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Web Extras: Making Extras, Protecting Brushes Web Extras: Making Extras, Protecting Brushes From "Throwing Clay" episode DTHC-104

Working in sets is important for efficiency as well as aesthetics. Here are some things to consider when making sets.

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• Each individual lump of clay should be taken from the same large batch to insure that each of the lumps is equally soft.

• Throw each set--whether it's a pair or a set of four, six, eight or more--during one sitting; it's a good use of time, and it creates a "flow" within your work.

• Each time you make a set of anything, make a few extras. If one (or more) is damaged during the finishing steps, you'll have matching replacements and no need to start the whole process over again.

• Use the same potter's tools, in the same order, as you make each piece of your set. (Repetition = duplication!)

• Use repetitive steps as you glaze and decorate too; rhythm and--again--repetition will help to create pieces that are nearly identical.

Figure A

Susan Nayfield's Bamboo Brush Mat

It's important to protect the tufts of your brushes when they are not in use. Storing your brushes in a bamboo brush mat is an excellent way to protect both the tufts and the handles (figure A). You can make your own brush mat from a section of an old bamboo shade or a bamboo placemat.

Figure B

Materials (figure B):

Section of bamboo shade approximately 12" long and 16" wide
2 to 3 bamboo slats, 3/8"-1/2" wide and at least 12" long
30" of thin string, leather cord or yarn
carpenter's wood glue
8-10 clothespins
small piece of sandpaper

1. Remove the bamboo pieces from about 1" of each end of the shade section and tie the string ends securely to hold the remaining pieces in the mat.

2. Cut two flat slats to match the length of your bamboo mat.

3. Glue the slats along the ends of the mat on the front, covering the knots and the first few bamboo pieces. Clamp the slats to the mat ends with clothespins until the glue is dry.

4. Cut a piece of bamboo slat approximately 3/4" long. Sand one end of the piece into a rounded, tonguelike shape. Make a small hole in the other end of the piece. This will be the tab that holds the mat closed after it is rolled with the brushes.

5. Thread the piece of string through the hole in the small piece of slat and join the ends of the string with a knot.

6. To assemble the mat: When the glue has dried, remove the clothespins. Push a loop of the string between the glued slat and the first bamboo piece not covered by the slat at the middle of the slat. Thread the remaining string (with the small slat) through the loop and pull to tighten.

7. How to use the mat: Place the mat flat with the decorative slats facing down on the table. Place a brush at the end of the mat away from the string. Begin to roll the mat around the brush, adding other brushes to the roll as you continue. When the mat is rolled completely, wrap the double string around the roll and tuck the rounded end of the small slat between the bamboo pieces of the roll to secure it.

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