search  current discussion  categories  techniques - throwing 

wheel throwing 101 on web--krueger pottery

updated thu 4 feb 99

 

Alice Smrcka on wed 3 feb 99

Kathy,
Found a great website for beginning throwing-- a cylinder.
Krueger Pottery has a detailed 9 page "handout" with closeup
photos. They also have basic info on glazes--^6 oxidation,
firing techniques and yes, weber ware!

Access Krueger Pottery:
http://www.kruegerpottery.com

open education center-- and a "ceramics 101" menu will appear!
or if you only want the throwing tips:
http://www.kruegerpottery.com/throwtips.html

On Saturday mornings, I've been teaching teenagers and adults basic
throwing and raku in January and February for 16 years. We have 16
wheels and I put on knee pads and crawl from wheel to wheel to help
them get started with the centering. USE SOFT CLAY! or your hands
and back will protest! We throw for 3 Saturday mornings for about
2 hours and raku fire the last Saturday. They love it!
I plan to give them the Krueger throwing tips handout to study.
I think it will be very helpful.

My basic tool kit:
sponge-- a 1" thick 3" x 4" piece of foam
bamboo skewer-- thin
fishing line-- 20-30 lb. test-- cutting wire-- 2 feet long
Laminate sample -- for trim tool---thanks to home depot
Large clean up sponge-- 1" x 6" x 12"
bucket for water
ware boards

In my regular classroom, I have 1 wheel that students may
sign up and take turns using. Handout is helpful.

Alice

--
MZ