Pinch Pot Cup Forms Day 2 CLEANING An Exercise for Beginners in Clay

This video is a newer version of my old Ceramics I pinch cleaning video. It solves several problems kids encountered throughout the years, and I try to address those to prevent it. I made this video for my Ceramics I students at Mason High School. This is the first exercise (non-graded) that the kids do in clay for their semester Ceramics I class. They are learning and building skills they will use throughout the semester. They learn pinching, cleaning, underglazing, sgraffito carving, majolica glazing, and dip glazing for this exercise.

Here is a list of a playlist of all the videos in this pinch cup exercise:

This video begins where the last one left off. The pinch pots are now leatherhard, and they are ready to be cleaned. We are using a combination of Mudtools shredders and mudtools ribs- red, yellow, and stainless. (See product links in either my Amazon influencer storefront or the Googledoc below) We begin with the shredders, and level the edge and remove denting. When the denting is gone, we use the stainless scrapers to remove the surform marks. After the stainless rib, then we use the yellow then eventually red. Each tool should be leaving the surface without dents after each step. Eventually, when done with the shredders, you can also use a combination of fingers dipped in water and a sponge. (NOTE: I would NOT use a sponge if this were a groggy clay- as it would leave it rough by removing the small particles and leaving behind the rough ones !!!)

We are using Standard 103 for this exercise. It is lowfire and grogless red earthenware. It can be sponged- unlike groggy clay.

Check out my Amazon Influencer Storefront for my suggestion on tools and supplies:

I am a public high school ceramics teacher at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. (Mason is currently the largest high school in Ohio!) As a potter, I have been working in clay for over 30 years, and I have been teaching for over 28 years, the past 20 have been specifically teaching high school ceramics. I love what I do! I have my own studio in my home basement, where I work on my personal pottery for my Etsy site;

[faithdwight]

Thank you for this! My 10 and 7-year-old sons and I wanted to learn to handbuild. You made it easy and were so encouraging!

[froggyandbug]

thank you, i learned how to use a shredder to clean up the pinch pot.

[JhilikAvram]

If you're at home and don't have a shredder, can you use a normal grater?

[smitavinchurkar]

We dont get these shredder in india. What can we use in its replacement

[marcelaolivares]

Hi Karan!, How a re you? I would like to ask you about the use of sponge. For example, for this phase (cleaning of the trimming) what kind of the sponge do you recommend? (soft, thin, etc) thank you very much!

[renaebettenhausen]

You don't use the needle tool to measure the thickness of the clay walls?

[nohafouad]

Hi Karen,
May I know the exact type of clay you use? You say standard 103 (which, after looking it up - means low fire clay) Can you recommend a specific brand? I'm looking to use red earthenware and underglaze it. Thanks!

[mikaelak]

Is a lazy susan style cake stand suitable as a banding wheel?

[smokedav]

Mine dried out, should i wet it a little?

[eileenc]

Jon the potter wants you to wake board with him.