What is pottery?
Pottery is an ancient method utilized to mold clay or earth into beautiful bowls, mugs, plates, and different objects for daily usage. A spinning wheel or so called a pottery wheel is placed at the center, and on top of that, special clay or earth is used to make the objects. Pottery as a craft has been used for centuries by mankind.
The materials for pottery are naturally sourced from the land. The earth or clay or soil is fine-tuned to remove any substances found such as metal, tiny hard rocks, tree roots, etc.
The centuries-old art is still preserved in many countries. Today, various modern technologies are available to make similar objects or crafts made of clay, but hand-made crafts are still preferred when decorating the house. It gives a classic appearance to the interior of the house. Since the advancement of technology , the wooden pottery wheel has been replaced by electric pottery wheel.
The pottery wheels are available in two types :
- Pottery wheel for beginners
- Pottery wheels for adults or professionals
What are the advantages of learning pottery as an amateur and professional ?
Pottery is a skill for beginners as well as for professionals. Learning it allows one to develop creativity. These are some of the benefits you get to enjoy when you start learning pottery as beginners or adults:
- Improve your motor skill
- Boost creative’s
- Develop self-esteem
- Learn to solve a problem
- Get close to the ancient craft making technique
- It makes people optimistic about life
- Increase focus
- Explore and experimentation
- Reduces stress
- Capture memories in craft making
What is a pottery wheel ?
Pottery wheel is a machine to throw away earth or clay at a proportionate distance to give shape to it. The centrifugal force plays a very important role in it. This process is also called shaping. There are pottery wheels available for beginners as well as professionals.
Manual wheel sprints are high speed where the center of the wheel is used to lay the clay. Hands are used to give the shape to the clay and start molding it in desired shapes.
Anyone with minimum knowledge can use this machine and create their own craft business. With the minimum investment, you can earn good money by selling homemade crafts in the market.
Types of pottery wheels
Electric pottery wheel
In the modern day, electric pottery wheels are used for making the craft or object from clay. The small size motor is attached to the bottom of the electric pottery wheel that gives the momentum. The spinning disk holds the clay, similar to the manual pottery wheels.
Electric pottery wheels come with speed adjustment features to control the spinning cycle according to your need. Additionally, the electric pottery wheels are compact, so you can quickly move them from one place to another.
Also, installation is easy, so no need for special training to use them. For a beginner, it is the best equipment to begin your pottery-making journey.
Kick wheel for pottery
Kick wheel for pottery setup is more prominent in size compared to the electric pottery wheel. They are bulky and difficult to move from one place to another. Thus, you need a permanent place to store them.
The kick wheel for pottery comes with a mechanism that enables it to proceed with the leg muscle. It works like an old sewing machine technology where you use your leg muscles to rapidly move the needle up and down.
Shimpo pottery wheel
Shimpo pottery wheels from Nidec use an exceptional direct drive motor. The direct drive motor is a brushless, beltless motor. It operates on a magnetic system and is electronically controlled.
A step-by-step guide to using a pottery wheel for beginners
Once you set up your electric pottery wheel or kick wheel for pottery or manual pottery wheel, please follow the steps below to start making your craft or objects:
- Begin the craft-making by placing the clay on top of the pottery wheel.
- Tap the center of the clay with a dry hand and make the clay stick to the pottery wheel properly while the wheel starts moving slowly.
- Make your hands wet for lubrication.
- Push the clay forward from all the sides to give it a shape.
- When clay becomes softer and starts coming in shape, gently squeeze clay and give it a cone shape.
- Use the thumb to put pressure on the clay.
- Move your hand from bottom to top to make the clay take a cone shape.
- Slow the wheel and put the thumb in the center, and mark the center.
- Decisively put the hole in the center of the clay. Ensure that you leave sufficient clay at the bottom of the pot and carefully remove the excess clay from the center.
- Put the hands outside and start giving shape to the pot.
- Once you are satisfied with the shape, stop the wheel and use the fine thread or metal wire to cut the pot from the bottom and separate the pot. Give it a nice gentle feel at the bottom.
- Use color to provide the final touch to your craft and give it a beautiful look.
- Your clay craft is ready. You can either use this in the home or sell it in a local store.
When it comes to buying pottery wheels for beginners or pottery wheels for adults, there will be a lot of confusion in the process. Instead of finding the right pottery wheel, get the expert’s suggestion from the BotPots company.
About BotPots.co.nz
BotPots is the pioneer in the business of pottery wheels for beginners as well as adult professionals They offer a range of pottery wheels for beginners as well as adult professionals that come with a long-lasting guarantee.
Following brands of pottery wheels are available with Botpots:
- Nidec-Shimpo RK-3E
- Nidec-Shimpo Whisper-T
- Nidec-Shimpo RK-55
Summary
Whether you are amateur in pottery or a professional, choosing the right pottery wheel is of utmost importance.
