Lesson: Learn Throwing a Basic Pot
on The Potter's Wheel

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Learn Pottery, Step-by-step lesson The tutorial below will guide you step by step illustrating how to use your body properly throwing a pot on the wheel. Always start small. This demo is with a 3 lbs clay and starting with 2 lbs will be a wise choice if you are a beginner.
This video is a slide show of all the illustrations below
Step-by-step Images

1. Place clay on bat firmly with tip pointed down	2. Tap to center with dry hands while wheel is turning slowly

3. Get your hands wet	4. Get your hands wet

5. Push clay forward as shown (plow forward). Wheel speed - fast	6. Sit close to the wheel & anchor your elbows tightly against body

7. When clay complies (feels calm), squeeze clay and cone up	8. Level top of cone with thumbs pressure

9. Both hands are touching and elbows are against body	10. Coning down - place left hand as in previous step securing elbow into body

11. Place right hand on top of cone while interlocking with left hand	12. Right hand pushes down. Left hand pushes forward. Wheel speed - fast

13. Right hand touches only half of the top surface from center to edge.	14. Left hand smooths outer edge of clay with palm

15. Slow wheel a bit. Place thumbs in center and mark the center	16. Decisively, make a hole in center - both hands are touching each other

17. Leave enough clay for pot's bottom	18. Pull clay out - both hands are touching each other and clay is wet

19. Move clay evenly and keep constant distance from bottom for flat surface	20. Smooth all unevenness. Make sure clay is not too dry

21. Do not overhang clay . When finished pulling, let go gradually to stay in center	22. If bottom too thick or uneven pass thumbs on bottom as shown

23. Apply constant pressure on bottom. Move slowly towards center. Wheel speed - medium	24. Take off extra clay

25. Compress bottom to avoid "S" cracks	26. Raise the wall - squeeze clay w/ fingers using a sponge. Use fingers tips only. Hands touching

27. Note that the thumb is helping in squeezing clay	28. Contact clay with finger tips to avoid unnecessary friction

29. The pull - squeeze and lift. Don't be afraid to be a bit aggressive. Clay needs to be wet	30. Smooth the rim at end of each pull

31. Second pull - stay on bottom until you get desired thickness	32. As the wall gets thinner, use less finger surface contact ....

33. .. to avoid too much friction and possible torquing	34. Even wall of cylinder

35. Even cylinder's rim	36. Collar top portion of cylinder in and even the rim

37. Shaping - Push inside of cylinder out while outside hand gently supports clay	38. Touch hands as soon as able for stability

39. Note that only finger tips are touching the pot	40. Smooth rim with Chamois

41. Clean bottom with wooden tool. Sharpen Wooden tool every so often	42. Under cutting -Clear clay from bat for easy access to the cutting wire

43. Clear as much clay as possible to minimize trimming effort later	44. Watch the angle of the wooden tool.

45. Hold the cutting wire as shown	46. Push the wire against the bat with thumbs or index fingers

47. Run wire all the way through keeping it tight and straight	48. If throwing for practice, slice pot to view wall uniformity

49. Inspect wall thickness consistency Good luck!

See removing pot off the bat tutorial	To trimming tutorial How to trim a pot

Throwing a large platter tutorial	Making Mug and Pulling Handle Wheel Lesson