How to Throw a Cylinder

Throwing cylinders on the pottery wheel is an essential skill for any aspiring potter. This foundational process not only introduces beginners to the core techniques of manipulating clay on the wheel but also serves as a gateway to creating a variety of ceramic forms. Why is learning how to throw a cylinder so crucial?

Cylinders are the basis for many complex pottery shapes, from vases to mugs, implying that mastering this skill opens up endless possibilities in the realm of ceramics. This guide is meticulously designed to take you through every step of how to throw a cylinder, ensuring that you grasp the nuances of this art form.

By following this comprehensive walkthrough, you’ll be equipped to throw cylinders with confidence and precision, setting a solid groundwork for your pottery adventures.

Preparation

A. Setting Up the Wheel: Adjusting the Wheel Height and Speed for Optimal Throwing

To begin your pottery project, setting up the wheel correctly is paramount for a successful throwing experience. Adjusting the wheel height to align with your sitting position ensures ergonomic comfort and control over the clay. Typically, the wheel head should be at a level where your legs can comfortably reach the pedal while allowing your arms to rest slightly toward the wheel center.

This position reduces strain and enhances precision. Additionally, mastering the wheel’s speed is crucial; starting at a slower pace allows for detailed work and prevents the clay from becoming unmanageable. As you gain confidence and skill, gradually increase the speed to efficiently work the clay upwards and shape your cylinder.

B. Wedging Clay: Kneading and Wedging the Clay to Ensure Consistency and Remove Air Pockets

Wedging the clay is an essential preparation step that impacts the quality of your final piece. This technique involves kneading the clay to homogenize its consistency, remove any trapped air bubbles, and ensure it is of optimal pliability for throwing.

Air pockets within the clay can expand during firing, potentially ruining the piece. Start by slamming the clay down onto a wedging table or surface and pushing it with the heels of your hands, folding and rotating it to create an even texture. Consistency in wedging lays a solid foundation for throwing a successful cylinder.

C. Preparing Tools: Gathering Essential Tools Such as a Sponge, Needle Tool, and Rib

Equipping yourself with the right tools before you start throwing can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. A sponge is vital for keeping the clay moist during shaping; it also helps smooth the surface. The needle tool is indispensable for trimming the top of the thrown cylinder and removing excess clay.

A rib made of metal, wood, or silicone is perfect for shaping, smoothing, and compressing the clay walls. Having these tools within reach ensures you’re well-prepared to tackle the task of throwing a cylinder, facilitating an efficient and enjoyable workflow.

How to Throw a Cylinder: Centering and Opening

Centering and opening the clay are pivotal steps in throwing a cylinder, dictating the foundation for the piece’s form and stability. These stages require focus, confidence, and a delicate yet firm touch.

A. Coning: Centering a Cone of Clay on the Wheel Head to Establish Stability

Centering is the first and perhaps most critical step in throwing on the wheel. To begin, you need to place a well-wedged ball of clay directly in the center of the wheel head. With the wheel spinning at a moderate speed, use both hands to firmly press the clay downwards and towards the center. This action prevents it from wobbling or spinning off.

Once the clay is roughly centered, you then proceed to cone the clay up by pressing your hands together and upwards, forming a cone shape. This upward and inward pressure forces air bubbles to the surface while establishing a stable base for the next steps. Coning the clay up and then back down several times aids in achieving true center, ensuring the clay moves uniformly with the wheel and is responsive to your touch.

B. Opening: Using Your Fingers to Create a Center Hole in the Clay Cone

Once the clay is centered and coned, the next step is opening. Gently place your thumb or fingers into the clay cone’s center and slowly press down into the clay to create an initial hole. Maintaining centered pressure is vital to prevent the clay from skewing off-center. The goal here is to open the clay enough for the base of the cylinder but ensure not to go too deep to risk puncturing the bottom.

C. Widening: Gradually Widening the Hole to Form the Base of the Cylinder

After the hole has been created, the next phase is widening. Positioning your fingers inside the hole, carefully press the clay outward towards the walls, simultaneously supporting the outer base with your other hand. This controlled movement gradually widens the initial hole, shaping the future base of the cylinder.

The process of widening requires patience and a steady increase in the diameter to maintain uniformity and avoid thinning out the bottom excessively. This foundation is crucial for the overall structure of the cylinder, as a well-established base determines the piece’s stability and supports the subsequent steps of pulling and shaping the walls.

By mastering the art of centering and opening, you lay the groundwork for how to throw a cylinder effectively, setting the stage for a successful and satisfying pottery creation.

How to Throw a Cylinder: Pulling and Raising

Following the foundational steps of centering and opening, the next critical phase in throwing a cylinder involves pulling and raising the clay walls. This process transforms the opened clay into the recognizable shape of a cylinder through careful manipulation and elevation.

A. Initial Pulling: Using Both Hands to Pull the Clay Upward to Form the Walls of the Cylinder

The initial pulling is the first step toward giving your cylinder height and form. With the wheel spinning, lightly soak your hands with water to prevent sticking and ease the movement. Position your left hand inside the base of the opened clay while your right hand gently grasps the outside.

Using a synchronized motion, slowly and steadily draw both hands upward. The clay should start to elongate between your hands, forming the primary walls of the cylinder. It’s vital to keep your movements smooth to avoid any sudden thickness changes or distortions in the clay’s shape.

B. Maintaining Even Thickness: Ensuring Even Thickness of the Walls to Avoid Weak Spots or Warping

An even wall thickness is paramount for the cylinder’s structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. During the pulling process, pay close attention to the pressure applied by each hand. Too much pressure on either side can lead to thin spots, which are prone to collapse or warp during drying and firing. Use your fingers as a gauge, feeling for inconsistencies and adjusting your grip to correct any irregularities. A steady, uniform pull ensures that the walls of your cylinder remain even from base to lip.

C. Consistent Pressure: Applying Consistent Pressure and Gradually Raising the Cylinder to Desired Height.

Consistency in pressure is the key to successfully raising the walls of your cylinder to the desired height. With each pull, focus on applying a steady force, allowing the clay to rise naturally. Gradually increase the lift of your hands with each wheel rotation, carefully controlling the ascent to avoid thinning the walls too much.

This methodical approach ensures that the cylinder grows evenly without compromising its strength. The height of your cylinder will depend on the clay you started with and the consistency of your pulling technique. With practice, you’ll develop a feel for how much pressure to apply and when to stop pulling to achieve the perfect height for your work.

By mastering the techniques of pulling and raising, you set the stage for more advanced shaping and detailing, further enhancing the artistry of your ceramic creations.

Shaping and Smoothing

After the cylinder walls have been pulled to the desired height and thickness, the next phase involves shaping and smoothing the form to perfection. This stage allows potters to refine the cylinder’s overall silhouette, making adjustments that enhance its functionality and aesthetic appeal.

A. Shaping the Walls: Using Fingers, Hands, or Tools to Shape and Define the Walls of the Cylinder

Shaping the cylinder walls is a nuanced process, requiring a gentle yet decisive touch. Fingers, hands, or various pottery tools can be used to alter the cylinder’s profile. This could mean tapering the form inward for a vase-like shape or expanding the walls outward for a bowl form.

When using hands, the inside hand can be held steady as the outside hand applies gentle pressure to mold the clay. Tools like ribs (both metal and wooden) are useful for creating smooth, consistent curves or for straightening the walls for a more geometric look. Shaping must be done with the wheel in motion to ensure uniform adjustments.

B. Smoothing Surface: Using a Sponge or Rib to Smooth and Even Out the Surface of the Cylinder

Once the desired shape is achieved, smoothing the surface is critical for both tactile and visual quality. A damp sponge can be lightly passed over the surface to compress any grog or small imperfections, leaving a smooth finish.

A metal or rubber rib perfectly contours to the cylinder for more refined smoothing, removing slight undulations and compressing the clay particles for a polished surface. This step beautifies the piece and prepares it for any subsequent decorative processes, such as carving or painting.

C. Checking Symmetry: Continuously Checking and Adjusting the Symmetry and Alignment of the Cylinder

Throughout the shaping and smoothing process, regularly checking the symmetry and alignment of the cylinder is essential. This can be done by stopping the wheel and viewing the piece from various angles, ensuring that the top and bottom are aligned and that the form is symmetrical.

Any misalignments can be gently corrected by applying pressure to the high spots or by carving away excess clay where necessary. A needle tool can be carefully used to mark and measure spots that need adjustment, guiding the reshaping process for perfect symmetry and alignment.

In summary, shaping and smoothing are critical for refining the cylinder’s form and surface and preparing it for final detailing or glazing. By carefully altering the shape, creating a smooth finish, and ensuring symmetry, potters can truly elevate their work from simple cylinders to artful creations.

Finishing Touches

After the cylinder has been shaped and smoothed to the potter’s satisfaction, the final touches can truly define the piece’s character and functionality. These finishing steps are crucial for enhancing the aesthetic appeal and ensuring the structural integrity of the ceramic work.

A. Defining the Rim: Using Fingers or a Rib to Define and Shape the Lip or Rim of the Cylinder

The cylinder’s rim is not just a functional aspect; it provides an opportunity to add a distinctive style that can define the piece’s overall appearance. Using either fingers or a smoothing rib, the potter carefully refines the lip, ensuring it is not only even but also offers the desired aesthetic effect.

This could be a smooth, rounded edge that is pleasant to the touch for items like drinking vessels or a more pronounced, scalloped edge for decorative appeal. The process requires a delicate balance of pressure to avoid distorting the form while achieving a finish that complements the cylinder’s shape.

B. Trimming (Optional): Trimming Excess Clay from the Bottom of the Cylinder to Create a Foot Ring for Stability

Trimming is an optional but often beneficial step that involves removing excess clay from the bottom of the cylinder. This is typically done when the clay is leather-hard, using a trimming tool whilst the piece is centered on the wheel. The objective is to create a footing that enhances the piece’s stability and adds an element of elegance.

The foot ring is carefully shaped to match the cylinder’s aesthetic, paying close attention to the height and width for balance and functionality. This step also allows one to sign or stamp the bottom of the piece, marking it as the potter’s unique creation.

C. Creating a Base: Ensuring the Bottom of the Cylinder is Flat and Even for Stability and Functionality

The base of the cylinder must be flat and even, ensuring the piece stands stable on any surface. After trimming, the potter uses a rib or a sponge to smooth and level the base, removing any tool marks or irregularities.

For pieces that will not have a trimmed foot ring, special attention is paid to compressing the base’s clay, reinforcing its strength and preventing warping. Ensuring a flat base is crucial for functionality, especially for items intended for regular use, as it affects how the piece interacts with its resting surface.

In conclusion, the finishing touches of defining the rim, optional trimming to create a foot ring, and ensuring a flat, even base are integral steps in completing a ceramic cylinder. These steps contribute to the piece’s aesthetic and structural qualities and reflect the potter’s attention to detail and craftsmanship, transforming a simple cylinder into a functional work of art.

Drying and Firing

After completing the finishing touches, the ceramic cylinder must undergo drying and firing, two crucial processes that ensure the clay transforms into a durable, permanent form.

A. Drying: Allowing the Cylinder to Dry Gradually and Evenly to Prevent Cracking or Warping

The drying process is essential in preparing the cylinder for firing. It must be done gradually and evenly to prevent the clay from cracking or warping. The piece is left to dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and drafts, which can cause uneven drying rates and lead to defects.

Depending on the thickness of the clay and the ambient conditions, this stage can take anywhere from a few days to a week. Covering the piece with a loose plastic sheet can help slow down the drying process, ensuring that the moisture leaves the clay body uniformly.

B. Bisque Firing: Firing the Dried Cylinder in a Kiln to Harden and Prepare it for Glazing

Once thoroughly dried, the cylinder undergoes bisque firing. This initial firing occurs in a kiln at a temperature range specific to the clay body used, usually between 1720°F to 1940°F (938°C to 1060°C). Bisque firing hardens the clay, making it more durable and less porous, and prepares it for glazing.

This stage also removes any organic materials in the clay, reducing the chances of defects during the subsequent glaze firing. The bisque-fired pieces are porous, allowing them to absorb glazes more effectively in the next step.

C. Glaze Firing: Applying Glaze to the Bisque-Fired Cylinder and Firing it Again to Achieve Desired Finish and Color

After bisque firing, the cylinder is ready to be glazed. The application of glaze can be done through various methods, including dipping, pouring, or brushing, depending on the desired effect. Once the glaze has dried, the cylinder is loaded back into the kiln for glaze firing.

This firing is typically done at a higher temperature than the bisque firing, ranging from 1828°F to 2372°F (998°C to 1300°C), depending on the type of glaze used. Glaze firing melts the glaze onto the surface of the ceramic, creating a glass-like coating that is aesthetically pleasing and functional, making the piece impermeable to water. The choice of glaze and firing temperature can significantly affect the ceramic cylinder’s final appearance, color, and texture.

Drying and firing are pivotal in transforming a clay cylinder into a finished ceramic piece. Each step, from drying to bisque and glaze firing, requires careful control of conditions to ensure the integrity and beauty of the final work.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we’ve explored each step involved in how to throw a cylinder on the wheel, from preparing the clay to the crucial stages of drying and firing. Mastering these techniques requires understanding the balance between the material, the tools, and the artist’s touch.

The beauty of ceramics lies in its infinite possibilities. I encourage you to practice regularly and experiment with different sizes and techniques. With each cylinder thrown, you’ll discover new nuances and develop a deeper connection to your craft.

Achieving the skill to throw perfect cylinders is a testament to both patience and dedication. It’s a rewarding process that yields functional art and instills a sense of accomplishment. Remember, the journey to mastery is as fulfilling as the destination. Each piece you create is a step forward in your artistic expression, revealing the unique potential within a simple lump of clay.