10 Ways to Attach Pottery Handles - TESTED!!

We asked the 7000 members of the Pottery Studio Facebook group about their favorite method of attaching handles. We picked 10 (well, really 9 plus 2 weird ones) and tested the process for EASE, MESSINESS, and CRACKING. We also tested them for handle strength on the Pottery Handle Tower of Death (PHTOD). Folks, you don't see this stuff on other KZbin channels (for good reason) but we continue to push the limits of pottery processes, humor, and art. Enjoy friends!
If you would enjoy a deeper learning of Ann's painting, decorating, and glazing process then check out Ann's Video Workshop Series. These workshops are very detailed (typically 1.5 - 2 hours in length) where Ann provides step by step instruction and are designed to help potters take their work to new levels of craftsmanship and artistry. vimeo.com/showcase/6725318
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ALL of the music used by Little Street Pottery is legally licensed from Artlist

[@kristineb3709]

My anxiety Increased each time you did the tower of death test. Lol

[@annruel9142]

Haha! Me too! Thanks for watching Kristine!

[@Majoofi]

I always find the hardest part of handles being managing the relative dryness of the mug and handle, which is trickier if you don't have your own studio at home.

[@annruel9142]

You are right about that Majoofi. When I was working in community studios, I used to try and take the mugs home so I could monitor the dryness factor. I just had to pray they made it home without being damaged, haha. Good luck to you!

[@jeffingels4480]

Also I've found some clay bodies need to dry under plastic longer then others, once dry I rarely have cracking in bisque and glaze firings

[@triciac1019]

What I did when my mugs were a bit too dry, I wrapped wet paper towels around the too dry parts of my mugs and covered them in plastic. I lifted it a few times and sprayed it with water if they needed it, and recovered them. I worked on the most moist leather hard first, then the next and the next. I cover and let dry slower for a day or two as I work at a studio and have to leave them, then uncover to dry completely.

[@Majoofi]

@@triciac1019 My dream is to get my own studio with a moister controlled drying room.

[@triciac1019]

@@Majoofi oh that would be wonderful! Find a way if you can. It's so rewarding to do pottery and learn about all the glazing and firing techniques. To be able to have shelves of your tools and shelves of your work. Good luck with that, you can do it!

[@theabristlebroom4378]

I want Ice Cream! You rock! That testing of the handles....BRILLIANT!

[@debyatesbunnell8047]

This was fun to watch! However, I will not be TASTING your paper clay recipe HA HA HA

[@rebeccamsauve]

I have now mixed one of the methods you did with something I was already doing in my studio. I had always attached with slip always got cracks. I was told to attach the handle with slip and then put the mug bottom side up to dry and let gravity do the work, less cracks but they still happened. Now I mix my slip with vinegar and attach the handle and then let it dry flipped upside down! No cracks at all and the only thing I changed was adding vinegar to the slip! I can make a mug and fire it in my kiln the next day maybe 2 days max!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

We’re using more of the vinegar too...nice and sticky and no cracks so far!

[@pattrull9387]

Most fascinating and entertaining video I’ve watched in a while!

[@annruel9142]

Aww....thanks so much Pat! I really appreciate you watching!

[@davidharding4187]

What fun! Thanks for doing this! If you can continue with some testing, I would suggest that you test each one until it breaks. One approach could be to gently hang the bucket from the handle and gently add weight until it breaks. Then display the weight at which each one broke. I'm guessing that will show a difference between the techniques, but maybe not! You might want to add a cushion on the handle at the point you are attaching the bungee so it doesn't make a single pressure/breakage point (use a section of pool noodle?)

[@LittleStreetPottery]

We’ve not seen the last of the Handle Tower of Death...love your idea! Stay tuned David....thanks for watching!

[@rebeccakumi5369]

Ann. You’re awesome.

[@micass3561]

I love you videos! And thank you for showing this but I think dropping the mug from the same position and height (like 3 feet which is counter height) would have a more real life test. ❤

[@jonathanporterfield4470]

That great! I was just complaining (ok, whining) about goofy handles. I love your tests and that you included some truly odd methods. We’ll done.

[@JuliaYulia2211]

So useful!

[@natmickan]

I’d love to see how these same mugs go without the bucket bottoming out and hitting the ground (so the ground isn’t absorbing the shock along with the occy strap). My (unconfirmed) guess is that the results would have been fairly different if it was a rope with minimal stretch and/or free-hanging bucket. The test you did (IMO) is easily sufficient to determine fitness for general purpose use though, which is still definitely good to know :) Maybe this one can be the ‘tower of mild torture’ instead :P Thankyou for sharing these comparison videos :)

[@drinklifeup]

I loved this idea and the video was so entertaining. Thank you to the creator! Slightly disappointed at how many mugs passed the test, but still a fun idea. If the weight was targeted so that around 50% of the mugs failed that would have been more telling. OR better yet, add the bucket empty and fill with sand slowly until it failed. That would have actually told us which method was the strongest.

[@roxyk3893]

I want ice cream! Thanks for the video

[@annruel9142]

Haha! Me too!!! Yum! Thanks for watching the video Roxy!

[@chrispya1]

This is Mythbusters worthy!

[@undernetjack]

What about scooping out a small depression in the cup for the handle to fit into. Or perhaps a thru-hole , then flatten the inside portion like a rivet?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Love it! Added to our next 10 list! Stay tuned.

[@meenusubrahmanian5692]

Very useful video...

[@jayc6159]

My favorite method is a combination of slip and score then paint the entire handle and seam with wax that way I can just leave the mug out and not have to cover it with plastic. The wax prevents the handle from drying too quickly and keeps it from cracking or popping off.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Great tips...thank you for sharing!

[@alexandrafallows4899]

Super cool! I'd love to pit the handles against each other with the tower of death to see which is the strongest

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Ooohh....that’s a cool idea! We will discuss at our production meeting on Monday! Thanks Alexandra!

[@hokehinson5987]

"Get a handle on it"..... Sad not to see super glue after the screw method....🤣

[@freddiemoretti8456]

Terrific testing and presentation. Just wondering if you have gone out and found big box store mugs and put them through the tower of death? Also these delicate wee tea cups made of porcelain which don't hold enough tea for me? Thanks for the educational video of supreme quality and judgement. Cheers and be well the both of you...Freddie

[@annruel9142]

Haha, that is a great idea Freddie! It would be a fun video to make just using the store bought mugs and cups you can find....very satisfying too :-) .....You are so sweet Freddie and we really appreciate all your thoughtful comments and ideas!!!

[@freddiemoretti8456]

@@annruel9142 Aw shucks, thank you!

[@annruel9142]

@@freddiemoretti8456 Thank YOU!!! Have a great day!

[@paulahill472]

I had to giggle at the opening dialogue.... (we all believe in magic, LOL). Enjoyed watching all the attachment methods, but I’ll stick to my tried and true, never let me down method. (The tower of death really works)

[@LittleStreetPottery]

If you’d like to send us one of your mugs, we’d be happy to put it to the test! 😁Thanks for watching!

[@KatAtkinson]

What about pulling the handle from the mug? I just read another comment you had regarding this. I have tried about everything. My poor handles stink. Will go back and try what you have done

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Keep at it Kat! Let us know how its going!

[@chrisparkin6894]

Love the idea, I wish you could have done a strength test to failure. I.e. Use a rope and bucket and keep adding sand till it breaks

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Great point!

[@bungawarrahlima8816]

Great work - but FYI when you heat sodium carbonate it decomposes leaving sodium oxide, which is soda ash.

[@annruel9142]

I just looked it up and this is what it said, "Simply heat baking soda or sodium bicarbonate in a 200 F oven for about an hour. Carbon dioxide and water will be given off, leaving dry sodium carbonate. This is the soda ash." i just went by the instructions I was given. Thanks Bungawarrah for watching!

[@bungawarrahlima8816]

@@annruel9142 - Sorry - you are correct. For some reason I had in my head, sodium carbonate not sodium bicarb. So my error, sodium carbonate only decomposes at very high temperature. Must be old age! I'll delete my comment later.

[@annruel9142]

@@bungawarrahlima8816 No worries Bungawarrah. It was all an education for me. I have just been having fun experimenting :-)

[@leahkillian9233]

Did you test glazed or unglazed??

[@annruel9142]

Hi Leah! I didnt have time to glaze them, but the mugs are high fired and vitrified. As it turns out, the mug doesnt need glaze to help with the strength.

[@3_Cats_Pottery]

Where the cup handles tested with the sand after bisque or glaze firing?

[@ericnewman2727]

She does mention later in the video that the test was after the high fire.

[@annruel9142]

Hi Mauve. Eric is right. I high fired all the mugs and then tested them out. I just didnt have time to put glaze on them, but they are vitrified. ...I was waiting for someone to ask that question. Good catch :-)

[@annruel9142]

@@ericnewman2727 Yes, you are right Eric. I did high fire them. I just didnt have time to glaze them. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it!

[@janethastings6417]

What kind of clay did you use?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

English porcelain #365

[@anamiacdm]

While 10 lbs certainly seems like enough, I would love to know exactly how much each mug would take before it breaks. If a certain handle method consistently holds more than the others, then it means there's more tolerance for mistakes.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

stay tuned, we may do another version of this...

[@deborahgoodwin2882]

Ann, are you left-handed? Do you throw lefty?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Yep, I’m a lefty and spin the wheel that way.

[@knightclan4]

I'm thinking the next test be tugawar with the 🐕. Put a handle on both sides. Tie a rope to the handles and let Rover have one end

[@Peter-zx9uw]

careful with elastic, i went to the hospital and got an eyepatch

[@otoshite]

Interesting, yet doesn't show the really best method which is to pull the handle in situ, on the pot.

[@annruel9142]

Hi Peter. I have seen a lot of people do that method and even had people in the group recommend that to me, but Im afraid I dont have the confidence to "pull " that off, haha..... I would have to do a little practicing and then fire the mug in advance to make sure my porcelain rim could withstand the force from the pulling without warping. I just didnt have the time for that. Maybe in another video I can be more prepared. Thanks for idea!!!

[@Anonymous-it5jw]

Introduction is too loud, too obnoxious; seemingly the exact opposite of your persona.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Yes, that was Jerry Benderstiff's idea...you may know he was fired shortly after this was made. (well, after the Pebble Mug Disaster video too).