Korean Porcelain Trimming Skills w/ Moon Byeong Sik

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@byter1000, not sure exactly what segment you're referring to but he doesn't really burnish his pots at any point as they are to be glazed. He does add a drop or two of water to the center of the pot to smooth, compress and seal it to avoid cracking as the pieces were thrown off of the hump.

[@mrsengeseth]

Watching that becomes almost hypnotic, he's amazing! Someday I hope to hone my skills and be able to approach my own throwing with as much skill and confidence!

[@zhpottery]

just noticed counter clockwise trimming and clockwise throwing style. very tradition ideals in the process, huh? is it tightening the fit of the piece after it is being fired?

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@zhpottery, I'm not quite sure what you mean by "very tradition ideals in the process", but I'd guess the change of direction has to do with making the best use of the dominant hand. Mr. Moon, like most Koreans, is right handed, he finishes the inside of the bowl with his dominant hand while throwing and finishes the outside with his dominant hand while trimming. I'm sure it is helpful for compression of the clay to switch direction as well.

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@zhpottery hey Zach, it's all in experience, some potters will use a rib on the inside to get a common curve, Mr. Moon generally doesn't use a rib to shape his pots, he is just good enough to make consistent forms (thrown curve on the inside of the piece and a trimmed curve on the outside). Also, check 27 seconds into the other video I have posted featuring Mr. Moon (Wheel Thrown Porcelain with Moon...), another great way to make consistent sized pots.

[@MamaMacabre]

Awesome. I was surprised when he cut the "foot" off...He was just using in to gauge size and to steady his hands. The tapping on the bottom...how does that tell him about thickness of bottom? Does he listen for a sound, or can he feel the clay move a little when it's thin?

[@jonb9693]

best trimming video ever!

[@sheilafischer493]

Great video, and the music was perfect.

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@skyalchemist0 This is top notch porcelain, thrown off the hump thick to keep the shape, recycled trimmings means zero waste.

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@MamaMacabre, I think he is mostly listening for the thickness when he taps the bottom.

[@zhpottery]

@agfield2000 I meant to say "traditional" but I was referring to compressing the clay. I remember first reading about in high school in T.C.'s book, Mud Pie Dilemma. He mentioned about the technique stemming from Koreans doing it before. I am sure that you have seen when somewhere will raise a cylinder with the outside hand inverted and palm facing up. I want to learn more about it and tried a couple pulls doing it and mainly using the thumb vertically down and it was different but felt good.

[@zhpottery]

Can you give some tips on how he keeps all of the insides to a common curve? Is that not the point is to work the inside during throwing and with his chuck focus only on the outside during trim phase? Cheers from L.A., best regards to CO.

[@AdamFieldPottery]

Thank you for taking the time to watch the video and for reaching out with your comment. It is great to know that my videos are well received and are acting as inspiration to other potters. As for tips, I'd say you're already on the right track, searching out videos and information online and in printed publications are both great ways to keep up on techniques and ideas. Also, I would highly recommend the instagram clay community and/or podcasts by Benjamin Carter and Brian R. Jones.

[@berneemartin7819]

Oh that looks like such fun! I must try throwing a pot with enough thickness to be able to do that.

[@yuxuansun8271]

Bernee Martin haha good one

[@rapidac]

a skilled surgeon of porcelain...nice.

[@clayguy33]

INSANE! Thanks for posting your video. I'm not sure as of yet why he's doing everything he's doing, but I'm going to look again (It's mesmerizing) ~G

[@byter1000]

In the last segment of the video he was trimming the body of the bowl and pushing the tool with the other hand. Is he burnishing the piece while he trims?

[@zhpottery]

@agfield2000 I am guessing you are referring to the tonbo tool which I have been thinking I should start using. I have started aging the wedged lumps of clay before throwing and the pro to it is the clay is way denser but the con wheel wedging and centering is not as smooth as freshly wedged. Do you know how many lbs. of clay he starts with on the hump sections and if they're spiral wedged?

[@legitimatepilkdog]

I have seen a couple impressive trimming videos where the potters all seem to have similiar tools such as his. Does anyone know what type of tool he trims with?

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@birdboy999999999 before trimming the foot is about 1.5 inches thick.

[@31361claire]

What type of trimming tool was used?

[@SIRINI100]

man thats pretty impressing :) i was just wondering if i was taking too much clay out when trimming comes and it seems to be that you also make them thick in the beggining right? Is it cause you dont like them to get unshaped in the first place?? thanks man have a great day from Greece !

[@frepi]

Dexterity is art by itself

[@MamaMacabre]

Thank you! I can see I'm not leaving enough on the bottom of my pots to work with. I'm a beginner, tho :-)

[@zhpottery]

Plus, did you get a look at any of his wedging technique? Plus, I did get a chance to talk to Shuji last week and he indeed remembers you! :) I will send an email this week and give you a better idea of what he said.

[@krajikoreanman]

Hey Adam, What is the name of the trimming tool he is using, I was able to use it in Korea but i can't seem to find it here in the states. All the trimming tools in the US are so wide. I know that the tool he's using also has a longer and thinner 90 degree bend. hope you can help!

[@TCSpottery]

@Ji Kim, I got mine from Ceramic Supply in Lodi NJ, which has an online shop. But recently I got a whole set from Hsinchuen on Etsy. He's a wonderful potter (has a youtube channel with lots of good vids) and the trimming tools are the best! Hope this helps :)

[@virga1]

i'm guessing he has like 1.5" of clay in the bottom!

[@healersambath]

I think, it may be A Korean MAGIC.

[@skyalchemist0]

@agfield2000 ahh yea i dont have a pug mill so i see your point

[@LADodgerKid714]

with the extra clay trimmed off the bowl, you can throw something else

[@skyalchemist0]

hmm i was always limited to throwing porcelain . so i never wasted so much clay on the bottom of a piece. throw thin trim less waste less.

[@VinhpxNgo]

Hey, check out this taiwanese artist living in CA right now. He has over 130 videos on youtube about ceramic making processes. His name is Hsin Chuen Lin :) hope you will have a great leaning experience watching Lin. he's truly inspirational. Btw, this video is great too. the fact that all the bowls are similar in size are amazing enough

[@yuxuansun8271]

Vinh Ngo you mean Chinese

[@clifforddalton3067]

I love trimming don't you?

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@LADodgerKid714 that's the idea.

[@kyj001210]

Awesome...

[@albpoolshark]

throw thick- trim thin :) just like how i do it

[@AdamFieldPottery]

@31361claire The tool is similar to those made on one of your "favorite" videos, the ones made with hacksaw blades. If you send me your e-mail address (my e-mail address is on my website), I will send you some images of them being made and the end result. Best, Adam

[@CherrieRain617]

that was so seductive

[@kheeekho]

Too too thick ..not impressive

[@kheeekho]

and you do?

[@adrianp7475]

10 minutes trimming is that right for you ????...Thickness is subjective ONLY if you do not know how to throw

[@Alakwe]

Lebo Mojo ...exactly.

[@Alakwe]

Lebo Mojo yes enough turning already