Pottery tools
From potter to potters - designed by me :)
For making pottery you only need your two hands, but some tools make working easier and smarter.
It is said that part of all crafts is also making your own tools. 3D printing has opened a different level of tool design for me.
Over the years as a hobby potter, I have tried quite many useful tools and some of them have changed the way I work.
The Trimming Spinner
Steady support for your hand while trimming the pots.
The Throwing Gauge
Repeating forms made simple.
The Tool Tray for Splashpan
Keep all your essential tools at the reach of your hand.
The trimming spinner with steel ball bearing
Trimming spinners really allows to do the trimming work easier. I don’t use clay to hold the pots on the wheel when trimming, I use just a bit of moist under the pots to “glue” them on the wheel, and a spinner to apply downward pressure and hold the pots in place. This enables to trim the walls in one go. The spinner is also a good place to hold fingers to stabilize the hand while trimming.
🪧 FEATURES:
- Made from potter to potters.
- Conical handle allows easy lifting and holding even when fingers are wet.
- Flat thumb support of the handle allows easy resting of fingers to allow better downward pressure and ergonomics.
- Metal ball bearings for smooth and easy spin. Protected from dust.
- Textured base holds easily to the clay.
How to use the spinner
Center the spinner, keep the trimming speed lower and don’t go too fast, if you’re not securing your pot with clay slumps. Keep the trimming force lighter. Without clay support there is still a risk that your pot will fly away, the spinner adds support when you apply down pressure, but you need to be careful and feel the slightest movement when your pot is not stuck to the wheel anymore. The pot needs to be well centered as well; any wobbling will give more room to the laws of physics.
HINT - you can add a drop of water to the bottom of the spinner if your pot is on the dry side.
The throwing gauge - pointer tool
Repeating forms made simple.
When in a need to repeat the same shape and size or just need to set a visual point to guide you in the measures, then this throwing gauge is the best tool to support you.
Hot to use the throwing gauge:
- Just point the arrow to the edge of your pot, setting height and size
- You can also use ruler to set the radius and height
- Follow the guide of the pointer arm for repeating forms.
🪧 FEATURES
- Snag fit to Shimpo/Nidec splashpan. No screws needed for tightening.
- Flexible pointer (printed from TPU material - a bit like rubber perhaps not too soft)
- Free movement of the pointer with a light kick if you need to set that away.
- The nuts can be tightened with one hand while the other holds the arrow at the place – the nut is fixed.
- TPU washer in between the mount and stand to increase friction and better connection when tightened.
- Metal bolts and nuts, so they won't wear as plastic would.
Pottery tool tray for splashpan
Keep all your essential tools at the reach of your hand while throwing or trimming. Use it for your sponge, throwing ribs and trimming tools.
This tool tray is specifically designed to fit to Shimpo/Nidec splashpan (the white one from two separated parts). Compatible with: SHIMPO RK-3E / WHISPER T2 / RK-55. It may fit also other splashpans if the measures are the same.
🪧 FEATURES:
- Snag fits the Shimpo/Nidec splash-pan. No screw mounts needed.
- You can fit up to 4 trays side by side, if you use more tools and want to keep them all by hand.
- Big enough for essential tools, but does not fit your whole arsenal.
- Follows the curve of the splashpan and is 40 degrees angle from whole circle.
- Surface is level and your round tools don’t roll off.
Material and quality
All tools are made with a modern 3D printer for a high quality print using bioplastic called PLA (Polylactic Acid). This material is compostable in industrial processes
Some things to avoid:
- Keep away from heat source(e.g your kiln) as the material will become softer already at temperature above 55° C
- Keep away from direct sunlight. Sun can warm the surface and UV light makes the material brittle over time.
- The Spinner and throwing gauge contain metal parts so clean them with dump sponge or cloth and don't soak and wash under running water
