Michael Wendt on tue 16 jan 07
Darrell,
Go to :
http://www.wendtpottery.com/workshop.htm
and check out the rod and restand method.
You can throw virtually any size item with
this method right from the beginning.
There is a video clip of the method.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
USA
208-746-3724
http://www.wendtpottery.com
wendtpot@lewiston.com
Nancy on tue 16 jan 07
Darrell
I would center low and wide, almost as big as you want the pot to be. I
use the ball of my hand and push the clay from the center and away from
me, I learned this technique from another potter about 4 years ago and
it works beautifully. It can be hard opening such a low wide piece by
fingers. If that doesn't work be sure to center your piece almost as
wide as you'd like it and then open in your normal way but if the piece
starts to double wall on you, compress it and make it one, don't let it
get too far before you do this, you may need to do it a couple of times
but you should be able to elminate the double wall that way.
You could also throw a bottomless cylinder, let it firm up and then put
a slab bottom on it, this also would allow you square up the piece ifyou
wanted to. I'm sure you will get a lot of suggetions and ideas from the
great people here, try them all and see which works for you the best and
then master it :D
Nancy
www.hilltoppottery.com
Darrell Walker wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm a beginning potter, been at it for just under a year. My primary
> interest is in bonsai containers. While these can take many shapes,
> many are low, wide cylinders. 12" wide by 2-3" tall would be a
> typical size. I've been trying some different methods to throw
> these, but have not found any that seem completely right.
>
> I've tried making my centered lump about the same diameter as the
> finished pot. But when I open, I usually end up with a double wall
> which is too thin out at the edge. I've had some success in
> continually reforming the wall as I open, but that doesn't always work.
>
> The other method I've tried is centering a more typical lump, then as
> I open, pulling the shape to the finished width. but the results in
> rolling the "wall" to become part of the base, and I also end up
> creating a lot of cracks on the outside from stretching the clay that
> much. Again, I've tried reforming the wall as I open, which
> sometimes helps.
>
> Am I on the right track with either of these methods, or are there
> other techniques I should try?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Darrell Walker
> Vancouver, WA
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
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>
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>
Leigh Whitaker on tue 16 jan 07
Have you tried throwing these as if you were going to make a plate, by
pressing out from the center with the heel of you hand? I would guess that then
you could pull up the edges rather than flaring them out like a plate. I
haven't ever made a form like that myself (having been at this for even less time
than you), but that's probably the first way I would try to make it.
Darrell Walker on tue 16 jan 07
Hi,
I'm a beginning potter, been at it for just under a year. My primary
interest is in bonsai containers. While these can take many shapes,
many are low, wide cylinders. 12" wide by 2-3" tall would be a
typical size. I've been trying some different methods to throw
these, but have not found any that seem completely right.
I've tried making my centered lump about the same diameter as the
finished pot. But when I open, I usually end up with a double wall
which is too thin out at the edge. I've had some success in
continually reforming the wall as I open, but that doesn't always work.
The other method I've tried is centering a more typical lump, then as
I open, pulling the shape to the finished width. but the results in
rolling the "wall" to become part of the base, and I also end up
creating a lot of cracks on the outside from stretching the clay that
much. Again, I've tried reforming the wall as I open, which
sometimes helps.
Am I on the right track with either of these methods, or are there
other techniques I should try?
Thanks!
Darrell Walker
Vancouver, WA
Ruben Reyes on wed 17 jan 07
Hello Darrell
Center a mound of clay then flatten it to the width an thickness you want to make the bottom, be sure you compress
the clay well. then add a coil on to you base and pull it to the height and thickness you want, the bigger the coil the
the taller the wall.
good luck
Ruben Reyes
San Jose, California
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Darrell Walker
> Hi,
>
> I'm a beginning potter, been at it for just under a year. My primary
> interest is in bonsai containers. While these can take many shapes,
> many are low, wide cylinders. 12" wide by 2-3" tall would be a
> typical size. I've been trying some different methods to throw
> these, but have not found any that seem completely right.
>
> I've tried making my centered lump about the same diameter as the
> finished pot. But when I open, I usually end up with a double wall
> which is too thin out at the edge. I've had some success in
> continually reforming the wall as I open, but that doesn't always work.
>
> The other method I've tried is centering a more typical lump, then as
> I open, pulling the shape to the finished width. but the results in
> rolling the "wall" to become part of the base, and I also end up
> creating a lot of cracks on the outside from stretching the clay that
> much. Again, I've tried reforming the wall as I open, which
> sometimes helps.
>
> Am I on the right track with either of these methods, or are there
> other techniques I should try?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Darrell Walker
> Vancouver, WA
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on thu 18 jan 07
Dear Darrell Walker.=20
It would be difficult to describe the ways in which your problem can be =
solved but there are excellent photo essays in Elspeth S. Woody, =
"Pottery on the Wheel" and in Donald Campbell, "Using the Potter's =
Wheel" which show some of the techniques you might find useful. Think of =
it as making a shallow casserole
There is also an interesting illustrated essay in Pottery Making =
Illustrated, Spring 2001, pp 15-18 if you can get hold of a copy. The =
title is "Bonsai Planter: Combining Thrown Parts and Rolled Slabs" which =
features an advanced technique of creating traditional high quality =
Bonsai Planters.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
South Australia.
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