| Throwing the Cylinder |
| Throwing the Cylinder |
From "Throwing Clay"
episode DTHC-103 |
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This versatile two-piece bowl will keep dip warm or cool, as needed, at your next party. Master potter Bill Van Gilder demonstrates how to make this unique bowl set out of stoneware clay.
Bill has been throwing clay for more than 30 years, and one of his specialties is beautiful pottery that's also functional (figure A). His dip warmer/cooler is clever and unique because two pieces of pottery fit together to become one. If you put ice in the bottom of the cylinder and dip in the top bowl, the dip will stay cold. Fill the cylinder half-full with boiling water to keep dip hot (figure B).
Tools:60 ounces (3 lbs., 12 oz.) clay
Wooden rib
Rubber rib
Wide scraper
Needle tool
Trimming tool
Texturing tools
Wooden dowel
Rolling pin
2-1/2" slats
Wax-resistant emulsion
Glazes 1. The cylinder is made on a bat, which allows it to be lifted off the wheel head without damaging the clay. Bill begins with a 40-oz. lump of clay, which will be used to make the cylinder (a 20-oz. lump will be used to make the bowl). He kneads it, rolls it to a semiflat state and sets it on the bat with some force, to prevent air pockets from becoming trapped between the clay and the bat (figure C). 2. The clay must be perfectly centered before it is opened and the cylinder is thrown. After centering the clay, Bill opens it and begins to form the base (figure D).
3. As the base is opened wide, it is kept approximately 1/4" thick (figure E). 4. He draws the clay upward, creating a tight corner (figure F).
5. More clay is forced up into the walls by tucking a thumb in at the base of the cylinder and creating a bevel (figure G), then placing the fingertips of the right hand under the bevel groove and drawing the clay upward (figure H).
6. After every pull, Bill levels the rim. With two fingers of one hand evenly placed on both sides of the cylinder wall, he lays a finger on top of the rim and gently presses down; controlling the rim of any pot is essential to keeping the pot in shape (figure I).7. He measures the cylinder to make sure the bowl will fit inside. The outside dimensions are 6-1/2" and the inside dimensions, 5-1/2". 8. Bill uses a rib on the outside of the cylinder to create a flattened, heavy-duty rim; the bowl will rest on the rim, so it must be sturdy (figure J). 9. The cylinder is cut from the bat with a wiggly-wire cutting tool. The impression of the wire as it moves across the base of the clay will leave a decorative imprint. After loosening the clay from the bat, Bill leaves it on the bat and sets it aside to throw the bowl (figure K).
10. A 20-oz. lump of clay is used to throw the bowl. Bill doesn't use a bat for the bowl; because of its small size, it will easily lift off the wheel head. Again, the clay is kneaded, rolled and firmly placed on the wheel head to prevent air from being trapped between the clay and the surface of the wheel head.11. Using a quick wheel speed and lots of water, Bill centers the clay. He opens the bowl, relaxing finger pressure as he moves outward over the clay, creating a fluid curve to the bowl (figure L). 12. After wetting his fingers, Bill begins to pull the walls upward. The rim will be widened and flattened to create a sturdy surface for the bowl rim to rest against (figure M). 13. The top of the bowl needs to be 6-1/2" across, just like the cylinder. The bowl also has to be short enough not to touch the bottom of the cylinder. After measuring, Bill finds the bowl is slightly wider than the cylinder. Placing his hands in front of him and laying them lightly against the rim, he leans them inward, squeezing and compressing the bowl. He remeasures and compresses the clay until the bowl fits the cylinder.
14. With the wheel turning at a slow to medium speed, Bill removes excess water from the bowl and smoothes the edges with a sponge (figure N).15. He uses a fingertip to make decorative swirl patterns inside the bowl and a wooden rib to cut grooved patterns in the rim. 16. Bill takes final measurements to make sure the bowl is correctly sized. Then, using a wet scraper, he lifts the bowl off the wheel and onto the ware board: he gently lifts one side of the bowl, slides the wet scraper underneath, uses the fingertips of the left hand to guide it to the ware board, then quickly slides the scraper out from under the bowl, leaving it to dry leather hard (figure O).
RESOURCES :
Kilns
L & L Kilns
Website: www.hotkilns.com
Clay
Highwater Clays
Website: www.highwaterclays.com
Extruders
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com
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