How to Wedge Clay

How to wedge clay. I will discuss why you would want to wedge your clay, setting up your wedging area. I will then show how to do both rams head and spiral wedging.

[@yanglittlewa]

Hi John, you are a great teacher. Thank you so much to show how to do the spiral wedging.

[@deirdrehill9480]

You have explained wedging better than any teacher I’ve had. Thank you!!

[@JeffThacker]

This is the best wedging video that I remember watching, and after watching pottery videos on KZbin for eight years now, that's saying something. Thank you for sharing.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Jeff thank you.

[@patriciafurr4771]

Best video on wedging I have ever watched

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Wow and thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tonymartinez2556]

I just found your videos (thank you algorithm!) And you're by far my favorite instructor! Simple explanations and instruction that is easy to apply

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Thank you for your kind words and watching the videos.

[@MrsAmp77]

Hands down the best wedging video I’ve watched!! Thank you so much!!

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Wow, thank you!

[@denisestover2416]

Mr. Hasegawa, thank you so very much for your thoroughly concise instructions about wedging clay. I am an absolute beginner in pottery. I have all of the equipment and no teacher. I am a new subscriber and I'm excited to get started using your videos! Thank you! 😃

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

You are beginning a wonderful adventure to learn pottery. As you learn, please make suggestions about the videos you would like me to make. Happy potting.

[@denisestover2416]

@@JohnHasegawaCeramics Yes sir, I will make suggestions for videos. My first suggested video idea--> clay....here's my dilemma. I first bought all of my equipment(kiln, slab press, wheel), clays, glazes, tools and such about 9.5 years ago. For close to 2 months I watched videos, read books and did whatever I could to learn all about pottery. I have a large gray container (large plastic gray garbage can that I've never used) with clay that I put in the container when I failed on the wheel. It was wet then, but after 9.5 years it is now bone dry. I need clay and I need to practice wedging to build up my muscles. What can I do to my bone dry clay to get it so that I can practice on the wheel again? I also have a few full bags of clay that has completely dried out since 9.5 years. How can I get the heavy bags of dry clay to be workable clay I can use to practice wedging and throwing? Do you need to know what kind of clay I have? Any and all help is sooooo graciously appreciated. Thank you in wdvance!

[@user-ug5sb6qg1u]

Just add water, seal in plastic bag(s), wait a few days, up to a week. Check it, if it isn't plasticine add more water, if it's too thin add more clay, you can also leave too wet clay out for a day or two to dry a bit then re-bag. Do it until you can make a piece about the size of a pencil and wrap it around your finger and it doesn't crack.

[@NathanSeright]

Thank you.

[@cher_guevara]

Using two different colors of clay in the demo to illustrate how wedging works to homogenize the clay is simply genius! All your instructional videos are great, but this one might be my favorite!

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

You are so welcome!

[@dougatfuto5]

the second method of wedging is like how we used to kneed bread when I worked in a bakery, cool to see a similar technique it brings me back ;)

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Thanks for sharing

[@piksychick]

Absolutely the best spiral wedging video out there. You've hit on key areas that I often struggle with. Thanks for the clear instruction!

[@andrearoberts1873]

Same - best explanations in a demo of rams head wedging I've ever heard - I finally get it! Thank you

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maryjeanallen6189]

So wonderfully clear and thorough! Thank you so much!

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@annehursin3581]

very clear video, but once the clay is mixed up I can't shoot it anymore !!!! , Bravo for your dynamisme

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Thank you.

[@cudjoekey2334]

I just found your channel and am in love with your work and techniques.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Thank you.

[@tjkeller6020]

THANK YOU!!!

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

You're welcome!

[@ddtuss2585]

As a bread maker I love the kneading terms used with clay

[@Salehee11]

Thank you so Very Much for everything you are doing in this channel and, teaching us the write way to wedging clay. YOU ARE THE BESTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please keep the good work up. love from all the deserts, oceans, continents and rivers to you.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

You are so welcome

[@innerknowing4767]

Thank you so much! This is EXACTLY what I needed. 🙏

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

You're so welcome!

[@freddiemoretti8456]

Thanks for sharing. I feel this is the best explanation of how to start spiral wedging and I will try doing spiral again. The right hand pushing forward a tad more may be the key I was missing out on before.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Glad it was helpful! Give it a try and tell me how it works.

[@saliormayw]

I just looked it up. Hardiebacker is a brand of cement board, which people use in kitchen or bathroom backboard for tiles. Don’t confuse it with Sheetrock drywall.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Yes, you are correct but not all cement board will work. Some cement board is too thin and/or crumbly to work. Make sure you get one that is smooth and does not have chunks that could flake off. All the hardibacker board I have seen will work not all the cement board.

[@aRazorsEloquence]

Boy I thought that spider was a goner

[@denisestover2416]

So did I! It's name is Lucky! 😉

[@FlightDoc]

Awesome content Professor! I wish that I could be one of your students.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

Maybe one day! Move to Portland Or. I would love to have you as a student.

[@judgetoogood1033]

What brand apron do you recommend and where can I buy it. Thanks…. ❤❤❤❤

[@user-ug5sb6qg1u]

Everyone seems to prefer the ram's head method. Have you ever thought about using wild clays? I've always believed the best way to understand something was to make it from the foundation up.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

I have always wanted to work with wild clay but never tried. Sounds like fun.

[@ryandavis7011]

Great video as always! Also that clay looks a bit like a raw rump roast about halfway in.

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

The color looked very strange.

[@lisamcc1275]

Thank you John! Can you just spell that board you use. I'm sure its called something else here in Ireland.

[@ebiahpotterycompany7203]

I think he’s using Drywall. Hardibacker might leave marks in the clay but also works

[@JohnHasegawaCeramics]

I am using Hardibacker board (some may spell it as hardiebacker or hardybacker) . It works much better than drywall. There are different types of hardibacker board - get one that is smooth on one side. I like the 1/2 inch stuff better because it is smoother. Avoid the cement board that has a mesh in the inside because that is kind of crumbly and will break apart when wedging.

[@judgetoogood1033]

What if you’re in a wheelchair? 😂😂😂