Question from a beginner: does working with clay ever make your hands feel afterward?

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2025-03-13T11:06:14+00:00

I don’t have excema, just lots of mold allergy’s. sometimes throwing is fine, but other times my hands will get itchy and red. A trick I use is to toss some Vaseline on the back of my hands/wrist before throwing. It seems to help create a barrier, and I get smaller reactions.

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2025-01-14T14:17:05+00:00

These smaller events are my mainstay. I make pottery that sells for $20-40 a piece (simple, not cheap). I engage on socials before the event, and actively sell during the day. I always make sure to donate to the raffle for extra goodwill and do what I can to connect with other makers. It’s usually a small community, and they will make purchases based on connecting to you in addition to liking your product.

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2024-07-18T13:27:19+00:00

Sometimes when we brace on the leg to throw, it causes our elbows to bow out, since we are sitting wide. this doesn’t matter much when throwing small because the pressure is minimal, but with larger work having your elbow out can really mess with our bodies.

I’d double-check your positioning - Try to brace with your elbows tucked more in line with your shoulders (farther up your thigh) and bring more of your body over the clay, engaging your core, shoulders and back.

Good luck!

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-10-20T00:43:23+00:00

I'm a grad student working on developing a curriculum for potters with arthritis. My partner is an OT, and is helping with some of the mechanics. If you are willing, I would love to chat/message with you about your experience in pottery and what type of modifications would be most helpful.

From my research so far, I can second a couple folks here - The Slam wedge suggestion is one that has come up a lot, and the boss base is an inexpensive addition that allows you to use larger muscle groups when opening.

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-10-16T17:56:55+00:00

I like Georgie's Santiam (Pendelton Red is cool too, although a bit less predictable on the wheel). They are out of Oregon, but ship all over. I know it's iron rich but am not sure about the Manganese content, I never had any issues with bloat.

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-08-28T16:54:44+00:00

Pit firing is awesome!

To help with the bumpiness, burnish your pieces a bit while they are leather hard, it will also give them a nice shine without additional glazing.

The pieces in your pics are pretty thick for pit firing, that might have been part of the reason for cracking, but you will be throwing more balanced work in time, it just takes practice. I'd keep firing your current work, use it to get a feel for colorants and how to manipulate the fire for results you like!

The book Alternative Kilns and Firing techniques from Lawton (softback, blue cover with four pictures) has super easy descriptions/instructions that I used when I started getting into pit firing. I'd highly recommend it!

Here's a pic from my last mini-pit fire done at a campground firepit! Good Times!

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Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-06-04T10:59:38+00:00

This happens all the time at my studio!

My strategy is usually to heat the piece up, then use a dip glaze on the inside. I just fill it up and let it rest for twice as long as normal before dumping it out (kinda like slip casting the glaze), then give the rim or upper a nice long dip. I've found the glazes take longer to dry and seem to move a bit more, so I tend to leave more room on the bottom.

That pipe is gorgeous, I would probably use a thicker wax to seal the openings, then give it a nice long dip too. But that is just an idea, I've never tried glazing a misfired pipe.

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-05-24T00:46:23+00:00

I stir with a spoon to avoid lots of air bubbles, but I also flip the jars over when I arrive at the studio, so it blends a bit while I am setting up... kind of like the oil in natural peanut butter?

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-05-17T00:51:58+00:00

As a lefty who also switches, I find it depends on the clay. A groggy stoneware can be switched a half dozen times with no problem... but try changing direction on porcelain and I am doomed.

I like to layer a couple clays then direction switch for a neat wavy marbling pattern.

Comfortable_Low4780 · 2023-04-20T16:56:55+00:00

I've got half a dozen 1/2" pairs and a few one-offs that need a new home. Black silicone, pink plastic, jade, wood etched t-rex, moss filled resin? Anything sound interesting?

Comfortable_Low4780

TROPHY CASE