Ever wonder how to make a pottery tumbler? Anyone can do at home with just a few tools.🚀 it’s a great project to get started with because of the limited tools needed and simple shape.
Glossary
1.1 First Step Wedge
1.2 Second Step Rollout The Clay
1.3 Third Step Compress The Clay
1.4 Forth Step Cut Template To Size & Cut Clay To Size
Tools Needed
The construction of the pottery tumbler is fairly simple and you don’t need many tools. All you need is some clay which you can purchase from your local pottery supplier.
You can speak to your local pottery supplier as to what you are looking at doing and they will most likely be able to recommend a suitable clay for what you are doing.
You will also need some plastic sheets so you can cut out templates which we sourced from our local art shop.
Additionally you could also use stiff craft paper if you plan on using the template once. Note: don’t let the paper sit too long or it will stick to the clay & will be difficult to remove.
Also you will need a mould, which you can use an empty can of soft drink. You will need some newspaper, a rolling pin, a knife, a fork (to score clay with), a paint brush, wooden sticks, a spoon, a soft pottery kidney and some clay slip (which we will explain how to make later in the post).
Making The Tumbler
First Step Wedge:
For wedging you can view our blog post on how to wedge pottery clay
or you can search on YouTube for many videos on how to wedge clay.
Second Step Rollout The Clay:
Now you will roll out your clay with your rolling pin using the wooden sticks roll to the correct thickness. (whilst checking for air bubbles)
Also there are many videos on YouTube on how to roll clay. Here is one of the many results on how to roll clay. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oszILuetbQ)
You can also view our video below which briefly shows us rolling out the clay.
Third Step Compress The Clay:
Use the pottery kidney (you can get these online or at your local pottery supplies shop or for example you can use an old credit card) to scrape from top to bottom left to right and vice versa on the top and underside of clay.
Doing this compresses the clay making it stronger and uniform in texture.
The video below shows us compressing the clay.
Forth Step Cut Template To Size & Cut Clay To Size:
You then cut the plastic templates to size using our dimensions we used a 28cm x 14cm template for body and a 9.5cm diameter template for base.
We then use the templates to cut the tumbler body out of the clay, and cut base. Then bring these all together, place soft drink can wrapped in paper in the middle.
This paper will allow you to pull can out when clay has dried sufficiently enough to do so.
Next, check to see if tumbler body will overlap and also check base is just a little larger than tumbler body.
At this stage, you’re not assembling the tumbler you’re merely doing a dry run to see if everything is fitting correctly.
You can view the video below where we demonstrate how to do the above steps.
Assembling The Tumbler:
We now assemble the parts and score the clay (at the joins) using a fork (as seen in the video above & below) and apply clay slip to all parts to be joined.
You make clay slip simply by using some of your wet clay in a lidded jar with some water and you stir and mix till it becomes a very thick cream consistency.
Bring all the parts together, using your finger to press the clay and seal joints. You can also use the spoon to do this.
You then can use the pottery kidney to smooth all the joints.
Next you can stamp the joints with something that is hard enough to penetrate the clay this will add some texture and also secure the joins.
Lastly, when clay is firm enough you can remove your can/mould and the newspaper.
Note: (if you leave the newspaper in the tumbler it will stick and be incredibly hard to remove).
Then you smooth off the areas that are rough inside your tumbler using a sponge.
Do not apply to much water whilst doing this or your clay will be too soft.
Don’t leave your can/mould in the tumbler too long as the clay will shrink and you will not get your can/mould out.
Once the tumbler has sufficiently dried (usually at least 2 weeks but that will depend on temperature and humidity) you can bisque fire the piece at your local pottery supplier or local teaching studio.
You can see the above steps in the video below!
Thanks for reading I will catch you in the next blog!
