The Easiest Way to Attach Pottery to the Wheel when Trimming — A Comprehensive Guide

In this video I'm showing you exactly how I attach my pots to the wheel-head when trimming. It's a step I show in many videos, but never before in so much detail. I discuss all the how's and why's, together with how to fix common mistakes and showing issues that can arise. It's an advanced technique I think, but one I find so useful for my excessive trimming. I hope you like it and find it helpful!

Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction
1:10 - Why I prefer this method over more conventional ways
2:12 - How to fix a wavering rim
2:28 - How to attach the vessel to the wheel
3:48 - How I remove the vessel from the wheel
4:59 - How I trim the bases of my pots
6:06 - Some additional tips...
9:00 - What to do if you can't tap centre
11:33 - Clean up

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Find out much more via the link below!
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[lisavanrooyen]

My fellow pottery students jokingly teased me last week that they could play a drinking game over how many times in a class I say, "Florian Gadsby says..." 😂

But for me, there's no better teacher. Your techniques, clear explanations, and videos are perfection. And this video was serendipitous, as I'll be spending all my time trimming in the studio for my next session. So thank you!

[RochelleHasTooManyHobbies]

I used to tutor college-level chemistry courses, and I've trained a few people at my research position. I completely understand your love of explaining the little details.

In teaching someone else how to do it, you actually wind up LEARNING so much, because the parts of it that feel "natural" or that you do without thinking are genuinely so fundamental to the process. And when someone is having a really hard time understanding, that's when it becomes the MOST fun, because now I have to get creative with THEIR interests. I've compared sacrificial anodes to linebackers, given personalities to atoms, and compared the process of intercellular promotion of DNA segments to teenagers throwing rocks at their friend's windows.

Teaching really is the highest form of play.

[IrinaGreenman]

I appreciate so much the excellent pedagogy on display in these videos! I'm a total amateur (at best) in working with clay, but I am an experienced teacher, and I find I learn about teaching, as well as pottery, from watching your videos. Anyone looking to become a teacher, and not just an art teacher either, should watch your technique instructional videos to learn this craft.

[alexandraframe]

Your videos are always so helpful and lets us know not to fear but unbrace the good and bad. That way we learn and get better.

[Beschaulichkeit]

After struggling with some other methods I gave this method a try thinking back to one of your videos and it worked perfectly!

[shishkabob]

it’s such a simple concept and straight forward technique but it really is mind blowing how well it works. it’s the best for tall pieces that have high centers of gravity so they don’t just spin off the wall mid-trim

[wartris]

woot woot woot commenting for the algorithm!

I finished your book last week—you inspired me to pursue a PhD. Thank-you my friend! Have a good day!

[kmo]

Thanks for the video. Love seeing these on Sundays. It is a soothing start to the day here across the pond.

Your vids have inspired me to try some throwing at the local community studios. Of course, my luck, the one in my area is treating its facility for black mold :( They will be back soon though!

Also, it always cracks me up when you mention tap centering, but in clip you 'accidentally' set the pot on the wheel dead center.

[mikeysmall]

Another brilliant tutorial ... thank you Florian.

[jakicatancabelic]

Another tips and tricks video I will try! Thank you!

[carlalubow]

Thank you for sharing your techniques! I appreciate what you said about artists/ceramicists applying their own individual skills/tricks of the trade to their process. Technique provides freedom to create work (in any medium) and with that base, an artist/creator can integrate one’s own individual processes, approaches, personal aesthetics, idiosyncrasies, into every creative endeavor. That IS the essence of creativity and artistry and what makes it so very satisfying and fulfilling! Thanks for reflecting upon that!

[atheistmom]

YOU are such a natural teacher! You've really helped me improve my pots so much and I constantly refer to you, so much that my husband had to know who's this Florian guy! 🤣🤣🤣 (Bonus Sleepy doggo🥰)

[mbhbYT]

This is just about perfectly timed! I've been struggling a bit with pots that do need trimming tops and bottoms (egg cups), and I think this will give me a good strategy (though I don't trim as much, stylistically, as you do). I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

[mbowlin]

Would you ever do a video where you compare an item you turn once? Then glaze once with no finishing finger work on the glaze, besides the waxed base vs a fully trimmed cleaned and glazed work you usually do. It’d be interesting to see the differences between the two after you fire them both! Love your videos!

[neojaxie]

Thanks for another great video! You inspire me to see how thinly I can throw and trim, to push the boundaries of the material. I would love to see a video like this style that explores your tips for ensuring that your pieces dont warp after the glaze firing. I have issues with warping on those pieces I try to throw and trim thinly, seems like no matter what I try or how careful I am 😅 Cheers!

[pendulmonium]

Omg I'm early. Im checking my email every hour for your newsletter. I know it's coming soon

[analauraperezcerrato]

This is a video I have been long wishing for you to make! Thank you for sharing! I have a question: do you trim in the firmer or softer side of leather hard? I get the impression that it's the former, but I also wonder how you're able to push the clay with the plastic rib if it's not soft enough. Thanks a lot again.

[pinkmuffin]

I am using your videos to learn pottery. I want to make 100 mugs as a learning project using your tutorials. I am currently selling my work locally, could I sell pieces that (hopefully) would be very similar to your style? They obviously wouldn't look identical (I don't fire with gas) but the style would be heavily inspired by yours, as I intend to follow your tutorial pretty closely to learn.

[galatsopanast]

Great video, lot's of useful info in it! Thumbs up Florian! What about trimming the bottom of a narrow neck object, e.g. a bottle? Do you use a dummy object (biscuit dryed) made for this purpose? Meaning fit the top side in it and trimming the bottom? Thanks ;-)

[alekishi]

Hey Florian. I have a question. When you fix the wavering ring, Why do you trim the base and not the rim itself?