coil teapots
Step 1: Wedge Your Clay
Wedge your clay using the one handed or two handed wedge method to remove all air bubbles. This should take 5 minutes or more.
Step 2: Cut out your Pattern
Step 3: Roll out your base
Measure your base (WITH A CLAY RULER located in the gray clay cabinet) on your sketch to see how big your clay base needs to be. They should be the same size.
Roll out your slab with a rolling pin (found in the gray clay cabinet) so it is between a 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick.
Measure or trace your base size and shape and cut it out.
Roll out your slab with a rolling pin (found in the gray clay cabinet) so it is between a 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick.
Measure or trace your base size and shape and cut it out.
Step 4: Roll Coils
First, shape the coil in your hand. Make sure the ends are pointed so that they don't roll back on themselves and create an air bubble.
Then use your hands to roll the coil moving from the center to the ends. If your coils are getting flat, you are using too much downward pressure.
Make sure all of your coils are of a consistent diameter.
Then use your hands to roll the coil moving from the center to the ends. If your coils are getting flat, you are using too much downward pressure.
Make sure all of your coils are of a consistent diameter.
Step 5: Slip and Score
Use a scoring tool to make score marks on any surfaces that need connecting. ANYWHERE CLAY TOUCHES CLAY SHOULD BE SCORED.
Use your finger to apply slip to both surfaces.
Use your finger to apply slip to both surfaces.
Step 6: Assemble Your Coils
Attach your coil to the base or to the coil below it.
Place the coil directly on top of the ring below it if your form is staying the same size.
Place the coil to the outside of the coil below if your form is getting wider.
Place the coil to the inside of the coil below if your form is getting smaller.
Use your pattern piece to check to see that your curves are changing at the correct degree.
Place the coil directly on top of the ring below it if your form is staying the same size.
Place the coil to the outside of the coil below if your form is getting wider.
Place the coil to the inside of the coil below if your form is getting smaller.
Use your pattern piece to check to see that your curves are changing at the correct degree.
Step 7: Smooth
Smooth the coils on the inside of your pot together so that your vessel is watertight.
If your design calls for a smooth outside, do the same for the outside surfaces.
If your design calls for a smooth outside, do the same for the outside surfaces.
When you are done for the day, make sure your clay is wrapped tightly in plastic.
If your clay is starting to get too dry, put a moist paper towel into your bag
Try to keep a pace of adding about 1-2 inches per class to your pot. Much faster and your walls will start to get weak.
If your clay is starting to get too dry, put a moist paper towel into your bag
Try to keep a pace of adding about 1-2 inches per class to your pot. Much faster and your walls will start to get weak.