10 Ways to Attach Pottery Handles - TESTED!!

We asked the 7000 members of the Pottery Studio Facebook group about their favorite method of attaching handles. We picked 10 (well, really 9 plus 2 weird ones) and tested the process for EASE, MESSINESS, and CRACKING. We also tested them for handle strength on the Pottery Handle Tower of Death (PHTOD). Folks, you don't see this stuff on other YouTube channels (for good reason) but we continue to push the limits of pottery processes, humor, and art. Enjoy friends!

-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
WANT MORE CRAZY POTTERY IDEAS? WATCH THIS!: "10 Great Texture Ideas for Pottery"
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-

ALL of the music used by Little Street Pottery is legally licensed from Artlist

[rebeccamsauve]

I have now mixed one of the methods you did with something I was already doing in my studio. I had always attached with slip always got cracks. I was told to attach the handle with slip and then put the mug bottom side up to dry and let gravity do the work, less cracks but they still happened. Now I mix my slip with vinegar and attach the handle and then let it dry flipped upside down! No cracks at all and the only thing I changed was adding vinegar to the slip! I can make a mug and fire it in my kiln the next day maybe 2 days max!

[jonathanporterfield]

That great! I was just complaining (ok, whining) about goofy handles. I love your tests and that you included some truly odd methods. We’ll done.

[davidharding]

What fun! Thanks for doing this! If you can continue with some testing, I would suggest that you test each one until it breaks. One approach could be to gently hang the bucket from the handle and gently add weight until it breaks. Then display the weight at which each one broke. I'm guessing that will show a difference between the techniques, but maybe not! You might want to add a cushion on the handle at the point you are attaching the bungee so it doesn't make a single pressure/breakage point (use a section of pool noodle?)

[pattrull]

Most fascinating and entertaining video I’ve watched in a while!

[theabristlebroom]

I want Ice Cream! You rock! That testing of the handles....BRILLIANT!

[Majoofi]

I always find the hardest part of handles being managing the relative dryness of the mug and handle, which is trickier if you don't have your own studio at home.

[kristineb]

My anxiety Increased each time you did the tower of death test. Lol

[debyatesbunnell]

This was fun to watch! However, I will not be TASTING your paper clay recipe HA HA HA

[micass]

I love you videos! And thank you for showing this but I think dropping the mug from the same position and height (like 3 feet which is counter height) would have a more real life test. ❤

[undernetjack]

What about scooping out a small depression in the cup for the handle to fit into. Or perhaps a thru-hole, then flatten the inside portion like a rivet?

[natmickan]

I’d love to see how these same mugs go without the bucket bottoming out and hitting the ground (so the ground isn’t absorbing the shock along with the occy strap). My (unconfirmed) guess is that the results would have been fairly different if it was a rope with minimal stretch and/or free-hanging bucket.

The test you did (IMO) is easily sufficient to determine fitness for general purpose use though, which is still definitely good to know :)
Maybe this one can be the ‘tower of mild torture’ instead :P

Thankyou for sharing these comparison videos :)

[jayc]

My favorite method is a combination of slip and score then paint the entire handle and seam with wax that way I can just leave the mug out and not have to cover it with plastic. The wax prevents the handle from drying too quickly and keeps it from cracking or popping off.

[alexandrafallows]

Super cool! I'd love to pit the handles against each other with the tower of death to see which is the strongest

[roxyk]

I want ice cream! Thanks for the video

[freddiemoretti]

Terrific testing and presentation. Just wondering if you have gone out and found big box store mugs and put them through the tower of death? Also these delicate wee tea cups made of porcelain which don't hold enough tea for me?
Thanks for the educational video of supreme quality and judgement.
Cheers and be well the both of you...Freddie

[KatAtkinson]

What about pulling the handle from the mug? I just read another comment you had regarding this. I have tried about everything. My poor handles stink. Will go back and try what you have done

[chrisparkin]

Love the idea, I wish you could have done a strength test to failure. I.e. Use a rope and bucket and keep adding sand till it breaks

[paulahill]

I had to giggle at the opening dialogue.... (we all believe in magic, LOL). Enjoyed watching all the attachment methods, but I’ll stick to my tried and true, never let me down method. (The tower of death really works)

[bungawarrahlima]

Great work - but FYI when you heat sodium carbonate it decomposes leaving sodium oxide, which is soda ash.

[hokehinson]

"Get a handle on
Sad not to see super glue after the screw method....🤣