Wedging matters more than the wheel
Most cracked bowls start before the clay ever touches the wheel. Spend five minutes on ram's-head wedging, cut the lump with a wire and look for air pockets. A uniform block centres faster and dries evenly.
A workshop journal: wheel-thrown pottery, glazes and a very small electric kiln.
Most cracked bowls start before the clay ever touches the wheel. Spend five minutes on ram's-head wedging, cut the lump with a wire and look for air pockets. A uniform block centres faster and dries evenly.
Handles and thin rims dry first and pull away from the body. Cover fresh pieces loosely with a dry-cleaning bag for two or three days, then uncover them for a day before trimming.
The same recipe can come out glossy or dry depending on the kiln shelf. Fire a vertical test tile with each batch and keep it on a nail by the door with the date and cone written on the back.
© 2026 Solipolus Colopolus · notes from a home studio