So you’ve poured your heart and soul into throwing the perfect pot. Then you try to get it off the wheel and SQUISH garghhh😭! Here are our tips to help avoid this pottery predicament in the future.
- CLEAN IT UP FIRST – A freshly thrown pot can be soft & wet, which makes it slippery to handle and easier to distort.
- Use a ‘sponge on a stick’, or a damp sponge to remove water from the inside base of your pot.
- Remove excess slip from the outside walls of your pot using a soft rubber rib, or flexible metal rib. Slowly turn the wheel and gently touch the outside walls with the rib whilst moving it upwards.
- Before you attempt to remove your pot, take a damp sponge, turn the wheel slowly, and mop up any excess water and slip around the base.
- Use a wooden potter’s knife to tidy up the base of your pot. (Let me know if you’d like us to do a blog post on this particular technique in the future!)
- WIRING – The go-to method for pot removal. But which type of wire should you use?
- Quality – Cheap wires are prone to breakages, corrosion and kinking. You don’t need to break the bank but invest in a good quality stainless steel wire : it’ll last for years and be less problematic.
- Handles – Choose a wire with handles so you can pull it nice and taught without slicing through your hands.
- The right length – We recommend you have two lengths of pottery wire in your tool kit. A shorter wire for smaller pots so you can keep it taught as you pull through. And a longer wire for bowls and plates (so you don’t damage them as you pull underneath the base).
- Let’s twist again? – If you want a patterned base to your pots, consider a twisted or curly wire design.
For a more in depth dive into how to wire your pottery off the wheel, we recommend checking out Master Potter Florian Gadbsy, who has some great videos on his You Tube channel showing you how to master this technique. Click here if you’d like to take a look.
- BRACE YOUR RIM – When you’ve finished throwing a pot, try the Brace Method to stop the rim from distorting as you remove it from the wheel. Simply take a piece of paper just larger than the rim of your pot. Place it onto the rim and lightly press it to make contact all around the rim surface. Remove the pot from the wheel using your pottery wire. The piece of paper increases the surface tension of the rim, and offers a stability for the shape as you start to move the pot. You’ll find that your rim retains its shape.
- Throw on a Pottery Batt or Tile Batt System – Our favourite way to remove your pots from the wheel (well we DO make the BEST BATTS in the world!) When you use a batt or a batt system, you don’t throw on the wheel-head… you throw on the batt instead. But what’s the difference? A pottery batt is a single flat disc that you attach to the pottery wheel. Whereas a Batt System consists of a large master batt that fits on the wheel, and smaller tiles that you insert into it.
What’s a Pottery Batt System?
Pictured here is the Hartley & Noble Russian Doll Batt System. It’s made from quality materials that last for years, and can be designed to fit on any pottery wheel. Click here to view the full range. Contact Hartley & Noble for advice on choosing a system to fit your pottery wheel.
What is a Pottery Throwing Batt?
A Pottery Throwing Batt is a round disc that you fit onto your wheel. It’s best for throwing wide based items like plates, platters, or maybe even clock faces!
Why throw on batts instead of directly onto the wheel?
When throwing on a batt you lift your pot off the wheel directly on the batt. So there’s no need to touch your pot at all (No Squishing = Happy Days!!)
Some batts (such as those made from high quality MDF or plaster) allow the pot to self-release itself from the batt when the clay reaches leather hard dryness… meaning you don’t have to use a pottery wire at all!
Overall, batts make it easier & quicker to remove pots from the wheel. So there’s a rapid turnaround time between finishing one pot and starting the next, meaning your throwing process is more efficient and productive.
Bonus tip : When throwing larger based items like plates or platters choose large, single, round throwing batts. When throwing multiple small pots such as mugs, and small bowls and vases – opt for a batt system instead. These are GREAT for making the most of the space you have on your drying shelves. You can fit so many more small tiles on a shelf than you can big round batts. It’s a no-brainer!
Things to consider when buying batts:
Cost – you’ll either need to buy batts or have a go at making them yourself. Tools to make them take up space and can be expensive. Material is not cheap, and it’s tricky to cut a perfect circle or square from a sheet of wood (give it a try… you’ll know what I mean!)
Quality – Save time and money by investing in good quality batts. Find a manufacturer that can offer you a custom service so you can get your batts made especially to fit your wheel. Ask them about the material they use to make their batts. Is it resistant to warping? Can you leave your pots to dry on it? Are the batts prone to splintering? Buying cheap batts may save you pennies in the short term, but you’ll find they splinter and warp quite quickly and ultimately end up in the bin.
So there you have it — four simple ways to get your beautiful pots off the wheel without the dreaded squish! Whether you’re a wiring whizz, a batt system convert, or you just love a good old sponge-on-a-stick, finding what works best for YOU can make all the difference.
LET’S CHAT!
Do YOU have a favourite method? Maybe you’ve got a squishy fail story to share? Drop it in the comments – we love hearing from you! 💬 And if you’d like a deeper dive into any of these techniques, just let us know – we’re always up for sharing more pottery tips to make your throwing time smoother and more enjoyable. 💛
Until next time, happy throwing and even happier pot-removing!
Nicky 🎉🪴
