Anyone trying to get into pottery craft is eager to know what Potter’s Wheel is.
Potter’s wheel is a machine used to round or shape ceramics vessel into a desirable form.
My first time into ceramics craft, there was a Potter’s wheel in my training Hall, and I began to stare at it without knowing its functions.
But since I know it, I’m here to share my knowledge with you.
But that is not all what pottery wheel is. Also, read; is a pottery wheel hard, and what is a pottery wheel used for?
What Does Potter’s Wheel Means
The Potter’s wheel, also known as the Potter’s lathe or is a mechanical device used manually or electrically for traction or shaping clay into pottery (ceramic vessels)
It is also used to decorate the piece with linear motifs, that is, to lighten and eliminate the excess thick clay from ceramic ware.
The Potter’s Wheel consists of a round, flat surface on which the clay is placed and rotated on a central axis between 30 and 120 revolutions per minute.
They can be human-powered (with a pedal) or electric. As the platform rotates, the artisan can turn or mold the piece, lifting the clay and giving it the desired shape.
What Is Potter’s Wheel Use For, And How Does It Work?
pottery wheel has a lower wheel that transmits the rotary movement to the platform.
The speed is constant and adjustable, and thanks to this movement, perfect vessels can be modeled.
While the centrifugal force drives the ceramic paste or clay pellet, the Potter holds it with his hands and directs it as he pleases.
The accessories, such as the feet, the handles, or the mouths, are added at the end when the piece is less humid.
To work the clay on the Potter’s wheel, the hands must be wet in slip, a porridge made of clay and water.
Then, the pieces can be modeled and turned in various ways by stretching and squeezing.
Before the widespread use of the electric Potter’s wheel, there were two different models.
On the one hand, there was the torta, slow lathe, or hand lathe.
They are the most primitive since they are moved by hand utilizing a handlebar.
It means the craftsman only worked with one hand, or two people were needed.
The base or plate rotates on a small vertical axis but without generating centrifugal force.
On the other hand, the fast lathe, whose wheel is driven by a pedal, is a much more comfortable and practical mechanism. Also, read how to learn pottery at home
Origin Of The Potter’s Wheel
In the definition above, we already know what a potter’s wheel is, but when was it invented?
The origin of the Potter’s wheel date⁷s back to ancient Egypt, about 3000 BC. C.
The first documented record of this tool is an Egyptian papyrus where you can see the god Jnum modeling a human body and his soul.
This god was in charge of creating the pharaohs and giving them their vital energy, and he did it with the help of a lathe.
However, its use, according to research, could have been earlier.
Some studies claim that it could have appeared around 3500 BC. C. in Mesopotamia, and could have been the first wheels in the history of humanity.
Curiously, its first uses were not for transportation but focused on pottery and the creation of water wheels for irrigation.
What Are The Advantages Of Using A Potter’s Wheel?
The wheel is one of the most important pottery tools.
In addition to allowing the thickness of the vessels to be homogeneous, it also increases production since pieces can be produced in less time.
For example, it can be used for ceramic decoration, keeping the brush in the same position to make straight lines.
It is also useful for making symmetrical incisions or honing the part during rotation.
Now that you know what a potter’s wheel is and its advantages, you must learn how to use it to create your pieces.
Learn how to make a cylinder with clay.
What Is The Disadvantage Of Potter’s Wheel
The disadvantages are that they are generally quite noisy and depend on electricity to work, which can lead to high expenses on the electricity bill. You can read the history of the pottery wheel.
How Does A Potter’s Wheel Work
Originally a turntable was set in rotation with the foot. Such a potter’s wheel operated with muscle power consists of two horizontal discs – the disc plate, on which the ceramic is made, and a flywheel close to the ground, driven by constant foot movements.
Both discs are connected vertically by an axis. This type of wheel requires great coordination, as the Potter has to ensure the continuous rotation of the wheel but also shape the work.
Today, most potters have an electrically powered wheel in their pottery workshop. It works at 200-300 rotations per minute.
The rotation speed can be varied as required using a foot pedal. An electric turntable consists of a disc plate, which is also called a disc head.
The disk head sits in a kind of trough – it catches the clay slip carried to the edge of the disk by centrifugal force.
Turning The Potter’s Wheel
Anyone who has ever watched a piece of clay being turned into a pottery workshop will be amazed at the ease with which jugs, bowls, cups, and ceramic mugs are made.
But appearances are deceptive because it takes a lot of practice, skill, and talent to form a vessel, like a ceramic cup, from the initial lump of clay.
When turning, there is only a special turning sound without fireclay parts for use. Shaping the clay on the turntable can only work if your hands are always wet.
Turning the Potter’s wheel involves three basic steps: centering, breaking open, and pulling up. It requires certain technical and steps.
Step Involve In Turning Pottery Wheel
Turning the Potter’s wheel involves three basic steps:
1. centering
2. breaking open and
3. pulling up
Centering
In the first step, Potter places a lump of clay in the center of the disc plate.
Now, while the disc is rotating, he begins to use both hands to center the clay mass by applying force so that the lump runs perfectly round and assumes the shape of a dome.
Break Open
Before a potter makes a vessel, the Potter must “break open” the clay dome.
To do this, he applies gentle pressure to the center of the lump of clay with his thumbs, creating an indentation that lays the foundation for shaping and lifting the vessel.
At the same time, it forms the base of the workpiece.
Pulling Up
Now the walls of the vessel are created by pulling up. The hand grasps the edge created when breaking open and slowly and continuously pulls it upwards between the fingers. The other hand supports you from the outside.
If a potter what to form a bowl, the Potter pulls the clay outwards with slight pressure – the rotary body expands.
The opposite happens when a vessel is supposed to narrow upwards.
What Is The Type Of Potter’s Wheel
When talking about ceramics, it is quickly associated with the Potter’s lathe (pottery wheel).
It is the ceramist’s tool par excellence, with which most ceramists enjoy working the most due to the ease, comfort, and symmetry obtained in pieces.
Worked, even with everything, there is a world beyond the lathe, but we will not talk about it here.
Also, read who invented the pottery wheel.
When you see an experienced ceramist working, it gives the impression of a simple technique. Still, many hours of practice are hidden behind this apparent ease of use.
The most common types of pottery wheel in today’s workshops:
electric pottery wheel
Manual pottery wheel consist of wheel lathes and treadle lathes
Before the types of Potter’s Wheel, there was a modification of the wheel, so learn the evolution of Potter’s Wheel.
Electric Potter’s Wheel
Today it is the most common, so much so that finding another type of lathe can even be difficult.
Of course, it is the most suitable in the long term, its only possible disadvantages compared to manual lathes are:
- They are noisy
- They require electricity
They are expensive and can break after a lot of use.
Several things should be considered when buying an electric lathe for the first time.
The first of which is to keep in mind that it is an investment and will take time to learn.
It is advisable to acquire a good electric pottery wheel that can be used for professional use. Having this clear,
Due to its price, it is worth checking the second-hand market.
If you want to buy a new one, there is a small model on the market to be placed on a table, cheaper than normal-size lathes; I do not recommend them.
If you purchased the small table Potter’s Wheel for the first or second day, it would be short on power and temporary loading capacity.
For this reason, they are only slightly useful for small pieces, clay in a very soft state, the return of some small pieces, and little else.
In short, they are not worth it. On the other hand, the price difference compared to a real lathe is not enough to compensate for its shortcomings.
In any case, various brands, models, and manufacturers of electric lathes.
What is essential for it to be a good pottery wheel is that it has continuous and smooth speed regulation.
I don’t care so much that it can turn very fast as it can turn slowly.
It is essential to work well so you do not lose power/speed when pressing on the mud or working with a lot of mud.
It is already more personal. I think it is very comfortable, that it is engageable, and that the lathe can turn when it is stopped freely.
A direction of rotation alternator is not essential unless you are left-handed and use the lathe on the left side.
Manual Potter’s Wheel
Those of a lifetime are handled manually through the force exerted by the feet of the Potter.
These can be of two types:
Wheel Lathe
The Wheel lathe is the most typical and oldest.
The Potter must turn the wheel with his legs. It’s certainly a lot of fun but requires skill and stamina.
Compared to an electric lathe, the working speed is much slower, and it is considerably more difficult to obtain perfectly symmetrical pieces, especially in tall pieces or very thin walls.
What’s good? It is a historical tool; let’s say they are very aesthetic and beautiful to see us, and working becomes a pleasure for the ears since they do not make the noise of electric lathe motors.
Treadle Lathe (Potter’s Treadle Lathe)
It is a variation of the wheel lathe. Instead of kicking the wheel directly, the ceramist kicks a pedal that acts as a force transmitter for the wheel.
As its name suggests, this lathe is characterized by a pedal that activates rotation when stepped on. However, the speed cannot be graduated.
Learn how to make pottery at home without a pottery wheel.
How many parts do Potter’s wheels have
A lathe is a tool that Potter uses to shape his creations; it allows him to produce pieces similarly in less time and more easily.
It mainly has six parts:
Easel: It is what can be considered the lathe table of vital importance to deposit the materials and tools that every Potter needs.
Vertical axis: A rod that connects the pedal to the plate.
Pedal: It is located under the plate or wheel, and depending on the pressure exerted on it, the speed of rotation will be different.
Flywheel: The large wheel is located below the lathe, connected through the vertical axis to the plate or wheel. Its action can be manual or mechanical.
Plate or wheel: This part is where the clay intended to be molded rests.
Seat: Finally, we have this part of vital importance since it will be where the Potter settles down to use the wheel.
Conclusion
Now you have no what is a potter’s wheel. The Potter’s wheel, also known as the Potter’s lathe, is a machine used for shaping or rounding clay into ceramic vessels.
You must know that we have two types of pottery wheels which are manual and electrical. The manual is divided into wheel lathe and treadle lathe.
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