As a potter, one of my favorite things to do is reverse engineer interesting and unique forms and find simple ways to construct them in clay. One such challenge I took was with some old octagonal glass tumblers that I inherited.
I usually dislike dealing with symmetry and multi-sided forms because of the complicated math involved, but this project required only a little bit of simple math.
Supplies
Tar paper (Roofing Felt) #30. You can find rolls of this in almost any hardware store. They may cut the desired length you need so you don’t have to buy the entire roll.
Carpet tube. This sturdy cardboard tube is less likely to bend than regular tubes used with paper towels and wrapping paper. I called a carpet store and asked for one. Size will vary by availability in your area. The size of the tube will determine the diameter of your tumbler.
X-Acto knife
Thin plastic, enough to wrap around your carpet tube
Making the Template
Begin by covering the carpet tube with plastic wrap. Roll out a ¼-inch-thick clay slab. (0.6-cm) The slab should be long enough to cover your carpet tube and tall enough for the height you want your tumbler to be. Wrap the clay slab around the plastic-covered carpet tube. Bevel, score, and attach the ends. Then, cut away any excess clay from the seam and bottom. Use a rubber rib to smooth the seam (1).
Decide how tall you want the tumbler and cut the excess clay from the rim (2). Next, vertically slice down the clay tube (3). Without stretching it, flatten the clay slab onto the lined side of the tar paper. Trace around the slab (4). Remove from the slab, then divide the length of the template into eight equal sections using a ruler and pencil. Lightly score along the measured marks with a wallpaper knife, but do not cut through the tar paper completely (5). Cut the rectangle from the tar paper with an X-Acto knife. Pre-bend each division where it was scored so it curls around into an octagon shape (6).
Creating the Tumbler Body
Roll out a fresh ¼-inch-thick (0.6-cm) slab large enough to fit the template and smooth the surface with a rubber rib. The slab needs to be wet but not tacky, or the clay will adhere to the tar paper, making it impossible to peel away later (7).
With the template in place, cut away the excess clay around the template. Then, turn over the template, score along both vertical edges of the clay, and apply slip to one edge. Wrap plastic wrap around the carpet tube again and dampen the overlapping edges so it will stick to itself (do not tape). Keeping the template attached to the slab, score the edges, then wrap the clay/template piece around the carpet tube and attach the clay ends together (8). Using a rubber rib, smooth the clay and the template ends.
Lay each flat panel section on the table and lightly press it down to begin creating the eight sides. Along the rim and continuing down each section, pinch along the edges or corners of each section (9) until you have eight well-defined sections. Do this until you have eight well-defined sections. Try not to thin the walls as you pinch and flatten.
Creating the Floor
Place a ¼-inch-thick (0.6-cm) slab on a banding wheel. Set the tumbler body onto the slab. Trace around the tumbler, creating the foot (10). Remove the tumbler body and score the inner edge of the foot and the bottom edge of the body. Connect the two parts. Cut around the template and remove the excess clay. Then, trim away excess clay from around the rim.
Carefully peel the tar paper from the tumbler without stretching the clay (11). Now, seal the floor to the body along the outside seam. Smooth the sides using a rubber rib (12).
Now that the form is smooth, slide out the carpet tube (13), and peel away the plastic wrap (14). Roll a small coil and drop it down to the inside bottom floor. Smooth this coil with a paintbrush. With wet fingers, soften and round the rim. Smooth the inner seam with a paintbrush (15). Let it dry slowly.
Decorate as desired and fire to the clay manufacturer’s recommended temperature.
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As a potter, one of my favorite things to do is reverse engineer interesting and unique forms and find simple ways to construct them in clay. One such challenge I took was with some old octagonal glass tumblers that I inherited.
I usually dislike dealing with symmetry and multi-sided forms because of the complicated math involved, but this project required only a little bit of simple math.
Supplies
Making the Template
Begin by covering the carpet tube with plastic wrap. Roll out a ¼-inch-thick clay slab. (0.6-cm) The slab should be long enough to cover your carpet tube and tall enough for the height you want your tumbler to be. Wrap the clay slab around the plastic-covered carpet tube. Bevel, score, and attach the ends. Then, cut away any excess clay from the seam and bottom. Use a rubber rib to smooth the seam (1).
Decide how tall you want the tumbler and cut the excess clay from the rim (2). Next, vertically slice down the clay tube (3). Without stretching it, flatten the clay slab onto the lined side of the tar paper. Trace around the slab (4). Remove from the slab, then divide the length of the template into eight equal sections using a ruler and pencil. Lightly score along the measured marks with a wallpaper knife, but do not cut through the tar paper completely (5). Cut the rectangle from the tar paper with an X-Acto knife. Pre-bend each division where it was scored so it curls around into an octagon shape (6).
Creating the Tumbler Body
Roll out a fresh ¼-inch-thick (0.6-cm) slab large enough to fit the template and smooth the surface with a rubber rib. The slab needs to be wet but not tacky, or the clay will adhere to the tar paper, making it impossible to peel away later (7).
With the template in place, cut away the excess clay around the template. Then, turn over the template, score along both vertical edges of the clay, and apply slip to one edge. Wrap plastic wrap around the carpet tube again and dampen the overlapping edges so it will stick to itself (do not tape). Keeping the template attached to the slab, score the edges, then wrap the clay/template piece around the carpet tube and attach the clay ends together (8). Using a rubber rib, smooth the clay and the template ends.
Lay each flat panel section on the table and lightly press it down to begin creating the eight sides. Along the rim and continuing down each section, pinch along the edges or corners of each section (9) until you have eight well-defined sections. Do this until you have eight well-defined sections. Try not to thin the walls as you pinch and flatten.
Creating the Floor
Place a ¼-inch-thick (0.6-cm) slab on a banding wheel. Set the tumbler body onto the slab. Trace around the tumbler, creating the foot (10). Remove the tumbler body and score the inner edge of the foot and the bottom edge of the body. Connect the two parts. Cut around the template and remove the excess clay. Then, trim away excess clay from around the rim.
Carefully peel the tar paper from the tumbler without stretching the clay (11). Now, seal the floor to the body along the outside seam. Smooth the sides using a rubber rib (12).
Now that the form is smooth, slide out the carpet tube (13), and peel away the plastic wrap (14). Roll a small coil and drop it down to the inside bottom floor. Smooth this coil with a paintbrush. With wet fingers, soften and round the rim. Smooth the inner seam with a paintbrush (15). Let it dry slowly.
Decorate as desired and fire to the clay manufacturer’s recommended temperature.
Ann Ruel owns and operates Little Street Pottery in Ocala, Florida. She offers video workshops at www.youtube.com/@LittleStreetPottery. You can also find her at annruelpottery.com and on Facebook at Little Street Pottery.
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