Handbuild a Teapot Spout

Summary

In this instructional video, the focus is on crafting the spout of a teapot. The presenter emphasizes the importance of creating a spout that transitions from wide to narrow and angles upwards for proper water flow. Two techniques are demonstrated: one using a spout maker and another with a barbecue skewer. The process involves rolling clay, wrapping it around the tool, and trimming excess. The presenter advises letting the clay stiffen before attaching the spout to the teapot body, ensuring it angles up to prevent water from pouring out when the lid is on. Attention to detail, such as the spout's position relative to the lid, is crucial for functionality.

Takeaways

• 🍵 Spouts should transition from wide to narrow to ensure proper water flow.
• 📏 Spouts need to be angled upwards to function correctly; a straight angle can cause pouring issues.
• 🛠️ Two tools are demonstrated for shaping spouts: a spout maker and a barbecue skewer.
• 🎨 The spout should be made from a clay slab rolled to about a quarter of an inch thickness.
• 🔄 It's crucial to keep the clay moving while wrapping it around the spout maker to prevent sticking.
• ✂️ Excess clay should be trimmed and smoothed to achieve the desired spout shape.
• 🔧 A rubber rib tool is used to blend and smooth the clay around the spout maker.
• 🌀 The process involves squeezing and spinning the clay to prevent it from sticking to the tool.
• 🔪 A knife is used to cut and refine the spout, ensuring a clean separation from the clay slab.
• 🌱 It's recommended to let the spout stiffen for a day before attaching it to the teapot body for easier handling.
• 📐 The spout should be attached at an angle that allows it to pour upwards, close to the middle of the teapot.

Q & A

What is the primary characteristic of a teapot spout according to the script?

The primary characteristic of a teapot spout is that it should go from wide to narrow and be angled upwards to ensure proper water flow.

Why should a teapot spout not angle straight down?

A teapot spout should not angle straight down because it would cause the water to pour out immediately without control, which is undesirable.

What are the two tools mentioned in the script for making teapot spouts?

The two tools mentioned for making teapot spouts are a spout maker and a barbecue skewer stick.

How does the script suggest controlling the water flow in a teapot spout?

The script suggests controlling the water flow by ensuring the spout is wide at the top and narrows down towards the end, and by angling the spout upwards.

What is the recommended thickness for the clay slab when making a spout using the spout maker?

The recommended thickness for the clay slab when making a spout using the spout maker is about a quarter of an inch.

Why is it important to keep the clay moving when wrapping it around the spout maker?

It is important to keep the clay moving when wrapping it around the spout maker to prevent it from sticking to the tool, which would require cutting off and starting over.

How does the script describe the process of attaching the spout to the teapot body?

The script describes the process of attaching the spout by cutting a hole in the teapot body that is as wide as the spout, then scoring and slipping the spout onto the hole.

What is the purpose of making a small coil of clay and adding it to the top of the spout?

The purpose of making a small coil of clay and adding it to the top of the spout is to round off the top, giving it a nice rounded look and finishing off the spout.

Why does the script recommend making the spout a day before attaching it to the teapot?

The script recommends making the spout a day before attaching it to the teapot to allow it to stiffen up, which makes it easier to cut and shape later.

How should the angle of the spout be in relation to the teapot body?

The spout should angle down a little from the teapot body so that it angles up, ensuring that water pours out properly without the lid falling off.

What is the significance of the spout's position in relation to the teapot lid?

The spout's position should be such that it goes above where the lid is, allowing for the teapot to be filled with water up to the lid without the lid falling off during pouring.

Outlines

00:00

🍵 Crafting the Teapot Spout

The paragraph introduces the process of making a teapot spout, emphasizing the importance of the spout's shape transitioning from wide to narrow and angling upwards for proper water flow. The speaker demonstrates two methods for creating spouts using different tools: a spout maker and a barbecue skewer. The first method involves rolling out clay to wrap around a spout maker, ensuring it doesn't stick by continuously moving it. The clay is then shaped and smoothed using a rubber rib tool. The second method uses a skewer to create a spout, focusing on maintaining a wide to narrow form. The speaker advises letting the clay stiffen for a day before attaching the spout to the teapot body for easier cutting and shaping.

05:01

🔪 Attaching the Spout with Precision

This paragraph details the technique for attaching the spout to the teapot body using a slip bottle as a stand-in for the teapot. The speaker explains the necessity of angling the spout upwards for proper water flow and demonstrates how to cut the spout at an angle to achieve this. The process involves drawing a line to mark the cutting point, cutting the spout to fit, and then attaching it to the teapot body using a slip. The speaker also discusses the importance of allowing the clay to stiffen before attaching the spout and provides tips for adjusting the spout's angle and shape after attachment. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to cut a hole in the teapot body that is slightly larger than the spout to facilitate attachment.

10:01

💧 Ensuring Proper Water Flow

The final paragraph reiterates the importance of the spout's design for the teapot's functionality, specifically the need for the spout to angle upwards to allow water to pour out smoothly without the lid falling off. The speaker highlights the significance of the spout's position relative to the teapot's lid, ensuring that water can be filled up to the lid's edge and poured out effectively. This paragraph serves as a conclusion, reinforcing the key points discussed in the previous sections about the spout's design and attachment.

Keywords

💡Spout

A spout is a tubular projection from the side of a container, designed to control the pouring of liquids. In the context of the video, the spout is a crucial part of a teapot, transitioning from wide to narrow to ensure proper water flow and prevent leakage. The script emphasizes the importance of the spout's shape and angle, which are essential for the teapot's functionality.

💡Teapot

A teapot is a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or herbs in boiling or near-boiling water. It is central to the video's theme, as the script discusses the process of crafting a teapot's spout. The teapot serves as the primary object for which the spout is being made, highlighting the craftsmanship and design considerations involved in pottery.

💡Wide to Narrow

This term refers to the shape of the spout, which starts wide at the top and tapers down to a narrower point. This design is crucial for controlling the flow of liquid from the teapot. The script illustrates this concept by showing how the spout should be formed, ensuring that it angles up to facilitate proper pouring.

💡Angle

In pottery, the angle of a spout is critical for its functionality. The script explains that the spout should not be straight but angled upwards to direct the flow of liquid effectively. This angle is demonstrated through the use of tools and techniques shown in the video, ensuring that the teapot pours correctly.

💡Barbecue Skewer

A barbecue skewer is a long, thin metal or wooden stick used for grilling food. In the video, it is repurposed as a tool for shaping the spout of a teapot. The script describes how rolling clay around a skewer helps create the 'wide to narrow' shape necessary for a functional spout.

💡Slab of Clay

A slab of clay refers to a flat, rectangular piece of clay that is rolled out to a specific thickness. In the video, the script mentions rolling out a slab to wrap around a spout maker, which is a technique used to form the spout's body. The slab's thickness and size are important for ensuring the spout's structural integrity.

💡Spout Maker

A spout maker is a specialized tool used in pottery to shape the spout of a teapot or similar vessel. The script describes using a spout maker to create a spout with a 'wide to narrow' profile. It is a key tool that helps in achieving the desired shape and angle for the spout.

💡Squeeze and Spin

This phrase describes a technique used in the video to shape the clay around the spout maker. By squeezing the clay and spinning the maker, the clay is evenly distributed and adheres properly to the tool. This method prevents the clay from sticking and ensures a smooth, even spout.

💡Rubber Rib Tool

A rubber rib tool is a pottery tool used for smoothing and refining the surface of clay. In the script, it is used to blend and smooth the clay around the spout after it has been shaped. This tool helps in achieving a clean, professional finish on the spout.

💡Score and Slip

Scoring and slipping is a pottery technique used to join two pieces of clay together. The script mentions this process when attaching the spout to the teapot body. Scoring involves creating a textured surface on the clay, and slipping involves applying a thin layer of liquid clay (slip) to the scored areas to create a bond.

💡Clay Stiffness

The stiffness of clay refers to its firmness or resistance to deformation. In the video, the script suggests letting the clay stiffen up a bit before attaching the spout, which makes it easier to cut and shape. This concept is important for ensuring that the spout holds its shape and attaches securely to the teapot.

Highlights

The spout of a teapot should transition from wide to narrow.

Spouts should angle upwards for proper pouring.

A pre-made spout can be tested by inserting it into a teapot to check for proper pouring.

Two different tools are demonstrated for making spouts: a spout maker and a barbecue skewer.

The spout maker showcases the wide to narrow look effectively.

Clay should be rolled out to about a quarter of an inch thickness for spout making.

When wrapping clay around the spout maker, keep it moving to prevent sticking.

Pinch and spin the clay to ensure it doesn't stick to the spout maker.

Use a knife to trim excess clay and refine the spout shape.

A rubber rib tool is used to blend and smooth the clay around the spout.

The spout should be cut at an angle to ensure proper water flow.

Allow the spout to stiffen for a day before attaching for easier cutting and shaping.

A small coil of clay can be added to the top of the spout for a rounded finish.

The barbecue skewer is a simple tool for making wider spouts.

Roll clay into a carrot shape, thick in the middle and thin at the ends, for the skewer method.

When using the skewer, roll the clay onto the skewer to maintain its center position.

Roll the clay in one direction to create a wide to narrow shape on the spout.

Cut the spout at an angle to ensure it angles upwards when attached to the teapot.

Before attaching the spout, cut a hole in the teapot body to match the spout's width.

The spout should be positioned close to the middle of the teapot for optimal pouring.

The spout's top should align with where the teapot lid will be, allowing water to fill up to the lid.

Transcripts

all right today we're going to talk

about making the spout of a teapot

here's some teapots we have here's

examples here's one made by a guest

artist there's a spout here and there's

a one made by a past students teapot

spout one thing about spouts you really

should need to know about is spouts go

from wide to narrow from wide narrow is

what they go from and they got to angle

up if they angle straight it's not going

to work very well and it it doesn't work

if I stuck a spout like this one

pre-made one year right inside of a

teapot it would just pour right out

which you don't want to have happen so

you got to kind of angle your spouts a

little bit so they pour up now I have

examples of two spouts here you can make

using two different tools the narrow one

here is made using this barbecue skewer

here and this one here is made using a

spout maker again it really shows off

the wide to narrow look and that's how

you make a good proper spout say you

control the water flow everything else

I'm going to first show you to make one

using the this one here then I'll show

you how to make one using the barbecue

sko they're both very simple and easy to

use and it gives you kind of idea of

what to make all right so first we're

going to use this tool right here going

to roll out a slab of

clay about a um qu of an inch thickness

is what you want to use want to make

sure it's big enough to wrap around your

uh your spout maker here so you're able

to make the spout the key thing is when

you wrap it around you got to keep

moving it if not it will stick to this

piece and you have to cut off and start

over which is not good so you want to

make sure you do that you can't move it

around cover things with newspaper but

this long as you keep moving it it

should be fine so I take some clay I

figure out the width I need to

be and I'm just going to take it and cut

it

off so I have it like that I'm begin to

kind of piece Mill it together doesn't

that look really good right off the bat

so I'm going to trim some of this excess

clay off when I first get started I'm

kind of pinching it on there and I give

a little bit of a spin so it doesn't

stick now I can take my knife I'm going

to cut off some of that excess clay that

I do not need right right

now I'm going to be a perfect cut right

away because like I said going to

be smoo some of it off a little bit and

again same thing off the top just kind

of get rid of that excess off the top so

I have it wrapped around my piece a

little bit better now what I do is I

kind of squeeze it on there and give it

a little bit of a spin and squeeze it on

there is what I'm

doing every time I squeeze I spin and I

squeeze the spin that way it doesn't

stick then I take a rubber rib tool and

I'm going to blend and smooth it around

first I'm going to go up towards the uh

the small spot I'm going go around one

time this helps kind of thin out my clay

and even it up and I spin

it do the same thing the opposite

direction on this

way again spin it again

now I'm going to do is I'm going to take

my knife you got FYE this one this is my

old one and I'm going to cut it off the

top again and I'm going to clean up the

bottom half of my piece as well with the

knife then one more time

through again I'm going to go down into

the bottom of the piece

give it a

spin and do the same thing coming up

this

way nice tiet pop it off and there is my

spout now one thing I'll do to help

finish this off a little bit I'll take a

little bit of playay and I'll make a

small tiny

coil

I'll kind of just add it to the top of

my spout here it kind of just rounds it

off gives a nice round look to it and I

kind of blend it in

there and shape a little bit more so it

kind of just finishes it off the spout

itself

spot maker I can put it back on there to

make sure it fits really

well crush

it I said you use a finger a wooden tool

it doesn't matter just going to blend

this stuff

on usually I tell people I recommend

making your spout a day before and

letting it stiffen up a bit we try to

some of you might have to put on right

away and that happens it happens but if

you let sit a little bit it makes it a

little bit easier to cut and shape later

and I'll demonstrate that a little bit

let how you make the wider spout using

the spout maker the next one I'm going

show to use is this wonderful thing

called a barbecue skewer stick very

simple very easy to use this time I'm

going to take some

clay I'm going to roll it into a shape

of a carrot thick to

th so I can roll it in my hands and

start rolling it out

out make sure it has that shape and then

I roll it on my

table so again it goes from thick to

thin see it kind of looks thick to thin

already and then I'll just cut off some

of this excess off the

end I'll take my skewer I'm going to put

it in the middle here now here's a crial

part people mess up on as I'm pushing

the skewer in I'm rolling my coil and

what this does it allows me to keep kind

of keeping as close to Cent as possible

if I try to hold it up and push it I'm

not going to be able to keep it in the

center by Rolling and pushing at the

same time allows to keep it somewhat in

the

middle close enough now when I have it

in there I'm then going to take it and

roll it One Direction I don't roll it

back and forth Just One Direction what

happens is it begins to widen

up the uh the back side

of the spout and leave the front spot

very narrow so that's what you want you

want a wide to narrow

spout so again I have that wide to

narrow spout I'll then take the in here

and get rid of that excess stuff that

came off there and I'll take the back in

my barbecue skewer kind of come in here

and push down a little bit on that

bottom part of that tool the ne of these

spouts I cut them at an

angle

I have a spout using the barbecue

skewer right now I'm use the ones I let

sit for a little bit cuz they're a

little bit stiffer and show you how to

attach them we'll take this wonderful

slip bottle and pretend it's the body of

my

teapot if I took a spout and just stick

it straight on there get to properly

work I almost have to put it all the way

at the top but I want to angle down a

little bit so it angles up so what I do

is I'll put it behind use my other C

here put it behind the tool

here angle I want to and then I'm going

to draw a line it's right down the side

of my

piece it gives me an idea of where I

want my line to be to cut my spout so

then what I do is I'll take my knife

I'll just cut that angle

down and if you look closely I attach it

onto it it then has that angle I want my

spout to be now angles up is very

critical about that it angles it up

instead of being straight in there and

then all I do is I'll take my body I'll

cut a hole score and slip it on attach

it you got to cut a hole that's going to

be just as wide as this piece to

attach now it's kind of hard to see in

here but if you look inside the teapot

here you can see the hole that's in

there you need to cut a hole before you

attach

it so have angle there and the same

thing with these again same idea again

I'll put it this way so you can see I'll

put it this way you look at it first

your side and I'm going to draw a line

so I kind of know where to cut it it

tells me where I have to cut it and then

I take my knife P that line cut it down

again score and slip it on I have that

nice angled spout I want and the clay

stiffens up a bit Le sat for a day or so

stiffens up a bit it makes easier I can

also come in here if I don't want that

angle to be that way and come in here I

can cut this off shape it a bit more go

back in there with my stick and get more

of that pour I want to make it that

angle I want to and then I can even bend

it if I want to like it's a little too

high for me I want to have a nice little

slope I can do that with it as well all

kind of things you do it to it but

you're better off building it letting it

sit for a day and then then working on

it a lot of kids struggle with it when

they try to put all in one day it

doesn't really work that way that's how

you make your spout just remember wide

to narrow wide to narrow have it angle

up somewhere a little bit close to the

middle of your teapot that's where you

want the spout to be the spout top

should go right where your lid's going

to be as you can see from here this

example here it goes above where the lid

is so I can fill away water all the way

up to the lid itself and then I got to

be able take it and be able to pour it

or water will come out of it without the

lid falling off if it pulls too far so

you got to be aware of that as well you

make your angle of your spout and that's

how it works and don't forget about

cutting a hole before you attach it

makes it very easy as well think your H

should be always a little bit bigger

than you think it should be so how way

water can actually pour in there and

that's how you make a spout for your

teapot