ.

If you would like to order your own pewter signature stamp you can get one made at 4clay.com.

Making, buying and fabricating your own pottery tools is part of the process. Many of the tools I buy do not work out the way I think they will so I have a few boxes full of tools I rarely use - but when I bought them I thought they were going to be put to good purpose! Part of having a hobby or an avocation is the joy of getting to buy stuff for it. Pottery has no shortage of things to spend your money on so have fun filling up your tool box.😉

Making Hard Clay into Soft Clay the Easy Way

 

Watch this video to learn the easiest way to soften a bag of clay that is too hard to use. This method has a 100% money back guarantee.

There is a different method that people use to soften clay where they add some water to the pug of clay and then submerge it into a 5 gallon bucket of water and let it sit overnight. This method is way more difficult than it needs to be. Who has room in their studio or classroom for 5 gallon buckets of clay and who wants to lift all of those buckets or deal with wet bags of clay afterwards?  The method I present in this video is for those who want the easiest method that requires the least amount of effort. You could say it is for people who want to work efficiently or you could say it is the laziest way to do this.

Stull's Map explained by Matt Katz of Ceramic Materials Workshop

 As the title says, this video is the Stull Map explained. This video gives you an idea of what glazes will appear in certain areas of the map. Think of it as an overview of the territory of the Stull Map. To me this map is the starting point for creating glazes. I view it as indispensable in analyzing glazes and figuring out how to adapt them to fit my needs,