Centering Clay For Beginners - 11 Problems - 11 Easy To Follow Solutions

[@beccay.7222]

Marie, you're the Bob Ross of pottery. Enjoy watching your videos.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Wow, thank you! 😊

[@staceymccluskey5043]

Thank you for your thorough and interesting videos! I am learning so much. Your voice and demeanor are so pleasant and soothing I think you could supplement your income by being a professional reader of bed time stories.

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are so welcome! I was actually thinking of doing that. 😍

[@mlhalperin]

This brings back memories from 1966 when I was in ceramics class & could never get a lot of clay centered. Now I know what I did wrong! Thanks for your gentle lesson.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi Mary. Very cool! If you haven't seen it, I also have this video to help center kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5qtmJKKaa5jgrc

[@natlanier8376]

Thank you so much. I love your personality and your clear instruction.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you so much Nat!😀

[@robertdumoulin4612]

Hello Marie, I am announcing that I have succeeded in centering and mounting three bowls, now I still have to master the climbs to make a larger vase, thank you for your explanations and your comments.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Congratulations. That is Wonderful! 😍 Keep up the great progress.

[@charlotteotten824]

Thank you Marie, you’re a life saver and I truly enjoy listening to you❣️

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you so much! Glad to help. 😊

[@kupcads6470]

Thank you very much .This information is very valuable for me

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you beyhanserpil. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I am making more videos, stay tuned.

[@patriciafurr4771]

This was great video , I saw what I was doing wrong. Also your video on wedging was very helpful!

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you Patrica 😍 That's wonderful! Glad they were helpful.👍

[@tyraciesielczyk4847]

I loved the tip about using your tool to check if you get a line around the whole thing to see if you are centered! I do that with my needle tool before trimming to make sure my leather hard piece is centered on the wheel. Don't know why I didn't think of doing that to check centering! Thank you!

[@PotteryCrafters]

That is great to hear. You are most welcome.

[@paintandpotterybymangala]

Just loved your bonus tip.Thank you for sharing .

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are so welcome! Glad to help 😊

[@britney92506]

This was a fantastic video. Thank you.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Glad it was helpful! 😊

[@alisonlazaroffsomssich7306]

Thank you! I love your videos ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️from Alison in Tasmania 😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi Alison. Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing. How do you like living in Tasmania? 😊

[@alisonlazaroffsomssich7306]

@@PotteryCrafters Hi Marie, Tasmania is lovely. A wonderful place to live or visit! Peaceful and welcoming…😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

That's wonderful. It would be great to visit there some day.😍

[@janethundley3519]

Hi Marie, well I just watched your centering video to refresh my mind before going to my 2nd beginner class doo again( I want to gain more consistence and confidence) . Soo, I'll be hearing that little voice saying " Progress over perfections". Thanks for your patient tutorials.

[@PotteryCrafters]

That's great Janet. The more you do it the better you will get. 😊

[@artifactvideoproductions]

Thank you so much for your helpful videos ❤️

[@linakilani6085]

Thank you very much. I really enjoyed it.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Glad you enjoyed it Lina. 😊

[@robertdumoulin4612]

Very interesting i will try again thank you for this video.

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are welcome Robert 😊

[@TheMarnaiz]

Thank you for the tips. Great channel!

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thanks for watching!😊

[@EvanSmith69]

I am currently enrolled in a Ceramics course for my graphic design degree and it has been kicking my butt. Thank you for the extra help!

[@PotteryCrafters]

I'm glad I can help you through your course. Here is a link to all my videos. kzbin.infovideos one or more may be helpful to you. 😉

[@cgallup1]

Great video. I have found that using the inner thigh muscles help assist in centering for people that don't have a lot of upper body strength. Thank You

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thanks for sharing! Yes using your whole body sure does help. Especially if you are centering over 10 pounds of clay. 👍😊

[@tabithadaniel7289]

Thanks for the help. I was having trouble with the mushroom volcano

[@PotteryCrafters]

You're welcome Tabitha. Glad I could help! 😍

[@stephenbochicchio9351]

Thanks Very Helpful

[@PotteryCrafters]

Glad it helped. I also have a how-to center video. If you haven't seen it here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5qtmJKKaa5jgrc Plus a playlist of 30 different things beginner potters can make. here is the link to the playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLN-I0Hl1lbyybD8mJTtutoMbzR8uUB5Nd It may give you some cool ideas as to what may want to make on the wheel. Enjoy your new wheel😊

[@hengamehkamalrad8228]

Thanks

[@PotteryCrafters]

You're welcome 😊

[@cindyhubbard9427]

Your instructions are superb, both on the wedging video and the centering video. (That’s as far as I’ve gotten at this point.) My ball of clay, as I try to center it, comes unstuck and just slides around. My bat is dry when I start. What am I doing wrong?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you Cindy, 😀 the clay won't stick to a dry bat.Take a damp sponge and wet your bat make sure your bat is not too wet. Then the clay should stick right to your bat.😊

[@EdWoodFineArt]

Hi. I love all of your videos. Very easy to understand and i always learn something new. Quick question, are you related to Bob Ross by chance??? I feel like you could be his relation for sure….hahaha. We’ll put some happy bowls over here and some little pieces over here….

[@PotteryCrafters]

I know. RIGHT!! Thank you for the great compliment. No one could ever replace him. Not even his son. So glad they are helpful. Let's make some pottery with happy accidents 😊💖

[@charlottesmom]

I think I was doing about 6 of these!! 😂 Mushrooming, not wedged enough, air pockets, too wet etc...😢 But my biggest issue is I am a lefty and having a load of trouble trying to figure out exactly what feels best when centering, do I want my left hand or right as my anchor hand and do I want the wheel spinning forward or backwards....I was struggling with this. I think left feels best...(and was using my left in my classes) now to try a few more simple pots tomorrow, keeping all these tips in mind.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi. Always nice to hear from you. So glad it was helpful. Good question. Do what is easiest for you. But most left-handed potters will use their right hand as the anchor hand and the wheel turning clockwise. Let me know how it goes. 😍

[@susan-user]

Thanks for the clear instructions. Can you help me out here? I'm getting a volcano when I pull up to center. What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give me :).

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are most welcome. It may be happening because your clay is too hard and or when you cone up the top of the clay is too flat. If so round off the clay more before moving upward. This video may help kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5qtmJKKaa5jgrc 😊

[@susan-user]

@@PotteryCrafters Thank you :)

[@susan-user]

Thank you :)

[@PotteryCrafters]

You're welcome!

[@debragraham2032]

Marie, thank you!! I love when you show the "what could you be doing wrong" section of your videos. I learn so much! Perhaps you have tips to share about centering 4lbs or more of clay. I can center less but always manage to screw up larger amounts. I have to go smaller or end up with less clay due to my corrections. Help!

[@PotteryCrafters]

You're welcome, Debra. That is a great suggestion. thank you. That sounds like me when I started throwing on the wheel. 😊

[@shikhamandal]

Lovely video 👍

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you Shikha

[@PotteryCrafters]

⚡️What questions do you have about Making Pottery? Let me know! If you are struggling with technique, don't be shy. Let me know I may make a video helping you solve your problem. Need help Wedging your Clay check this video out. 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/goekl2ODh6yCqbM More Beginner Pottery Wheel Projects Here👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3TCYWyFeNalfpY

[@meenusubrahmanian5692]

Hi Marie. I haven't used a pottery wheel yet. Do you think I can buy a pottery wheel (for kids)battery operated first for practice and then go for the actual pottery wheel..

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi Meenu. That is a good idea. I have the SKYTOU pottery Wheel also. It's great for beginners that don't know if they want to invest in a big wheel yet. Here is the link for you to check it out geni.us/r1VewMF and also the video of my review. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIrQaoCsjt-SecU I do mainly use it for trimming.

[@renetendrup8891]

Does it make a difference what temperature your clay is ? What's the best temperature?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi Rene. That is a very good and important question. Yes, it does make a difference. Here is the link to a video that will help answer the question for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ammriGyhhr1_bJY 😀

[@alexandrajamroz857]

Waiting for my clay order...both Amazon and Blick are temporarily out of Amaco clay so I ordered Rocky Mountain BMX clay. Any suggestions on using this type of clay? How is it different than using Amaco? Also I have noticed that you start over with a fresh wedged ball of clay in several instances. Could you explain why?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Rocky Mountain is a good all-around clay. You can also try Amaco 38 white clay on the recommended tools page on my website. The reason you would take it off the wheel and grab a fresh ball is if you would be spending more time struggling to get your clay centered then just grabbing a new ball. Or if you have a good size air pocket in your clay there is no way you can center it because air is lighter then clay. I also have this post If you haven't seen it. I hope this helps. 😍 potterycrafters.com/11-problems-centering-clay-and-easy-ways-to-fix-them/

[@PotteryCrafters]

Have you received your Rocky Mountain BMX clay yet? If so how do you like it.😀

[@alexandrajamroz857]

Pottery Crafters Yes I got it last week and getting to know how to throw clay....slowly but surely...liking the clay as far🙂

[@PotteryCrafters]

That's great news.👍 The more you practice the better you will get. 😊

[@СветланаИльина-ч4к]

Hi Marie! Your technique has really helped me start to center, but I have a reocurring problem: there is always a bit of uncentered clay and the very bottom of my cone. I can't get rid of it :( The rest of the clay is centered! What am I doing wrong? Any tips?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Good question. That is very common. Just the square corner of your wooden rib and press it against your clay and wheel to rid of the extra clay. Keep your rib very steady. 😊

[@СветланаИльина-ч4к]

@@PotteryCrafters Thanks, will try!

[@rickculbertson5703]

Can clay be too cold?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Good question. 😊 No. It's best to keep your clay warm, but if your clay gets cold, frosty, or freezes, don’t throw it away, just let it warm and wedge your clay really well.😍

[@sairabanu6053]

Mam from where I can buy clay plz suggest.

[@PotteryCrafters]

The clay you use depends on what temperature you fire and a few other facters this may help you choose potterycrafters.com/recommended-tools-clay/