Pottery tools in use

The ancient handicraft of making clay pottery pieces has always included the use of tools. Unlike the distant past, when the tools were limited and potters had to make do with what was available, there is now many mass-produced intricate tools which you can use to craft wonderful pieces.

Instructions

Step 1

Employ hook tools to turn clay. These are extremely sharp implements that are angled and can have many differently shaped heads to handle different pieces.

Step 2

Buy hole cutters to make clean holes in pottery that is thick or wheel thrown.

Step 3

Buy a triangle-shaped plastic scrubbing pad that can be used to smooth the interior of a hole already made. Simply insert the tool in the hole and twist.

Step 4

Buy handle makers to form coils that can be used as handles or to create a coil pot. These tools are handles with small loops used to pull through the clay.

Step 5

Use glaze dipping tongs with sharp points to dip your pottery pieces. These are generally less than 1-foot long and have 4 gripping points.

Step 6

Use a fettling knife to trim, sculpt and carve pieces of pottery. This is an essential tool for anyone who makes pottery.

Step 7

Invest in a faceting tool to pull off big pieces of clay and when you need to do extensive carving.

Step 8

Buy an embossing tool for detailed work like tracing designs and signing your work. This tool makes very clean lines and often comes with a number of different ball heads to create various details.

Step 9

Invest in cutting tools, which are essential for trim work on the kickwheel and general sculpting.

Step 10

Bevel holes with a double-pointed dowel tool. This tool also smoothes the holes made into the clay.

Step 11

Produce patterns and different textures on your pottery with a clay hammer which has a variety of designs on its heads.

Step 12

Buy a clay cutter, which is a lengthy piece of wire that has handles. This tool is used to cut and slice sections of block clay.

Step 13

Invest in a banding wheel, which is a tabletop object. To use it, place your pottery on the wheel, take a loaded paint brush and hold it against the section of the piece you wish to band and spin the wheel. You'll produce a band that encircles your pottery.