Making large plates on the wheel can be daunting and especially hard on your wrists. For us potters, it’s nice to have any tips or tricks to make the throwing process easier on our bodies. This brings me to the good ol’ rolling pin hack, which is a huge victory for potters when needing to make a mass amount of large plates.
First, start by centering your clay, then take a rolling pin and get it wet. Keeping your clay and rolling pin wet are essential to minimize friction and allow for smooth movement.
Next, firmly push down on the clay with the rolling pin (1, 2). Firmly push hands on each end of the rolling pin keeping the rolling pin stationary. The rolling pin should not spin. The clay will start to flatten out. Lift the rolling pin periodically to add more water. Once you have reached your desired thickness, remove any excess clay from the edge with a needle tool. Lastly, use a wooden angle tool to lift the edge of the clay to form a nice lip (see 3).
I’ve noticed that using a consistent force to flatten really helps compress the clay to also aid in less cracking and warping. Although, be sure to slowly dry your plates as this is the best way to prevent cracking. I hope this tip inspires you to make plates!
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Making large plates on the wheel can be daunting and especially hard on your wrists. For us potters, it’s nice to have any tips or tricks to make the throwing process easier on our bodies. This brings me to the good ol’ rolling pin hack, which is a huge victory for potters when needing to make a mass amount of large plates.
First, start by centering your clay, then take a rolling pin and get it wet. Keeping your clay and rolling pin wet are essential to minimize friction and allow for smooth movement.
Next, firmly push down on the clay with the rolling pin (1, 2). Firmly push hands on each end of the rolling pin keeping the rolling pin stationary. The rolling pin should not spin. The clay will start to flatten out. Lift the rolling pin periodically to add more water. Once you have reached your desired thickness, remove any excess clay from the edge with a needle tool. Lastly, use a wooden angle tool to lift the edge of the clay to form a nice lip (see 3).
I’ve noticed that using a consistent force to flatten really helps compress the clay to also aid in less cracking and warping. Although, be sure to slowly dry your plates as this is the best way to prevent cracking. I hope this tip inspires you to make plates!
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