Sir - I am in my 2nd throwing class and find your videos to be essential. My biggest problem is the top being uneven which I assume is because of different thicknesses in my walls. Also, I have a lot of clay at the bottom. But I keep coming back here and learning. I wanted to thank you for doing this. Your instruction is great and so is the presentation. Cheers.
Thank you so very much! I was having major issues with my walls. I watched your videos again and threw 3 tall straight mugs! The only thing I did differently was to use the Wooden Rib of Gloom instead of the Flexible Metal Rib of Death.
These are the best videos I have seen on throwing. Thank you, I had a teacher who said when we begin to sound like a TV hospital drama-" Oh I think I can save it. Oh no, let's try compression"., it was time to start with a new piece of clay.
You addressed so many of my problems and even showed me problems I recognize but didn't know I was having! I never realized that using the kidney was for compressing it! Things make more sense now. Thanks.
TY for the prompt feedback about using a sponge. I'm now going to try a piece of leather chamois. It won't she'd, it's super thin and natural skin, so it won't block the sensory feedback loop. It gets slippery when wet, and and will keep the clay wet. I'll let you know when I test it.
Hey Tim. Great videos and a great help. I am a visual learner and can honestly say you have taught me well. Thank you! I got centering down, but still struggle with pulling a wall. Funny my first two attempts seemed perfect, but I failed every subsequent attempt. It wants to flare out! You say in many videos to “bring it up to the middle”. Every time I try to guide it, the throw simply wants to widen into a bowl/plate. What gives? Help!
Gawww you make it look so easy!!! I wanted so bad to do pottery when I was a kid, took a ceramics class and I crashed and burned lol! I'm a knitter now and use one of the lopsided pots I made as a kid to hold all my knitting needles hah!
More clay comes to mind first. After that try not throwing them super thin till you get used to how far you can push the shape a little thicker will make tough shapes stay up. You will have to trim more though.
Just wanted to let you know how happy I am to have found you. I'm a newbie (about 1 year) and have been getting bored with all the other videos out there. Same thing over and over and over again. I'm loving learning about what I'm doing wrong as well as things to stretch my skills (I love the fake faceting videos!). You are a great teacher. I wish I lived near you!
That was so good what a great video. To watch you use that one piece and show the issues that we have, mine is usually a thin spot in the middle and how to possibly fix it so that was great I look forward to seeing more videos
i really really really wish i had found your videos when i was still in school. i ended up ok, but some of what ive seen has shown me what i need to work on and also certain things to never ever do again.
Hi! I am new to all this but I am absolutely INSPIRED to learn how to do this. How do I get started and what are my basic tools and equipment that I will need? Thank you!
To keep the clay wet use a thin sponge when you pull between the clay and your fingers. You can thin the round yellow sponge by cutting it in 2, lengthwise
Can you give me any tips for the very 1st lift or, in other words, the grip you use to make the neat cone shape you have at the start of this video. So often with You tube pots you see people do this sort of rolling pinch just after opening which produces a neat cone shape to start pulling but this is usually not described in any detail and I think it is the piece I am missing. I would be grateful for any tips. Thank you.
thankyou.. glad I discovered your teaching clips. Should i ( as beginner ) use a groggy clay - the fine white earthenware clay seems to collapse quicker?
yes, I have my beginners use a lightly grogged clay. Too groggy and it will rough up your hands when you are keeping them against the wheel head while you practice centering.
Hi, I was wondering why when pulling a wall it always tends to want to go outward... and then I have to coller in to fix it but then once it's straight again it doesn't even seem like it got much taller. Also, from what I've seen people say to put more pressure at the bottom. But how much pressure is that exactly? I'm always afraid I'm going to squeeze to hard. And then when do you know when to start moving your hand up... Sorry if it seems like a lot of questions pulling up is the hardest part for me. I really like how you showed how to take off a wobbly top with the needle tool though I was looking for that everywhere.
I love your videos. I now know the reasons why my pulling results in twisted and collapsed pieces! I still don't know how what to do about pulling at the top of the wall. I ease off on the pressure but then I have a fat lip! How do you fix that?
This clay seems to move so easily. the clay im given in my current class is so hard I have to use all of my strength to move the clay. it makes it very hard to pull walls without getting a thin spot since i have to use so much strength and then the slip scrapes off and then the friction ruins everything >:O then the others in the class look at it and laugh at me but I can't understand the language Y.Y
I hope you are still working with clay! The thing that took me a long time to grasp, because nobody told me, is that I never have to put up with clay that isn't exactly right for me to throw with. I had exactly the same experience when learning and it was difficult to do even the most basic tasks. Also, hard clay causes strain and repetitive injury and at my age I have to be thinking about how to preserve my joints if I want to keep at this the way I want to. So, if your clay is too wet, wedge it on a dry canvas covered table, or form it like a bridge and leave it out for a bit or put it in front of a fan, this is helpful to do with your throwing scrap so it can be reused. If your clay is too dry, you can spray it with water while kneading it, or if you have access to slop about the consistency of mashed potatoes, slice your clay in 1/2 inch slices, butter the slice with slop and then cut another slice, butter it and stack it, until you have a sandwich several layers thick of alternating firm clay and slop. Flatten this with your hands, tear or cut it in half, put one half on top of the other half and press it down again, repeat until the slop isn't oozing out from between your slices anymore and then knead/wedge until the lump is uniform. It takes a few minutes but your throwing will become better immediately with softer clay and as you practice, you will get a feel for what consistency you prefer for the things you like to make. I like firmer clay for larger forms, and softer clay for small mugs and bowls.
@timseepots haha well then i think i need some of that cuz im not good enough to throw with porcelain without messing up and having to re-wedge a couple times before getting a full piece. The cost is just not realistic for me when im still learning although i love smooth clay
how long does it usually take to get the hang of the basics? My teacher told me it's like learning to ride a bike. Eventually it'll just come naturally, but I've been working for hours on throwing and still have a hard time making a simple, small, even pot.
when i started having trouble actually everything needs to be quiet so u can concentrate and believe it or not close your eyes and ''feel '' the clay it works!!!!
Thank you so much for troubleshooting vids. I keep having problems when I'm pulling the wall, I squeeze in the bottom in and as I pull up the clay DRIES, and I wet my hands and the clay dries before I even get a chance to move the clay at all. Its hard to get uniform thickness when I am constantly stopping before I can even get my hand up to the lip of the pot.
I'm a senior in high school, and I'm taking ceramics this year, but every time I try to throw bowls, they always turn out really small and not very practical. Any tips for how I can make bigger bowls?
naw its a different lip of which he speaks... it can come from Lots of things which is why I didn't answer right away. it can be from opening deeper after you have flattened the bottom rolling the outside over on itself when opening. and many other things
I can't seem to pull a wall w/o having the base shrinking. It's VERY irritating. Am I pushing in with my finger too much? The only way I've been able to not have it shrink is to make it very wide. Thanks Tim.
+trebor Thats one of the better problems to have, you may just need to up the pressure on the inside finger. If you are getting a thin spot, you may need to move up a bit faster.
Hey! i have a question! When ever im pulling a wall i ALWAYS get air pockets in my walls. Where do they come from? how do i stop them? i wedge my clay and cone up and down to center.
Download a chrome extension called "flip this" Then after you install go to youtube video you want to be left-handed, and right click the "flip this" icon and click "flip horizontally" Boom left handed video. :D
I have trouble coning causing inner lumps at base as I cone down. And it throws off everything. I can’t seem to get rid of lumps at the bottom as I continue to cone to try to center. I don’t push down on the top. So not sure why. And I always get the thinner place and wrinkles.
I might be able to help but if need a clearer idea of what’s happening. Are you centering like I’ve shown in the past of are you pushing down with your left hand
@@timseepots I use both hands to cone up but can never get bottom to recenter. I puSh down with right and left hand more guiding in front while right is tilted. Forward Seems to center but base is the issue. I have tried various positions of the right hand. Even watched a famous oriental. Seems to wok a little but base still seems limply and wobbly. If I don’t cone I am centered but I know coming is important
@@jackierisch5793 getting centered is more important than coning, coning is just a easy way to center. I have a couple other videos one is the beginner wheel throwing video and one called more on centering. Those may help but you could also have an equipment thing going on. If you are remarking right against the wheelhead check and make sure the wheelhead is true. Put your finger on the top side near the ends while it’s spinning. If it’s going up and down when it spins the wheelhead isn’t true and centering is gonna be really hard. If your using a bat check the wheel head and check the bat. Put the bat on a known flat surface and see if it’s sitting flat and not warped.
What is impossible to see is how much pressure you are using at each step. If you don't put enough pressure with your left hand it's not going to do much and you don't want to take too long with a piece if you are going to wind op with water under the piece and it's ruined. Also, I HATE the wire used to cut the piece from the bat. How in the heck to people not cut their fingers?!
Really like how you explain alllll the problems. Lumps thickness center. It’s so much more than I have seen. Thanks so much.
Sir - I am in my 2nd throwing class and find your videos to be essential. My biggest problem is the top being uneven which I assume is because of different thicknesses in my walls. Also, I have a lot of clay at the bottom. But I keep coming back here and learning. I wanted to thank you for doing this. Your instruction is great and so is the presentation. Cheers.
Thank you so very much! I was having major issues with my walls. I watched your videos again and threw 3 tall straight mugs! The only thing I did differently was to use the Wooden Rib of Gloom instead of the Flexible Metal Rib of Death.
These are the best videos I have seen on throwing. Thank you, I had a teacher who said when we begin to sound like a TV hospital drama-" Oh I think I can save it.
Oh no, let's try compression"., it was time to start with a new piece of clay.
Thank you!!! I’m self taught and I attend an open studio I always ask but no ones explained it as well as you
I attempted to teach a fellow classmate how to pull. it took me alot longer and i had to make up alot of words. you are a great teacher.
I have been trying to throw for a few years, yet every time I watch one of your videos I learn SO much! Thank you so much.
You addressed so many of my problems and even showed me problems I recognize but didn't know I was having! I never realized that using the kidney was for compressing it! Things make more sense now. Thanks.
TY for the prompt feedback about using a sponge. I'm now going to try a piece of leather chamois. It won't she'd, it's super thin and natural skin, so it won't block the sensory feedback loop. It gets slippery when wet, and and will keep the clay wet. I'll let you know when I test it.
Hey Tim. Great videos and a great help. I am a visual learner and can honestly say you have taught me well. Thank you! I got centering down, but still struggle with pulling a wall. Funny my first two attempts seemed perfect, but I failed every subsequent attempt. It wants to flare out! You say in many videos to “bring it up to the middle”. Every time I try to guide it, the throw simply wants to widen into a bowl/plate. What gives? Help!
Gawww you make it look so easy!!! I wanted so bad to do pottery when I was a kid, took a ceramics class and I crashed and burned lol! I'm a knitter now and use one of the lopsided pots I made as a kid to hold all my knitting needles hah!
You're videos are a godsend! Now if only I could actually do this in my class, I'd be golden.
Helpful. All these videos are very helpful. When I throw I will be thinking back on these video and the techniques that were shared.
Well, you just addressed every throwing problem I was having before I got totally disgusted and sold my Randall kickwheel last October.
More clay comes to mind first. After that try not throwing them super thin till you get used to how far you can push the shape a little thicker will make tough shapes stay up. You will have to trim more though.
I just started my first wheel throwing class and I'm having a blast, but I still struggle with pulling walls. Good video.
Gosh! I love your tutorials! Wish I could physically be in your class!
Just wanted to let you know how happy I am to have found you. I'm a newbie (about 1 year) and have been getting bored with all the other videos out there. Same thing over and over and over again. I'm loving learning about what I'm doing wrong as well as things to stretch my skills (I love the fake faceting videos!). You are a great teacher. I wish I lived near you!
You are amazing and super informative! My instructor sucks. I wish I'm one of your students.
Wow! you're a fantastic teacher Tim!
Thanks a million for sharing your knowledge :)
That was so good what a great video. To watch you use that one piece and show the issues that we have, mine is usually a thin spot in the middle and how to possibly fix it so that was great I look forward to seeing more videos
I just want to say thank you SO much! Your videos are great- informational AND funny. Next time I'll put your advice to good use!
i really really really wish i had found your videos when i was still in school. i ended up ok, but some of what ive seen has shown me what i need to work on and also certain things to never ever do again.
Going to class tomorrow and hoping your tips help.I have been trying for a couple weeks to make cups and feeling a bit defeated. Your video is great.
Hi! I am new to all this but I am absolutely INSPIRED to learn how to do this. How do I get started and what are my basic tools and equipment that I will need? Thank you!
Fantastic video! It is very informative.
To keep the clay wet use a thin sponge when you pull between the clay and your fingers. You can thin the round yellow sponge by cutting it in 2, lengthwise
gail bancer sponges have a lot of negatives. Like small particle removal, more drag lack of touch and having another thing in your hand.
To make it taller, it needs clay. So it gets the clay from the base
Thanks again Tim. The studio opens again on Tuesday (tomorrow) and I'll give it a try!
dude ur awesome now i can fix my little cups and other thins easily, ur a great teacher!!!
thanks! and I appreciate your sense of humor and efficient approach!
Wonderful videos thanks Tim.
I end up with a thick bit at the top that I can seem to make taller?
Can you give me any tips for the very 1st lift or, in other words, the grip you use to make the neat cone shape you have at the start of this video. So often with You tube pots you see people do this sort of rolling pinch just after opening which produces a neat cone shape to start pulling but this is usually not described in any detail and I think it is the piece I am missing. I would be grateful for any tips. Thank you.
thankyou.. glad I discovered your teaching clips. Should i ( as beginner ) use a groggy clay - the fine white earthenware clay seems to collapse quicker?
yes, I have my beginners use a lightly grogged clay. Too groggy and it will rough up your hands when you are keeping them against the wheel head while you practice centering.
Hi, I was wondering why when pulling a wall it always tends to want to go outward... and then I have to coller in to fix it but then once it's straight again it doesn't even seem like it got much taller. Also, from what I've seen people say to put more pressure at the bottom. But how much pressure is that exactly? I'm always afraid I'm going to squeeze to hard. And then when do you know when to start moving your hand up... Sorry if it seems like a lot of questions pulling up is the hardest part for me. I really like how you showed how to take off a wobbly top with the needle tool though I was looking for that everywhere.
I love your videos. I now know the reasons why my pulling results in twisted and collapsed pieces! I still don't know how what to do about pulling at the top of the wall. I ease off on the pressure but then I have a fat lip! How do you fix that?
This clay seems to move so easily. the clay im given in my current class is so hard I have to use all of my strength to move the clay. it makes it very hard to pull walls without getting a thin spot since i have to use so much strength and then the slip scrapes off and then the friction ruins everything >:O then the others in the class look at it and laugh at me but I can't understand the language Y.Y
I hope you are still working with clay! The thing that took me a long time to grasp, because nobody told me, is that I never have to put up with clay that isn't exactly right for me to throw with. I had exactly the same experience when learning and it was difficult to do even the most basic tasks. Also, hard clay causes strain and repetitive injury and at my age I have to be thinking about how to preserve my joints if I want to keep at this the way I want to. So, if your clay is too wet, wedge it on a dry canvas covered table, or form it like a bridge and leave it out for a bit or put it in front of a fan, this is helpful to do with your throwing scrap so it can be reused. If your clay is too dry, you can spray it with water while kneading it, or if you have access to slop about the consistency of mashed potatoes, slice your clay in 1/2 inch slices, butter the slice with slop and then cut another slice, butter it and stack it, until you have a sandwich several layers thick of alternating firm clay and slop. Flatten this with your hands, tear or cut it in half, put one half on top of the other half and press it down again, repeat until the slop isn't oozing out from between your slices anymore and then knead/wedge until the lump is uniform. It takes a few minutes but your throwing will become better immediately with softer clay and as you practice, you will get a feel for what consistency you prefer for the things you like to make. I like firmer clay for larger forms, and softer clay for small mugs and bowls.
Im in a college class I get horrible clay it so grainy and just yuck, my best advice is not to use reclaimed clay and make sure it is good and wet.
add a mist of water to the clay the day before you use it it will soften up
@farragatish Use what you can get. It all works the same when you don't know what you're doing yet.
can u make a video showing how to make a sea horse handle for a vase or mug please need it for my ceramic class ???
@timseepots haha well then i think i need some of that cuz im not good enough to throw with porcelain without messing up and having to re-wedge a couple times before getting a full piece. The cost is just not realistic for me when im still learning although i love smooth clay
how long does it usually take to get the hang of the basics? My teacher told me it's like learning to ride a bike. Eventually it'll just come naturally, but I've been working for hours on throwing and still have a hard time making a simple, small, even pot.
It can take weeks, focus more on learning the skills rather than making pieces.
thank you! will do
Timsee clay Excellent piece of advice.
when i started having trouble actually everything needs to be quiet so u can concentrate and believe it or not close your eyes and ''feel '' the clay it works!!!!
what kind of clay hi or low fire Etc
I made ALL of these mistakes today! This was so helpful!
Thank you so much for troubleshooting vids. I keep having problems when I'm pulling the wall, I squeeze in the bottom in and as I pull up the clay DRIES, and I wet my hands and the clay dries before I even get a chance to move the clay at all. Its hard to get uniform thickness when I am constantly stopping before I can even get my hand up to the lip of the pot.
I saw someone wetting the clay with a sponge and then pull it up to help with this issue.
I'm a senior in high school, and I'm taking ceramics this year, but every time I try to throw bowls, they always turn out really small and not very practical. Any tips for how I can make bigger bowls?
@finessewes9119 That is the same reason I have funny names for things like the flexible metal rib of death or elephant butt.
Thanks Tim. I appreciate your help.
Thanks, very important tips....:)
how do u make a cup or vace on an slow wheel
naw its a different lip of which he speaks... it can come from Lots of things which is why I didn't answer right away. it can be from opening deeper after you have flattened the bottom rolling the outside over on itself when opening. and many other things
I am in a Pottery 1 class in high school and when i pull, the rim always has a lip on it. What could I do to get rid of the ever present lip?
Noice vid Duudz... doin' some high school-level beginnerz ceramics... pretty gud!
I can't seem to pull a wall w/o having the base shrinking. It's VERY irritating. Am I pushing in with my finger too much? The only way I've been able to not have it shrink is to make it very wide. Thanks Tim.
+trebor Thats one of the better problems to have, you may just need to up the pressure on the inside finger. If you are getting a thin spot, you may need to move up a bit faster.
@albpoolshark It's poor mans porcelain... Bmix Only using it for demos
Hi Tim, I want to find out how tall a cylinder should be with 1lb of clay. I can make it to about 4.5 inches. Thanks.
5-6 is a good size 7 is great.
+Timsee clay What about the diameter of the cylider?
+Amaurry R as narrow as you have control.
I got 3 inches tall by 3 inches wide today. I'm shooting for 5 inches in height without tearing it apart. Baby steps!
Hey! i have a question! When ever im pulling a wall i ALWAYS get air pockets in my walls. Where do they come from? how do i stop them? i wedge my clay and cone up and down to center.
what size should i do for a 4 pound ball of claydont know what type it comes as a powder and my school has a clay mixer
Can you do a full video for how to make a cylinder
On the wheel
Omg that smile 😆😆😆💖
niiice haha thanks..i like the smiley face :)
Amazing!! Love!
I do have one but I need to make a better one.
the problem i have is that my walls would get too thin from bottom to top and then the soft spot would collapse. would i be able to save the piece?
is it true that you have to measure it
If I've made a failure, (collapsed or broke) the clay is very wet. Can I reuse it, does it have to be dried? Help!
ive done that, seemed too wet to even stick when centering because it was too saturated with water
Can you make firing videos?
it really helped me learn how to pull a wall .I also found this really interesting
@Patotype Glad it worked for you
How do you start the wall
@timseepots hi i cant center it do you know how to center it
Help, I need to see left handed video. I find so many right handed, but I am having issues figuring out pottery for leftys.
Download a chrome extension called "flip this"
Then after you install go to youtube video you want to be left-handed, and right click the "flip this" icon and click "flip horizontally"
Boom left handed video. :D
I have trouble coning causing inner lumps at base as I cone down. And it throws off everything. I can’t seem to get rid of lumps at the bottom as I continue to cone to try to center. I don’t push down on the top. So not sure why. And I always get the thinner place and wrinkles.
I might be able to help but if need a clearer idea of what’s happening. Are you centering like I’ve shown in the past of are you pushing down with your left hand
@@timseepots I use both hands to cone up but can never get bottom to recenter. I puSh down with right and left hand more guiding in front while right is tilted. Forward Seems to center but base is the issue. I have tried various positions of the right hand. Even watched a famous oriental. Seems to wok a little but base still seems limply and wobbly. If I don’t cone I am centered but I know coming is important
@@jackierisch5793 getting centered is more important than coning, coning is just a easy way to center.
I have a couple other videos one is the beginner wheel throwing video and one called more on centering. Those may help but you could also have an equipment thing going on.
If you are remarking right against the wheelhead check and make sure the wheelhead is true. Put your finger on the top side near the ends while it’s spinning. If it’s going up and down when it spins the wheelhead isn’t true and centering is gonna be really hard.
If your using a bat check the wheel head and check the bat. Put the bat on a known flat surface and see if it’s sitting flat and not warped.
When I pull, the clay folds at the top. What's my problem?
Too much pressure and or drag. By the time you get to the top you should be touching it gently. Make sure you have enough water.
I cant keep it centred as i bring it up
K-396 -1 you probably aren't putting even pressure
you are a god. thank you thank you thank you.
today was my first day in the wheel lol it was so hard?!
Thank you very much :D
Take a local class before you get too invested. it is REALLY hard for some people. others it is only kinda hard.
is that porcelain?
Tim is god
What is impossible to see is how much pressure you are using at each step. If you don't put enough pressure with your left hand it's not going to do much and you don't want to take too long with a piece if you are going to wind op with water under the piece and it's ruined. Also, I HATE the wire used to cut the piece from the bat. How in the heck to people not cut their fingers?!
It's braided wire and you never cut your finger. Never, nobody.
@henkkkah i dont see how thats possible LOL
How do make it so that my pot wall doesn't completely fall off of the pot?
you are probabaly pinching too hard at the bottom with out moving. as soon as you apply pressure you need to move up
I started watching Terraria videos... Somehow I ended up here.. O_o
That's not even center....
Sara Shields thank you ssssooo much for the critique on my video! You must be really really good.