Pottery Wheel

A pottery wheel is a machine used for the shaping of round ceramic wares. Pottery wheel is also used in the process of trimming the extra body from the dried wares and for applying the engraved decoration or to apply rings of color. Pottery wheel is common used since the ancient days.

Historical Presceptive
During the ancient days the ceramics were handmade using simple techniques of coiling, where clay bodies where rolled into long threads which was then abstracted and beaten together to form the body of a vessel. This entire thing was done by the skilled potter’s hands which resulted in slow but quality production. But with the introduction of the fast-wheel this changed and the early forms which only applied energy stored in the rotating mass of the heavy stone wheel itself. Later on came the flywheel which was used successfully for rapid throwing process. During the early civilizations and by the time of the Bronze Age the use of the potter's wheel was commonly used. The potter’s wheel used in the Iron Age had a turning platform which was nearly a meter above the floor. In modern times the motor driven wheel and its use has become very common. A potter’s wheel is also called as a potter’s lathe. This term is also used for another design of machine that is used for a different shaping process, turning, similar to that used for the shaping of metal and wood articles. The techniques of jiggering and jolleying are also used as a part of extension of the Potter’s wheel.
 
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Present Scenario:
Though many advanced mechanisms have been introduced in the field of pottery but the use of potter’s wheel is still common. Some steps of using pottery wheel are discussed as follows;

  • First throw the clay close and down to the centre point of the wheel. If you want the clay to stick well give it a fine pitch onto the wheel.
  • Next with slow spinning of the wheel pat the clay into a cone. Bringing it to the centre of the wheel.
  • Now make the spinning wheel from moderate to fast speed. Make both your hands and the clay wet. Again force the clay at the centre of the wheel.
  • Now using your left hand as a guide press down with the right hand making the clay downward position.
  • Now use both hands and your body to keep your arms from moving the clay. Press the clay from both sides forcing the clay to the upwards portion.

 
 
 
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