Pottery: Trimming and Glazing

Process: Trimming is the second step after forming the desired pot. Once the pot has been dried for a little while it must be trimmed. In this step you are cutting off the excess clay from the bottom and sides and smoothing the sides of any rough areas or uneven areas. This is also where you can very the bottom from a flat bottom to an indented bottom. For this step, the pot must be centered by using your finger or by using a straight tool. Place the pot in the center as best you can and Slowly turn the wheel, when ever the the tool hits the pot, it needs to be moved up the wheel a little bit. Once the pot is centered then place three pieces of extra clay around the pot to hold it in place. Use the trimming tool to go around the pot and gently take off the excess clay. Once the pot is the shape you want it, then it is time to be fired.

After the pot has been fired or bisqued, then it is time to glaze. The first step to glazing is to paint a wax layer on the bottom of the pot to keep the glaze from sticking to the shelves in the kiln (this is so you don't have to buy another shelf because the pot is stuck to the shelf). Once the wax is on the pot then you can put the glaze on the pot. There are two different ways to glaze a pot, use your hands or use the tongs, this is your personal preference. Dip the pot into the glaze and draw back out fairly quickly and place on paper to dry (note: the pots do not take long to dry). The color of the liquid glaze is not the color of the solid glaze so make sure you read the color right. If you want to add more than one color, make sure the pot is dry before dipping into another color. Once you have finished glazing, wipe the excess off of the waxed areas so it doesn't get stuck to the shelf. After everything is glazed and wiped down its time to put it into the kiln for its final firing. Once the pots have been fired your finished pot is ready for use.

Steps in pictures:

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This page was created by Joe Moore on 4/19/05 (modified 4/19/05)