Pinch Pot Cup Forms Day 2 CLEANING An Exercise for Beginners in Clay

This video is a newer version of my old Ceramics I pinch cleaning video. It solves several problems kids encountered throughout the years, and I try to address those to prevent it. I made this video for my Ceramics I students at Mason High School. This is the first exercise (non-graded) that the kids do in clay for their semester Ceramics I class. They are learning and building skills they will use throughout the semester. They learn pinching, cleaning, underglazing, sgraffito carving, majolica glazing, and dip glazing for this exercise.
For the first video in this series, where I demo pinching the cups, here is the link to the construction; • Pinch Pot Cup Forms D...
The third video which demonstrates the underglaze application, can be found here: • Applying Underglaze to...
The fourth video, in which the sgraffito carving is demonstrated can be found here: • Sgraffito Carving an U...
Here is a list of a playlist of all the videos in this pinch cup exercise:
• Ceramics I Pinch Cup E...
This video begins where the last one left off. The pinch pots are now leatherhard, and they are ready to be cleaned. We are using a combination of Mudtools shredders and mudtools ribs- red, yellow, and stainless. (See product links in either my Amazon influencer storefront or the Googledoc below) We begin with the shredders, and level the edge and remove denting. When the denting is gone, we use the stainless scrapers to remove the surform marks. After the stainless rib, then we use the yellow then eventually red. Each tool should be leaving the surface without dents after each step. Eventually, when done with the shredders, you can also use a combination of fingers dipped in water and a sponge. (NOTE: I would NOT use a sponge if this were a groggy clay- as it would leave it rough by removing the small particles and leaving behind the rough ones !!!)
We are using Standard 103 for this exercise. It is lowfire and grogless red earthenware. It can be sponged- unlike groggy clay.
Check out my Amazon Influencer Storefront for my suggestion on tools and supplies:
www.amazon.com/shop/karanspot...
For the great tools I used in the video (including the mudtools ribs and needle tools) check out this link to a live Googledoc I continually update with lots of my favorite tools on Amazon using my associate links! (Easily searchable with command or control f) docs.google.com/document/d/1X...
Here is a playlist of all the videos for the Ceramics II (slightly more advanced) pinch cups: • Pinch Cups with Handles
I am a public high school ceramics teacher at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. (Mason is currently the largest high school in Ohio!) As a potter, I have been working in clay for over 30 years, and I have been teaching for over 28 years, the past 20 have been specifically teaching high school ceramics. I love what I do! I have my own studio in my home basement, where I work on my personal pottery for my Etsy site;
www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsA...

[@faithdwight]

Thank you for this! My 10 and 7-year-old sons and I wanted to learn to handbuild. You made it easy and were so encouraging!

[@bonniegarson80]

Very helpful 😊

[@shanbenito9872]

Love your videos! 😊

[@moreorlessinfinity]

This was really helpful!!

[@froggyandbug8377]

thank you, i learned how to use a shredder to clean up the pinch pot.

[@froggyandbug8377]

any more tips on how to make the pot look smoother?

[@clayvlogg605]

Good one..👌👌👌

[@smitavinchurkar9196]

We dont get these shredder in india. What can we use in its replacement

[@nohafouad6849]

Hi Karen, May I know the exact type of clay you use? You say standard 103 (which, after looking it up - means low fire clay) Can you recommend a specific brand? I'm looking to use red earthenware and underglaze it. Thanks!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Standard is a brand in the US. Many clay suppliers sell standard clay bodies! Other manufacturers have equivalent to this grogless red earthenware! Here is the Standard website so you can see: standardceramic.com/

[@JhilikAvram]

If you're at home and don't have a shredder, can you use a normal grater?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Yes!! I’ve found some little ones at the Dollar store I’ve tried that work well!

[@marcelaolivares3320]

Hi Karan!, How a re you? I would like to ask you about the use of sponge. For example, for this phase (cleaning of the trimming) what kind of the sponge do you recommend? (soft, thin, etc) thank you very much!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

I’d say a softer sponge that won’t leave indentations! One of those little round yellow (inexpensive) ceramic sponges is what my students use! Just remember- only do that if your clay isn’t grogged!! Grogged clay will be rough if sponged- in that case I use a stiff round bristled brush and water! Like these!! amzn.to/2UZ6967

[@marcelaolivares3320]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass thank you!,

[@PepperoniNova]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass do you have a link to the kind of stiff bristle brush you recommend?

[@mikaelak90]

Is a lazy susan style cake stand suitable as a banding wheel?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That can certainly work!!! It may be less durable, but nice if you’re on a budget!

[@renaebettenhausen3611]

You don't use the needle tool to measure the thickness of the clay walls?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That is correct. The only time I pierce a wall with a needle tool to check thickness is on a wet wheel thrown hunk which has been dropped in the middle to check depth of the floor. I don't pierce it when it is being pinched, as I want the kids to develop the sensitivity of feeling the wall thickness. :) . I'm sure you could while it is plastic... it is just a step I don't really take with my kids. :)

[@smokedav9555]

Mine dried out , should i wet it a little?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That depends on how dry. If it is only a little- you can slowly add moisture with a damp (just damp- not wet) towel and bag it. If it is bone dry, I would recycle it and begin again! :)

[@smokedav9555]

KaransPotsAndGlass ok thanks

[@eileenc5159]

Jon the potter wants you to wake board with him.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Omg - this is hilariously funny!!! Whaaaaaaaat?!!!! 😂😂😂

[@user-ye1cv5xz9n]

最初からその形で作ればよくね？

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Here is the first day video! (I always put those in the video description!). Pinch Pot Cup Forms Day 1- A Ceramics I Exercise for Beginners in Clay kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIiVaoFpd8hmd7M