| Throwing Larger Plates |
| Throwing lunch and dinner plates |
From "Throwing Clay"
episode DTHC-108 |
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Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a set of dinner plates, beginning with the smallest size. Now he's ready to move on to medium-size plates.
First he attached a bat to a clay pad on the wheel head and threw the smallest plate, a bread-and-butter plate (figure A). Using soft clay, he opened a very shallow bowl shape as a starting point for the plate. When the pad was 7-1/2" across, he formed the rim and smoothed the inside with a soft rubber rib. He added a decorative swirl in the middle of the plate and cut it free from the bat. Now, he's ready to throw the next plate (figure B).1. Bill adds a small amount of water to the clay pad he threw earlier, to make sure the bat stays firmly in place. The water makes the clay pad sticky, or tacky, which helps hold the bat securely in place on the wheel. 2. He uses a 3-1/2-lb. piece of clay to make a 10" lunch plate. As he draws the clay outward, he relaxes the inward, downward hand pressure that creates the inner curve, which results in a flat plate (figure C).
3. Bill determines the plate measurement is approximately 10" before he begins to throw the rim (figure D). He flattens the wide edge of the plate, slowly pulling it outward and keeping the rim slightly slanted as he works. The depth of the plate from the rim edge to the plate base, after pulling the rim, is approximately 1/2" (figure E). Bill takes a final measurement before smoothing and leveling the inside of the plate and rim with a soft rubber rib (figure F).
4. He cleans the surfaces with a sponge and uses a fingernail to create a swirl in the center of the plate (figure G).5. Using the tip of a wooden rib, he cuts a bevel at the base of the plate before separating the plate from the bat with the cut-off wire (figure H).
6. Bill plans to make eight plates in each of the three sizes, creating a dining service for eight. His technique for matching the plates involves three steps: First, he always uses the same weight of clay for each plate size. Second, when he uses tools on the clay, he uses the same hand motions. And third, he sets up a pointer on the wheel tray to help keep the plates a uniform size. To make the pointer, he places a lump of clay on the edge of the wheel tray and inserts a chopstick in the clay; the chopstick acts as a guide for sizing the plates. The end of the pointer is the target where he aims the edge of the plate rims (figure I).7. As he prepares to make the large plate, he wets the clay pad, making the surface sticky enough to hold the bat in place. He centers the bat, thumping it with the palm of his hand to make sure it is firmly connected to the clay. 8. Bill uses 4-1/2 lbs. of clay to make the largest plate, which will be 1-1/2" in diameter (figure J).
9. He uses lots of water as he opens the clay and creates the rim by stretching the clay between his fingertips (figure K).10. A larger rib is used to smooth and level the inside surface of the clay. The flange, or rim, is supported as he draws the rib across and onto the rim (figure L).
11. He makes final adjustments, uses a sponge to absorb any excess water in the form and add the center swirl with his fingertip to (figure M).12. He sets the rim close to the chopstick pointer and uses the tip of the wooden rib to cut a groove at the base of the plate. Before cutting the plate off the bat with the wire cutting tool, he flattens the rim by placing a finger on the rim and lightly pressuring the clay. Since the clay is soft and fragile, Bill uses a very light touch (figure N).
13. The plates are set aside to dry leather hard before being trimmed.
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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