11 Pointers

While there are many different tips for centering and throwing, there are 11 or 12 that are the most important. Those pointers are:

1. Use consistent weight and/or size in your balls

-Without a consistent size, your final products will all be drastically different.

2. Find and use equal pressure of the top and side hands to center

-If you use uneven pressure, your ball of clay wont be able to center, causing your piece to not work

3. Work on the tip and left side of the ball for centering

4. Use gradual pressure on both the initial contact and upon release during centering and pulling

5. Work on the right side of the donut for pulling

- Always work in the North/NE/East area of the donut

6. Use very little pressure with inside finger or fingers for narrow bowls

- If you don’t follow this, you run the risk of putting a hole through the side

7. Never touch the clay while the wheel is not spinning

- You could cause finger marks all over, including dents

8. Maintain consistent speed of the wheel (faster for centering and slower for pulling)

9. Maintain slow and gradual speed of your hands up the walls

10. Slow down the wheel on your last pull or pulls

11. Use a bowl rib for the interior

12. A major consideration during all these steps is that friction is your enemy and using enough water will keep the clay from twisting or tearing

By following all of these pointers, you will have better luck in creating a piece that will last through the ages.