How do you make slabs without a slab roller?
One of the most important things you need to build slab projects is slabs. Slab rollers can be very expensive and hard to store in a smaller studio. Many hand …
How to Slip and Score Clay: The Complete Guide to Joining Pottery
How to slip and score clay correctly — when to use it, step-by-step technique, alternative joining liquids, and why joins crack.
How to Make Joining Slip for Handbuilt Pottery
How to make joining slip from clay scraps — materials, step-by-step process, liquid options (water, vinegar, magic water), consistency guide, and storage.
How to Make Magic Water for Pottery: Recipe and How to Use It
Magic water recipe for pottery — sodium silicate, soda ash, and water. Step-by-step instructions, what it does, how to use it for joins, and storage.
How to test for shrinkage and absorption rates
Clay shrinks when it dries, gets bisque fired, and again during the glaze firing. Whenever you make a new batch of clay or buy premixed commercial clay you should test …
Learning ceramics where do I start?
Handbuilding is a ceramic technique that allows you to create any form using clay and your hands, no potter’s wheel needed. It is the simplest way to get started in …
Slab Building Projects for Potters: Beginner to Advanced
Slab building is one of the most versatile handbuilding techniques in ceramics — and one of the most project-friendly. Unlike wheel throwing, which suits round, symmetrical forms, slab building excels …
The Stages of Clay: From Slip to Fired Ware
Clay moves through a predictable series of states as it loses water and then gains permanence in the kiln. Knowing which stage you are in tells you what you can …
How to Make and Use a Damp Box for Pottery
How to make a damp box for pottery — two versions, how to use it to slow drying, match moisture levels across a set, and bring pieces back from too-dry. Includes maintenance tips.
How to make a plaster drying board
Materials Steps Clean up