My favorite tools for carving pottery

Hi! I’m Eileen, a studio potter in San Francisco, CA, USA.
These are my current favorite tools for carving pottery and why. Thanks for watching!
www.eileenVLpottery.com
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[@manateepottery]

Thanks everyone for watching! This is for all of you asking about my tools!

[@vickiefmorgan]

Thanks, very helpful

[@Ryveigha]

This was super helpful to watch as someone who's looking to delve deeper into sgraffito work. We have similar taste in tools and imagery when carving. This video is exactly what I needed to watch before ordering myself a birthday present!

[@florencewiley523]

Thank you for demonstrating just how to carve the clay. I am so inspired!

[@chestersmyth6737]

Thanks, Eileen. This is exactly what I needed for next level carving.

[@florencewiley523]

Thank you for the detailed demonstration. I am so inspired.

[@KellyAnn1997]

You are so talented! Thank you for sharing!

[@martynorton1957]

Those 3 carving tools are also my favorite! 😎

[@micheledickey4066]

So helpful. Thank you.

[@janeneh.3093]

Thank you for sharing. I'm inspired to try this myself.

[@manateepottery]

Awesome! You can do it!

[@lorihry6236]

Bandaid for protection is genius!!!🎉

[@Michelle-tg7fq]

Following you on IG! Thank you for sharing! ☮️ ❤️ 🙂

[@dakotap3008]

Hello,
The majority of my projects is slab work. I was hoping you could recommend a tool/technique for carving very thin lines that are close together. The problem I have when carving into wet clay is the minute pieces of clay that remain in the lines as well as the buildup of clay that’s pushed to the surface on both sides of each line. So I get the line free of debris and it then creates another problem with smoothing the surface. So, in essence, I fix one problem but it creates another and another.
Is there a tool or technique to avoid this never ending and most frustrating problem?
What I would really love is for you to create a video showing how you address this problem. Although I’ve never heard anyone else complain about this, I can’t be the only one. Or at least I’d like to think so.
Thank you.

[@Moharani21]

Thanks.
Do you use the needle tool to cut out the base n then use the Kemper tools for a raised look?

[@manateepottery]

Raj Hierodule I use the needle tool more as a guide to outline the design. so I don’t go very deep with the needle. The triangle Kemper tool is the one I use to really cut in. It’s possible to skip the step with the needle tool for certain designs, but for repetitive designs and ones with curved lines it’s really helpful to have the lines drawn out before you really carve in, less errors :)

[@deniserailsback900]

Try using a silicon sleeve for your finger. You can find them at the drug store in the foot care section. Saves your finger and easily washable and reusable.

[@manateepottery]

Denise Railsback thanks for the suggestion!I’ll have to give it a try, I’d love to have a solution that is reusable.

[@sohelhossain8586]

How can I get it from Bangladesh?

[@leslieg8219]

What clay do you use?

[@manateepottery]

I’m currently using laguna frost, but I think I was using b mix in this video

[@monikaheichele6961]

What tool do you use to write your name?

[@manateepottery]

Monika Heichele I usually use a needle tool, but if I know the bottom is pretty thin, I’ll use a wooden knife or a blunt pencil. On the functional pieces I’ll also sand the writing when it’s bone dry so that it’s not sticking out or catching.

[@janeneh.3093]

There is not video just audio.

[@manateepottery]

Janene Hessing thanks for letting me know! I don’t know if it’s doing that for anyone else, maybe a UA-cam glitch 😬? Does it work for you now?

[@janeneh.3093]

I just watched your video again and I'm getting both video and audio. Thanks! Love your videos!!

[@reneeamyot4261]

Hi. We dont see very well! Another vidéo from another angle? Thank you

[@TracieJohnson-js8zt]

Change camera angle

[@VickiHardin]

Would have been really nice if you had repositioned the camera because all we can see is your hand