DIY Network

Rimmed Platter: Creating the Rim Creating a ceramic rimmed platter, Part 2 of 4 From "Throwing Clay" episode DTHC-209

Figure A

Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a decorative platter. So far, he's centered 10 pounds of clay on the wheel and thrown a shallow bowl. Next, he flattened it, compressing the base.

At this point in the projec, he's ready to form the rim of the platter (figure A).

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1. At this point, he's basically creating a cylinder, pulling the clay virtually straight up, pinching his fingers outside and inside as he draws the walls upward (figure B).

2. To make the decorated rim of the platter, he needs a flange thickness of 1/2". Bill slowly begins bending his inside hand over his outside hand with the clay between his fingers (figures C and D).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

3. He cleans off any excess water with a damp sponge before using a rubber rib to smooth the inside floor and further smooth and define the inside flange (figure E).

4. With a damp sponge, he softens the edges before creating a square corner at the edge of the rim of the flange. Because he plans to cut the flange in half, the square corner is important: it will later act as a guide (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

5. Before stopping the wheel, Bill cuts a bevel at the foot for the cut-off wire.

6. Bill uses the spring from a retractable ballpoint pin to decorate the rim of the platter. After stretching the spring open, he attaches one end of the spring to a binder clip; the clip acts as a handle and keeps the spring from possibly becoming lost in the clay (figure G).

7. He cuts into the clay flange with the spring buried approximately one-half the thickness of the clay. He moves the spring in a loose looping pattern, keeping it buried in the flange as he works. This step requires both concentration and practice; it's best to practice on scrap clay before trying this technique on a platter this size (figure H).

Figure G

Figure H

8. He works slowly and rhythmically, trying to keep both ends of the wire buried in the clay as he cuts the pattern (figure I).

9. Using a needle tool, Bill lifts away the top layer of rim clay, revealing the wavy pattern in the clay (figure J).

Figure I

Figure J

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