HOW TO MAKE A PINCH POT
Summary
TLDRIn this instructional video, the host teaches the art of creating a pinch pot using a one-pound chunk of clay. The process involves forming a round ball, puncturing it without breaking the base, and pinching it into shape. The host demonstrates how to use the table surface for support and alternate hands for stability. Techniques for thinning walls, fixing base issues, and trimming the rim are shared. The video also covers potential issues, like asymmetry, and solutions like re-wedging the clay. Finally, the host adds a foot ring and handle to enhance the pot's aesthetics.
Takeaways
- 🤲 Start with a one-pound wedged clay and shape it into a round ball.
- 👇 Use your thumb to create a hole in the center without breaking through the base.
- 🔄 Pinch the clay from the inside, alternating top to bottom and vice versa, to thin the walls.
- 👎 Utilize the table surface to support the pot's side profile while pinching to maintain shape.
- 🚫 Avoid aggressive handling to prevent misshapen pots.
- 💧 Add water to the rim if it cracks, and gently compress to fuse clay platelets.
- ✂️ Trim the rim with a steady hand using a needle tool or scalpel.
- 🖋️ Smooth the rim with a sponge or chamois after trimming.
- 🔢 Mark the bottom of the pot with your name and number after day one.
- 🔄 If the pot shape is unsatisfactory, re-wedge the clay and start again.
- 🔧 Use a trimming stick or rib tool to smooth flat surfaces or create squared edges.
- 🔗 Attach a foot ring by slipping and scoring to ensure a strong bond with the pot.
- 🎨 Add a handle for aesthetics, using the same slipping and scoring technique.
Q & A
What is the first step in making a pinch pot according to the script?
-The first step is to wedge out a one-pound chunk of clay and shape it into a perfectly round ball.
How do you start forming the pinch pot after making a ball of clay?
-You start by puncturing the ball of clay with your thumb without perforating the base.
What is the purpose of pinching the clay from the bottom to the top and vice versa?
-Pinching the clay in this manner thins out the walls of the pot and helps in shaping it.
Why is it important to use the table surface while pinching the pot?
-Using the table surface provides support to the side profile of the pinch pot, keeping it sturdy and preventing it from flaring out too wide.
What is the basic pinching motion described in the script?
-The basic pinching motion involves alternating hands to support the pinch pot while pinching with the other, allowing for a balanced and even shaping.
Why is it crucial to avoid thick walls when making a pinch pot?
-Thick walls would result in a heavy object, which is not desired for a functional utilitarian object like a door stopper.
How can one fix the bottom of the pinch pot if it becomes too conical?
-The bottom can be fixed by tapping it on the table or adding a foot ring to achieve the desired shape.
What should you do if the rim of the pinch pot cracks while making it?
-Add a little bit of water to the rim and smooth it out to prevent further cracking.
Why is it necessary to write your name and number on the bottom of the pinch pot?
-It helps to identify the maker of the pinch pot and prevents confusion with others' work.
What is the ideal condition of the clay on day one before it is bagged?
-The clay should be in a leather-hard state, which means it is no longer plastic and can withstand pressure without bending or flexing much.
How can one ensure that the clay pieces stick together when adding a foot ring or handle?
-Slip and score the surfaces where the clay pieces meet to allow the platelets to interlock and use slip as a bonding agent.
Outlines
🎨 Introduction to Making a Pinch Pot
The video begins by explaining how to make a pinch pot. The instructor emphasizes that you should have already prepared a one-pound ball of clay by wedging it. Then, the process of shaping the clay begins by slapping it into a perfectly round ball. The instructor advises using your thumb to puncture the clay without breaking the base. Pinching motions are described, which thin out the walls of the pot from top to bottom, allowing it to expand. Using a table surface helps maintain the pot's shape and prevent it from flaring too wide. The instructor alternates hands to support the clay while pinching, explaining that this helps control the pot's thickness. The goal is to avoid making the pot too thick or heavy.
🧑🎨 Refining the Shape of the Pinch Pot
The instructor focuses on areas where the clay remains thick, specifically at the base of the pinch pot. They recommend supporting the pot with your hand and compressing the bottom to form a conical shape. If the base needs adjustments, tapping it on the table or adding a foot ring is suggested. The video then describes thinning out the walls to the desired thickness and shaping the pot. If cracks form on the rim, adding a small amount of water can help smooth them out. The instructor also suggests compressing the rim to ensure the clay fuses properly and to prevent future cracks.
🔪 Trimming and Leveling the Rim
Now, the instructor demonstrates how to trim the rim of the pinch pot. The pot is centered on a banding or kick wheel, and a needle tool or scalpel is used to draw a line at the top for trimming. After cutting away the excess clay, the rim is smoothed out using a sponge or chamois. The instructor recommends turning the pot upside down and writing your name and number on the bottom to avoid confusion. The pinch pot is then placed in a plastic bag without spraying water and stored on a wear board. The instructor discusses common mistakes like the pot becoming too wide or asymmetrical and offers tips for re-wedging the clay and restarting if necessary.
🖌️ Altering the Shape of the Pinch Pot
The video moves on to altering the form of the pinch pot. By applying pressure to specific areas, the instructor demonstrates how to create a square shape by pinching the corners and pushing the inside with a finger. A paddle can help shape the sides, and tools like a trimming stick or flat rib tool smooth out the surfaces. These techniques require patience, but the instructor assures that they lead to the desired form. By Day 2, the pinch pot should be leather-hard, meaning it is firm but not too flexible, and ready for further refinements.
🧽 Smoothing and Detailing the Pinch Pot
To smooth the pinch pot, the instructor uses a serrated metal rib to score the surface, eliminating finger marks and indentations. This rough surface is then smoothed out with a damp sponge, and the pot is burnished with the back of a rib or a spoon to achieve a polished look. The pot is checked for symmetry by spinning it on the banding wheel, ensuring a balanced and even shape.
🏺 Adding a Foot Ring and Handle
The final steps involve adding a foot ring and an optional handle to the pinch pot. The foot ring is created by rolling a small coil of clay and attaching it to the bottom of the pot using the slip-and-score technique. This ensures the ring adheres properly to the pot. After pinching and smoothing the ring, the instructor squares the area where it is attached and smooths it out. A handle is then added to enhance the form of the pot, though it is more for aesthetic purposes than utility. The same slip-and-score technique is used to attach the handle securely.
👏 Final Thoughts and Closing
The instructor wraps up the demonstration by summarizing the steps involved in making a pinch pot. From shaping and thinning the walls to adding a foot ring and handle, the process is described in detail. The video ends with the finished pinch pot, ready for further finishing steps, such as glazing or firing. The instructor thanks viewers for watching and encourages them to practice the techniques demonstrated.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pinch pot
💡Wedge
💡Puncture
💡Profile
💡Flaring
💡Bending wheel
💡Pliable
💡Rim
💡Leather hard
💡Foot ring
💡Handle
Highlights
Start by wedging a one-pound chunk of clay and forming it into a perfectly round ball.
Use your thumb to puncture the center of the clay, being careful not to perforate the base.
Pinch the clay from the bottom to the top to thin it out while widening the mouth of the pot.
Use two thumbs inside the pot to apply pressure as you continue shaping.
Support the side of the pinch pot using the table surface to prevent it from flaring out too wide.
For thick clay at the base, compress it using the palm and fingers to create a cone shape.
To fix cracks on the rim, add a little water and smooth it out by gently compressing the rim.
Center the pot on a wheel, then trim the rim with a needle tool to make it level.
If the pot is asymmetrical or flares out too wide, wedge and reshape the clay until it's pliable.
Square off the pot's shape by pinching the corners and applying pressure to the sides.
Smooth out the surface of the pot by scoring it and using a dampened sponge in a waxing motion.
Check for symmetry by spinning the pot on the wheel after smoothing and shaping it.
Add a foot ring to the bottom by slipping and scoring a coil of clay to attach it.
Slip and score the handle to the side profile of the pot for added aesthetic appeal.
Burnish the surface with a rib or spoon to achieve a smooth, seamless finish.
Transcripts
hey folks today I'm gonna teach you how
to make a pinch pot by now you should
have already wedged out a one-pound
chunk of clay
now you're gonna slap and wat it into a
perfectly round ball next take your
thumb and puncture down into the ball of
clay but be careful not to perforate the
base you're gonna need that if we look
at the inside profile this is what you
would see as I pinch the clay from the
bottom to the top and top to bottom it's
going to eventually thin out as I pinch
around the inside with one hand the
mouth will get wider and I'll be able to
fit two thumbs on the inside as I apply
pinching pressure from top to bottom and
bottom to top the pot will expand and
eventually become thinner I want you to
notice how I'm using the table surface
to support the side profile of the pinch
pot this allows me to keep it sturdy as
I pinch and prevents it from flaring out
too wide the bending wheel would be
preferable here but it's likely that not
everyone will be able to use one at the
same time so this is an easy
accomodation this is the basic pinching
motion that I'm using when I'm pinching
the pinch pots notice that I'm
alternating my hands as I'm pinching
this allows me to support the pinch pot
with one hand while I'm pinching with
the other and vice versa if I look at a
side profile of the stage that I'm at
right now you can see the walls are
starting to thin out then this is kind
of the end goal here because if the
walls are thick we're gonna end up with
a heavy object and we don't want a door
stopper we want a fully functional
utilitarian object
so down at the very bottom of the pinch
pot there's some thick clay that I
couldn't quite reach with my thumbs
so I'm supporting the base of the pinch
pot with the palm of my hand and a
cup-like motion and just kind of
compressing down with my fingers of my
right hand this is gonna kind of make
the pinch pot conical or cone-shaped
down at the very bottom but that can be
pretty easily fixed by tapping the base
on the table or adding a foot ring
[Music]
all right now you can see the walls are
adequately thinned out so now I can take
this time and shape my pinch pot trim
the rim and kind of smooth out the
surface so that it looks a lot nicer if
while you're making your pinch pot
you're noticing the rim cracking simply
just add a little bit of water to the
rim and smooth it out just a dab will do
it also be a good idea to kind of gently
compress down on the rim and that'll
really make sure that the clay platelets
fuse together so that you can avoid more
cracking in the future so now I'm going
to trim the rim of the pinch pot level
what you're going to need to do first is
Center the pinch pot on the banding
wheel or a kick wheel or any wheel for
that matter and with a needle tool or a
scalpel draw a line with a steady hand
at the very top where you intend to cut
you might need to make a couple pass
throughs but gently lift off the excess
amount that has been cut away and then
with a sponge or a chamois just smooth
out the rim after you're finished on day
one you're gonna want to turn your pinch
pot upside down and scrub your name and
pair your number on the bottom of the
pinch pot this is so you don't confuse
it with anyone elses gently put it into
a plastic bag no need to spray it at
this point and cover it up completely
set it on a wear board and then gently
slide it into your cubby space so since
we're still on the topic of day one
let's talk about a couple of things that
could go wrong let's say your pinch pot
isn't looking much like a pot at all
let's say that it's flaring out too wide
or it's extremely asymmetrical what you
could do is take your clay and dunk it
back into the water bucket that's at
your table smash it in between your
fingers multiple times you can even try
and Reeve wedge it but ultimately just
work it back to the normal pliable
plastic consistency of the clay that you
originally got out of the bin once
that's done the clay is ready to use
again
also be careful with the way that you
handle your pinch pot you don't want to
aggressively tap it on the table drop it
or miss handle it in any way that miss
shapes the overall form otherwise that
might likely result in and restart and
that's never fun if I'm wanting to alter
the form in any way that's going to come
from the pressure that I put in certain
areas of the pinch pots so the square
that I'm making right here I've pinched
the corners and I'm kind of pushing up
against the inside base or the wall
excuse me with a finger so pressure
counter pressure once I've pinched to
make that kind of squared off shape then
I'm gonna take a petal and kind of just
paddle up the sides to assist with
getting that squared off form also a
trimming stick or a flat rib tool will
help kind of smooth out the flat
surfaces or the squared off sides that
I'm trying to achieve takes a lot of
work to get but eventually it all comes
through alrighty so on day 2 remove your
pinch pot from the bag and check to make
sure it's leather hard other hard is
when the clay is no longer plastic and
durable enough to withstand the pressure
you put on it it shouldn't bend or flex
very much at all so what I'm doing right
here and one of the ironies of working
with clay is that you have to sometimes
rough up the surface in order to smooth
it out
that's very applicable in this situation
if I want to eliminate my finger marks
and indentations I need to score the
surface with a serrated metal rib likely
multiple times to achieve the desired
effect then I need to smooth out the
surface in a waxing motion with a
dampened sponge yes this will make the
surface a little groggy but then I can
burnish it down with the flat side of
the rib or the backside of a spoon
alrighty so it looks like I'm done here
just gonna place this upside down on the
banding wheel and spin it a few times to
make sure that I've achieved the
symmetry that I was looking for all
through shaving and paddling
so after achieving symmetry in my shape
and smoothing it out I'm gonna add an
elaborate foot ring to the bottom of
this pot to do so I'm gonna place a
small coil by slipping and scoring it
into place scoring is the action of
scratching the surface you intend to add
clay to this allows the platelets to
readily interlock together slip is like
the bonding agent that glues the clay
together these two actions assure that
your two pieces of clay will stick
together I'm going to continue to pinch
this ring until it gets a little wider
basically just think about making it
another pinch pot underneath your first
pinch pot so already I've pinched the
foot thinned it trimmed it and smoothed
it out I'm going to take a rasping tool
and square the area where I attach the
ring and then I'm going to smooth it out
with a sponge for a seamless transition
from the body to the foot next I'm going
to add a handle to the pinch pot not
that it needs one but I feel like it'll
suit the form and will likely be more
aesthetic than utility just like when I
attach the foot ring I'm gonna slip and
score the handle to the side profile to
assure that it sticks well on the pot
[Music]
and that my friends is how you make a
pinch pot thanks for watching
[Music]
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