Todays video is about wedging clay!
When wedging clay for the pottery wheel, here are some pointers to keep in mind:
1. Cutting the required amount of clay
Cut a chunk of clay from your bag or block using a wire cutter. The amount you cut will depend on the size of your project.
2. Preparing your clay and needing surface
You will prepare your kneading surface by placing down some cement sheeting which helps draw out some of the water in the clay if it is too wet and also stop your clay from sticking to your kneading surface.
Once the cement sheeting is down you will pat your clay into a little ball, once it is in a ball shape you can start wedging.
3. Slam and knead:
Slamming the clay firmly onto the work surface can help remove any air bubbles. Knead in a way that squishes the clay but doesn’t flatten it out of shape (not too hard). Kneading techniques vary from spiral wedging to rams head/ Donald Duck wedging, both a personal preference and still get the job done.
What we do when wedging is pushing with both palms in (as seen in the video) that when done correctly looks almost like a little face (referred to commonly as a Donald Duck face) .
Be sure not to accidentally knead bubbles into the clay.
4. Check & Turn The Clay
You want your clay to have a circular look to it with lines at the front where it has been flattening out. Once you have kneaded thoroughly you then turn the clay 90° and kneed from that end. Kneading about 20 to 30 times in total.
5. Check the consistency:
After wedging, check the clay’s consistency. It should feel even, pliable, and not too dry or wet. Adjust the clay’s moisture content if needed by adding water or allowing it to air dry slightly, The cement sheeting can also draw too much water when kneading so be careful it doesn’t.
Cutting the clay with a wire straight down the middle can also give you a look to see if it’s wedged properly.
Hope you enjoyed this post and as always, Happy Potting! 🥳
We will be back tomorrow with some more tips and ideas!
