Smoothing a coiled bonsai pot

Watch Dan as he builds an oval coiled bonsai pot and see how he uses various tools to smooth the clay - including a unique rim smoothing tool that he saw workmen using when he was a small child living in Hong Kong - which he shows you how to make at the end of the video.

[@brucejeffcott1104]

I just started making pots. You have wonderful videos. I'm learning by trial and error, then I found your videos which have saved me tremendous time and headaches.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Glad to have been of some help and thanks for your kind comment.

[@joannbenbow2709]

I literately have hundreds of Japanese bonsai pots and ikebana vases, I lived in japan for years, my favorite pot in my entire collection come from the uk, made by this man.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

You say all the right things! Haha! Many thanks

[@beinghere1494]

Thank you, really loved watching your quiet gentle touch and listening to your gentle voice. Beautiful work. Blessings 🙏🏽

[@wandaolausson6289]

I absolutely love seeing your videos 🥰 You make beautiful pottery, and seeing you work, makes me totally calm 🙏

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you for your kind comments - I also feel calm when I'm potting

[@janeplatt8254]

Love watching you Dan❤🇬🇧😊

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I really enjoyed the video Dan, a very good tool!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks and hope you make and use the tool - it's magical in its simplicity

[@MsOSheDidIt]

Oh my now I know you are a rock star. I'm so happy I found your videos. You make Bonsai pots too! I think I want to get on a plane and learn your secrets! Just perfect. 🥰👏

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

You should! Thanks for your kind comments

[@Chercher4848]

I am new to bonsai & trying to soak up as much as I can. I am discovering that my fascination with pots is equally as exciting as the specimen itself. Loved your amazing tutorial & wanted to thank you. 🙏

[@steves3734]

Just made two of the rim shapers, hope to try them in the morning! Thanks for the videos.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Good luck!

[@user-cs1wi6yu5g]

Nice lil trick Dan. Thumbs up! Darlene usa

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks 👍

[@micheledickey4066]

I absolutely love the look of the finger and thumb marks!!! This is a great video. Thank you so much

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

You are so welcome!

[@r.tpieces3662]

Thank you so much for sharing your techniques and the tools you use. That is a great help and will definitely improve the quality of workmanship. It is really very kind of you.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you for your very kind comments

[@thegeniusofthecrowd354]

Fantastic stuff!

[@jrhenry24]

I like your video thank you

[@leticiaramirez827]

This is a great tutorial. Thank you ❤

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

You’re welcome 😊

[@mbolden393]

Thank you for sharing your techniques. I've just coil built my largest bonsai pot so far at 40cms diameter and will be smoothing it tomorrow. Your videos have been so helpful and given me confidence to achieve this.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Brill! I'm so glad the videos have been helpful for you - there will be more in due course

[@robertdumoulin3661]

Hi Dan thank you for this vidéo i learn a lot on bonzai pot making.

[@charlesdomingos5511]

Very good video. Thank you for sharing.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@clauswietek5399]

very good videos with lots of helpful tips

[@imolourembam7111]

Thanking you sir for the vedioes

[@t3dwards13]

Thank you Sir!

[@lindsayspears5760]

Love it Dan . More please . You are an inspiration,

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you Lindsay - that's kind of you

[@barrygatt9730]

Fantastic Dan . Top class

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks Barry - much appreciated.

[@tonimedina67]

Thank you for your work and for teaching us, it is inspiring.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you for your kind comment and for watching

[@ronnyvandewalle9576]

Thanks for sharing your video’s master !

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

It's a pleasure. Thanks

[@joelhiggins6156]

Great video thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks and thanks for watching the video

[@stonemonkey1968]

Nice video as always Dan and good to see how you work the clay, best to Ci and your good self, Andy

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Always good to hear from you Andy - we're all well but Ci fell down the stairs 10 days ago and pulled a tendon and chipped a bone in her ankle area. It would be great if you could visit us sometime. Hope you and your family are all well - take care and stay safe.

[@mikeduffer6858]

Hi Dan! Thanks for the fantastic insight. I did check out your website and I must say "Impressive". I am going to make a few brass radius tools today and try them out on an oval. See you next time.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Good luck with your tool making and thanks for your kind comments.

[@ronnyvandewalle9576]

Thanks for sharing your video’s master !!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for your kind comment, but I'm no master - just an eternal student that is greedy to learn

[@NagaTechFF]

Hi Dan... great videos!... keep them coming :) would love to see some bonsai videos 2 !

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

2 bonsai styling videos posted - more to follow soon

[@jasongannon7676]

I have my smiting tools out. Thanks, love the video.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for your kind comments

[@MrAlexander1955]

Every video is a masterpiece.Thank you so much, and greetings from the small island of Capri,in Italy.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you - you are very kind and wishing everyone in Capri a wonder year to come.

[@oscarguzman543]

what a master!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you, but more of an aging student!!!

[@rsa420]

That was really enjoyable. Thankyou for sharing and showing us your tips and how to make your tools for finishing of the edges very much appreciated

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

No problem! Enjoy - there will be more vids to follow soon

[@rsa420]

@@danbartonslifewithbonsai745 Wicked I look forward to seeing them. Your videos excellent. Your talent and work are real inspiration. You have a fan for life. When I am back in the UK will have to come pay you a visit

[@juancarlosromeravelazquez2745]

Maestro. Es usted muy generoso por compartir su sabiduria. Gracias, muchas gracias.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

.......and thank you too - my pleasure to help.

[@elzasilva4449]

Fantástico!!!!❤

[@CarlosPena-vb2ee]

Beutiful video, thanks for share your knwoledge Mr Dan

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you for you kind comment

[@garymullins4815]

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I appreciate your love af clay and the knowledge you are willing to share. Thank you May I ask where I could find the first tool you used to enlarge the oval? I would love to purchase one.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

If my memory serves me correctly - the tool was a regular mathematical divider modified by my engineering friend

[@rhbqueiroga2009]

Excelente!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks

[@mmjnice97]

What kind of clay is that? It looks so great and textured!! Super superb technique my man, I'm learning so much.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for kind comments - I use Potclays Craft Crank 1114 stoneware

Oh, I see this after I ask for that. Thanks.

[@petertrevertonharris9428]

Hello Dan, it has been a long time. Just discovered your YT channel. Great memories. You look well, our best wishes to you and Celia. Much love, Peter Harris.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Many thanks Peter - hope you and yours are also well - take care and stay safe

[@MrOj53]

Hello Dan! we met in Stockholm a few years ago, I like your work. The hand must be visible in a craft

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you Ola - I have many happy memories of my visits to Sweden

[@johnnyzebende1846]

hello from brazil...

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Hello to you and to all of Brazil

[@terencekrista5710]

Such inspiring videos! May I ask what kind of clay you use? Seems quite groggy.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Hi Terence, I use a Potclays clay: "Craft Crank 1114" - and yes, it is quite heavily grogged so shrinkage is minimal - thanks for your kind comments.

[@danielcarter8390]

Hi Dan! Another great video. I've been inspired and bought some tools and some clay to give it a go using a friends kiln. I've bought red terracotta clay to start off with coil pots but will this work okay? If not could you recommend some clay to use! By the way your moulds are great :)

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

That's good to hear Daniel but terracotta clay is not frost proof and you will need to protect your pots in winter if they're outside. I use a"Craft Crank" clay and fire to 1220C

[@rosemaried6272]

Eine interessante Herangehensweise, gefällt mir sehr, und wurde von ihnen sehr gut erklärt und gezeigt…Wieviel % Schamotte ist in dem Ton? Sehr interessante Tools snd hier im Einsatz. Solche habe ich noch nicht gesehen. Mit freundlichem Gruß, danke fürs Teilen.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

THank you for your kind comments. The clay I use is a craft crank and fired to 1220C

[@dantattoos]

I love your presentation style Dan. May i ask, are you drying your extruded coils for any amount of time before you assemble? Thank you so much

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for your kind comments - no I don't dry coils before working as this would make them difficult to manipulate - I use the clay straight out of the makers bag.

[@leighperry5032]

Can anyone tell me the name of that nifty little tool he used to cut larger around the template he had, because the template wasn't quite big enough? And where I can buy one? That is so cool and would simplify work a lot!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Glad you noticed my wee gem - it's a regular 'divider' that a friend modified for me and if you send me your email address I'll send you a photo of it that I've taken specially for you and you'll be able to do the same.

[@denhardy7238]

You didn’t say where you got the tool from

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

You can buy from most pottery supply stores. I also make a lot of my own tools

Hi, I see that you don't knead the clay beforehand... doesn't it scare you when firing it? …I think you use a clay with a lot of chamotte (in Spain it is said that way, I don't know in English... it's the clay that has a lot of grain/sand)

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

The clay I use has a lot of "grog" (chamotte).added to it. Sometimes i wedge the clay if I think it has any air trapped in it.

[@jasongannon7676]

After looking at your clay I think I need to add more sand to my clay

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

The clay I use is a "Craft Crank"

[@johnstarkey4959]

Hi Dan, do you have a link to where I could purchase or commission a pot please 🙏

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Check out this link ( danbartoncreative.co.uk/contact ) on my website: www.danbartoncreative.co.uk

[@imolourembam7111]

How to burn the pot by yourself SIR

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

I use my kiln that I had specially made for me.