Compressing A Slab Ceramics

Before attaching the bottom piece of clay to the form in the mold van hoey stamps the bottom of the slab with her chop potter s mark and places the slab into the mold face down this way impressing the stamp won t distort the final form.

Compressing a slab ceramics.

When the foot is finished trim the excess slab to about inch away from the rim of the bisque mold 13 and compress this clay into a nice rounded edge above where the clay meets the bat. Then i use a large window squeegee to compress starting from the far side of the foot area and pressing it into the clay while i draw it toward me. The second type of mold is a bisque mold which is super easy to make yourself. Start by rolling a basic slab 12 14 inches in diameter and 3 8 inch thick.

To compress the clay slightly you can use a rolling pin or your hand. Compressing the slabs together she repeats her refining and smoothing process 8. If the clay it is too thick it will not fit under the roller. I have been making slab platters for years by slab rolling a large piece of clay draping it over my bisqued hump mold which i made years ago.

Preparing and compressing the slab. Drape it over an inverted footless bowl that was bisque fired to two or three cones lower than the clay body s maturity see 1. Use a template or a bat to cut a circle out of the slab. Then take a straight needle tool and holding it flat against the bat surface press inward until the needle tool can be felt dragging on the bisque mold.