A Guide to Wedging Clay: Tips, Skills, and Troubleshooting for Potters
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- This video is a guide to wedging clay.
Learning to properly wedge clay is a basic and essential skill for any potter. Anyone who has tried to roll a slab, or throw a piece of clay on the wheel just to experience pesky bubbles which ruin the piece knows just how important proper wedging is. Proper wedging of clay will eliminate air bubbles as well as create a smooth homogenous claybody which is even in moisture. This video shows the method I teach my students in class.
I show two methods of wedging in this video- an asymmetrical spiral wedging where the clay is rotated around a point (mine being my left hand), resulting in a conical form to the clay as you wedge, and the symmetrical rams-head wedging, (I realized belatedly I mistakenly called it rams-horn) where both hands push evenly during rotation, resulting in a clay forming rams-head shape. Whichever of these two ways my students choose to wedge, the most important thing to remember is that the clay is rotating within itself, and should NOT incorporate air during the process. If you have clay which has stiffer and wetter areas, wedging is crucial for creating a blended homogeneous consistency. Softer clay is easier to wedge than very stiff clay as well.
As a side note: one thing I don’t discuss is avoiding a bad habit I see many of my kids come to me with from younger grades. They want to take their lump of clay and throw or drop it on the table multiple times. This indeed will COMPRESS the clay, but it won’t properly mix it or remove air bubbles when stiffer. This is a no-no in my classroom. I try to teach them to do it properly for best results.
I am using a table which is covered with heavy canvas. The canvas allows the clay to release from the porous surface, as opposed to working directly on the formica top which would cause it to stick. The canvas must be diligently cleaned after use with water, as it really holds dust. The taller wedging table to the right in the video is a plaster filled top, covered with canvas. I find it better in concept than in practicality, as it is just too tall for me to comfortably use. If you are 6’ tall, it is probably a perfect height for you. Many potters I know use Hardibacker Board for their wedging surface- as it is sturdy, durable, and yet somewhat absorbant to release the clay from sticking. Other potters I know highly recommend using a birch plywood wood surface which is not sealed as a wedging surface. All surfaces should be cleaned well with water when done to avoid unhealthy dust. The cutting wire is a great little add if you can have an affixed wire nearby for slicing your clay as you wedge. When slicing, I will slam down the slices perpendicular to the table to realign the particles and drive out the air bubbles. Just remember to clean the wire off as you work to prevent dry chunks getting in your clay!
Check out my Amazon Influencer Store where I have recommendations for some of my favorite tools and products many of which I use in my videos- which are available on Amazon. www.amazon.com...
For the great tools I used in the video (including the MKM rollers and the wooden Kemper tools) check out this link to a live Googledoc I continually update with lots of my favorite tools on Amazon using my associate links! (also some non-amazon suggestions on here!)
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In this video, I am using standard 153, a nice midrange firing stoneware in my classroom.
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/s...
I started my UA-cam channel to make videos to help my students if they are absent and miss a demo, or if they would like to explore more advanced techniques independently. I have been amazed to reach such a wider audience than my own students!
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Never worked with clay before and now I'm 70 and in my very first class. My daughter (who can REALLY work with clay) suggested that I try watching a few videos before I went to the "wheel" (which I'm terrified to try) for the very first time. This was a GREAT video. Thanks so much for calmly making, definitely explaining, and showing each step in this process.
Are you still working with clay? ❤
Such a great video... thank you so much! I'm trying to get the hang of this but no matter what method I use, I still have air bubbles. 😪 I've watched copious wedging videos...I feel like I'm doing it correctly but obviously I'm not. I don't think I'm flattening it too much like you said in the video. Thanks for your help. 🥰
I just found your channel and I just love your videos and teaching!
Thanks for the video.
I’m about to have to wedge my first recycled bucket of clay. Thanks for the tips!
Love this. So informative and satisfying to watch!
Do you know that the clay particle rule is: When you wedge you change the order of the particles, that goes in the consistency that is good for throwing, but that disapears shortly after, (goes back to the way it was) so its best to wedge just before throwing.
I have found that different clays will react differently. Some clays I have no issue wedging the night before and bagging it other clays I wedge right before throwing. I think it’s individual to each clay body rather than a hard and fast rule!
looks like quite a workout! Thanks for video. I like your spiral wedging technique. I feel like sometimes with only a lb or two of clay it"snot very practical to get two hands in front to "ram horn" it lol :)
Please try and explain how soft the clay needs to be for successful wedging. Thanks.
Soft enough not to hurt your wrists?! Soft enough it should meld together and not laminate into layers?
Thank you!
Great information on wedging. Thank you.
Hi Karen, Thank you for you terrific and helpful videos. I watched your two videos on Wedging and for using your Peter Pugger. Do you still wedge your clay after it’s been mixed and de-aired in your Peter Pugger? Does the Peter Pugger eliminate the need to wedge?
It does eliminate the need to wedge! Sometimes if it’s pugged and sitting bagged for awhile before I use, I just loosen it up with a quick few turns- nothing major though!
@@KaransPotsAndGlass If Peter has a brother, can you send him my way? 😁😆😂 I reclaimed & wedged about 25lbs of clay today. Whew, I’m exhausted.
Do you just scrape any clay that is left on the canvas off and it’s good to go again?? I’m freaking out over getting bits of dried clay in the stuff I would be wedging! Do you wedge on totally dry canvas? Or do you mist the surface first or anything? I’ve never wedged on canvas and didn’t know that was thing! (Am I dating myself?)
Also, I e been asking the internet these questions and am getting absolutely NO answers! 🙁
Thank you! Doesn’t the clay get dry?
It doesn’t dry out too much if it’s properly moist to begin. Dry clay will be problematic- and could get drier. One quick fix is to slice it in very thin slices- like less than 1/4”, spray with water on both sides of the slice, sandwich back together and then wedge.
Thank you for the video
I still can't figure out what I am doing wrong.
I am trying to Wedge scrap clay for hand building & keep getting air bubbles🙄
I've been doing spiral wedging. I've been having a sort of cone shape, and shoving and turning it ok, getting a sort of thick little piece sticking out like the seam of the tongue, and a spiral on the thick side. but, it always comes out air bubbles 🙄
Perhaps I need to moisten the whole thing more and start over on a moister surface
You should try rams head, if you haven’t yet! I found it the easiest to pick up when I started wedging
The third solution is the one where you keep dividing in two and hammer one half in the other. But you have to see how to do it, cos its not easy to explain. And it has to be done in an exact manner Dunno the name of that tecknique
Where did you get the wire cutter for slicing clay?
Great thank you. How long or how may times do you wedge?
It depends on the consistency of your clay... You want it to be evenly mixed- no wet or stiff areas... and be careful not to wedge air bubbles into it. If I have fairly consistent clay, I can usually wedge for less than a minute (maybe 20-30 turns), but if it is quite inconsistent, I may take few minutes on one piece! I hope that helps!
@@KaransPotsAndGlass Thank you. Yes, that helps a lot. Great videos.
thanks for this great video! could you tell me how important wedging is for hand-building techniques such as coiling? i am also curious how long a finished piece can sit before being fired as i won't be able to get to a kiln for an indefinite amount of time. thanks!
Wedging is important if your clay is uneven in moisture, or if you’re combining scrap. You can often use fresh block clay without wedging for hand building! You can keep your pieces indefinitely before firing. As long as you’re careful with them they can be bone dry for years before you fire them! :)
@@KaransPotsAndGlass thank you so much!! I am so new 🙊
Thanks for this Karan. What if the clay is really hard and not plastic? What if the clay is really to soft and seems like it sticks to everything. Gosh when is the clay the right amount of soft and pliable? How can it be adjusted to be the right amount of soft and easy to work with?
I have some videos on that on “how to recycle clay by hand in my studio”. But I’ll try to answer right here. If the clay is too hard and it’s already in chunks not the block, you can slice it into thin slices like quarter of an inch thin wet the slices down and then drop them back in a bag give it 24 hours and it will be a good consistency. If the clay is too wet you can take that squishy clay and lay it out on the counter or a plaster bat and drape a heavy towel over it and leave it out for 24 hours. It will become drier but the heavy towel will keep it from forming a hard crust on the top. If you have a large block that’s too hard, do my trick that I show in another video of adding water to a bag that doesn’t have holes with your clay, and then submerge that enclosed bag and a bucket of water. ua-cam.com/video/FfVaz5lOWMI/v-deo.html
thanks
What is the height of your table? I'm also 5'5 and creating an optimal space for wedging.
Hi Gail- I normally have a regular table height surface... I can measure tomorrow... but any standard table height works well for me... and I am also 5"5"! :)
@@KaransPotsAndGlass table height is 30", countertop height is 36".
yep- so I like 30" to wedge, but taller people may prefer higher to save their backs!
Is that thick canvas on the table top?
Thanks alot what about making floor tiles in my country uganda eastafrica women always ask me if ihave the information
Sorry, I don’t make floor tiles!
I see what looks like a geode in the center of my wedging when I wire it in half. It eventually wedges out but I think something I'm doing is causing this and I have to wedge about 100 rounds for each 2-3 pound piece. Any idea what I might be doing wrong? I do ram's head. Thank you for your many terrific videos!
perhaps it is on the dry side, and not mixing well in the center?? When moist enough, it should incorporate! :)
@@KaransPotsAndGlass on the clay I wish that was the case but it happens with any clay I use. and i incorporate water when the clay is stiff. Could it be i’m not pressing down hard enough?
I have only just started doing pottery ....
Could you please tell me why you have to Wedge the clay
And also why is it that you have to do it for so long
Anticipating your reply - Thank you
Hi Pam- Potter's wedge clay to eliminate air bubbles as well as create a smooth homogenous claybody which is even in moisture. The length of time of wedging does depend on the original condition of the clay and the size of the hunk. If it is already pretty smooth and even in consistency of moisture, I can usually wedge a 2 lb ball in about 30 seconds. My students aren't quite that fast, it may take them a minute to do the same. If there are parts which are wetter and slightly stiffer, more wedging is needed to get it consistent throughout. I hope that helps!
thank you so much..
can clay be used if just cut, straight out of a fresh bag
@@2pambo - yes it can be. I often do that with slabs with my students. However, if you are going to throw it on the wheel it really should be wedged a little!
I’m trying to learn how to wedge so I can recycle scrap clay, but clay right out the box/bag is best to use.
Particles of clay has two ways. Either like bricks (when its been resting) or in a mess, (when its wedged) and its much better ....easier, to throw with, when in a mess!😊
looks more like a duck bill then a rams head to me lol
Lol- yeah- I don’t use that technique as much as the side spiral!
Hi I have air dry clay do I still have to do the wedging thanks Helen
Hi Helen- I would say it isn't as necessary, but you would find it helpful if you need to mix the clay together if you have slightly different moistures within it to make it consistent. I honestly haven't worked with air dry clay... :)
@@KaransPotsAndGlass thankyou for getting back to me so fast. I have a wheel but no kiln that's why I use air dry still learning so any tips welcome .
I’d recommend my playlist for beginning wheel throwing then! :) I’ll post a link in a minute!
Beginning Wheel Throwing ua-cam.com/play/PLj0pNzEmvM_rJTOZkLguUWO9ufdCSJR2P.html
2sep22
Each time I check on canvas, I’m asked which weight I want. Will you give me some idea? I’m wedging on a Hardie backer board that sits on a painted wood table that was formerly an office/kid study table. It has the opening for a chair to slide under. It has a lower shelf on one side that is big enough to hold a hardback dictionary, etc. I have a Hardie backer board attached to the table using two clamps. I think dh got the clamps from Harbor Freight. I use the smaller hardie backer board to wedge smaller amounts of clay. I have a larger piece of Hardie backer board to dry clay when reclaiming. I flip them over when using a different color clay & if the one side feels bit too damp. (I flip it over to allow it to completely dry.) Would there be a benefit of covering the Hardie backer board with canvas? When you say clean with water, does that mean your canvases can be taken off to clean?
So sorry if this was answered in your video. I’m exhausted after reclaiming & wedging some 25 lbs of clay. 🥱😫😴 This is in addition to helping my husband center clay on top of my throwing several mugs. Today was the first time he was able to center clay without needing me to help him get centered. I apologize in advance.