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Qotw: What Form Do You Least Enjoy Creating, Whether Thrown Or Handbuilt, And Why?


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So a few weeks ago we did the form you most enjoy creating. Now clue us in on the form you really don't like doing, or struggle with more than any other.

 

For me it is pitchers. I really have never found a pitcher shape that I like to throw. I have done pitchers with round bottom portions with a neck out of that rising to a spout. I have done the narrower base rising to a wider high belly then short neck and spout. I have also done some pitchers that used a little reconstruction using an embroidery hoop, and reversing parts 180 degrees. However, I have never discovered a pitcher that I was completely satisfied with. 

 

How about you, is there a form you can't throw, or make, or one you struggle with design wise, or one you just don't like?

 

 

best,

Pres

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I can't bring myself to make yarn bowls. As a knitter, I think they're a poorly designed tool. As a potter, most of them are just ugly. It's not always the potter's aesthetic choices, they're just bad as a form.

I make a knitting jar with a wide opening in the lid instead.

edited to add photo.

post-63667-0-60725700-1474555588_thumb.jpeg

post-63667-0-60725700-1474555588_thumb.jpeg

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I love to belly out vases, but I honestly just hate trimming them. I struggle with finding/making chucks that hold the form well to trim (I prefer to throw a little thicker on a vase since I work with soft clay then trim afterwards). There are few forms I don't like making, but plenty I dislike trimming ie: anything with a long or delicate neck, or something very tall and narrow.

 

The neck got warped when I was trimming it on the chuck.

 

 

 

post-79203-0-43169200-1474568551_thumb.jpg

post-79203-0-43169200-1474568551_thumb.jpg

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The form I like the most is geometric crystalline tile. The form I like the least is geometric crystalline tile. Why> because my obsessive compulsion to figure out how it works drives me insane, and those around me. Same reason I like it. is the mystery of solving the riddle.

 

Nerd

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Sydney, 

I feel your pain. I had problems with long chalice stems for my communion sets. In the end I ended up making a chuck using basic plumbing parts that I use on my Griffin Grip. They are readily available at Lowes. You can see it in action at my blog site.

 

best,

Pres

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Never have made a Yarn bowl-with no plans on making them. I have not had enough requests on them.

I struggle on tumblers and do not like making them

Any time i make a new form I need to get enough requests so I know the market wants it. 

Whatever comes in something is going out as my make list is always 30-35 forms-I do not let it get over than.

Forms long gone from that list are planters,pincushions (nobody sews much anymore)oil lamps ,aromatherapy lamps,colanders ,tea sets,saki sets,Jugs.Water crocks with spigots-

They have all been replaced with better sellers-casserroles are going away soon as well-slow sales

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Handles....hate making handles and fastening them on. I always struggle with them and am not happy with the results. I find that with the extruder it is easier but I still don't like fastening them.. The last set of mugs went better but still would rather be throwing something instead.......

 

Did I say I don't like handles?

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I like making mugs/cups/bowls, but I can't for the life of me make a good tankard type mug. I have made one, in my life that I am happy with and it was the first thing I ever sold online:

 

il_570xN.907481155_55uj.jpg

 

For some reason I can not get the straight part of the top and the bottom curve into it right. There are some beautiful tankards out there, but mine are all terrible. I hammer one or two almost every firing because I dont like them. DARN THEM! You would think with such a simple form I could figure it out, but I can't! Just can't do it. 

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I love to belly out vases, but I honestly just hate trimming them. I struggle with finding/making chucks that hold the form well to trim (I prefer to throw a little thicker on a vase since I work with soft clay then trim afterwards). There are few forms I don't like making, but plenty I dislike trimming ie: anything with a long or delicate neck, or something very tall and narrow.

 

The neck got warped when I was trimming it on the chuck.

 

 

 

attachicon.gif34.jpg

 

Why are you trimming them upside down? Why not just wet the bottom and stick it to the wheelhead and trim bottom to top? That is how I trim almost all my jars with skinny necks. Is that the wrong way or something. I just always did it that way.

 

Just realized maybe you put a foot on them? I dunno. All my jars and stuff have flat bottoms so I lick and stickum to the wheelhead and start trimming to get final shape I want.

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I like making mugs/cups/bowls, but I can't for the life of me make a good tankard type mug.

 

For some reason I can not get the straight part of the top and the bottom curve into it right. There are some beautiful tankards out there, but mine are all terrible. I hammer one or two almost every firing because I dont like them. DARN THEM! You would think with such a simple form I could figure it out, but I can't! Just can't do it. 

 

The simplest ones are sometimes the most difficult. 

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I desperately want to make a "pilsner" type tumbler (tall, slender at the base to a belly up near the top) and it looks SO EASY. It is NOT easy. I will eventually get that form because I'm determined but currently the attempts are driving me crazy. 

 

Like this: http://www.webstaurantstore.com/libbey-1604-16-oz-pilsner-glass-24-case/5511604.html

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I can't bring myself to make yarn bowls. As a knitter, I think they're a poorly designed tool. As a potter, most of them are just ugly. It's not always the potter's aesthetic choices, they're just bad as a form.

I make a knitting jar with a wide opening in the lid instead.

edited to add photo.

SO your knitting stays with that lid till it is finished, well there's a way to make those last wee bitties get finished, unless you have an endless supply of jars.. I guess you could have

I guess with a wide enough mouth you can get everything through except maybe a big throw!

Or you just break the yarn.

Got m thinking.

For me the form is a plate, it is so easy to throw an ugly plate, so easy not to get the rim to sit where you want it, so easy not to leave enough clay on the base, so easy to make it too heavy.

I'm gonna focus on plates for the next month.

Thank you Pres, I'll be watching myself!

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I like making mugs/cups/bowls, but I can't for the life of me make a good tankard type mug. I have made one, in my life that I am happy with and it was the first thing I ever sold online:

 

il_570xN.907481155_55uj.jpg

 

For some reason I can not get the straight part of the top and the bottom curve into it right. There are some beautiful tankards out there, but mine are all terrible. I hammer one or two almost every firing because I dont like them. DARN THEM! You would think with such a simple form I could figure it out, but I can't! Just can't do it. 

Beautiful! Well just go and make a dozen more. I know what you omean, I recently tried making tankards for a friend who brews honey beer......I always like drinking beer out of a fine glass anyway.....

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I think large bowls. They take a lot of clay and IMO not challenging nor elegant. I'd much rather go taller with an interesting form.

Just my opinion. I promised one to a friend.(sigh)

 

Marcia

 

It's hard to make a large bowl interesting! The bigger the bowl the more work it is to make it look interesting and its just a bowl, so the insides is always filled with stuff and the outside is hard to see unless your looking at it below the table level. They are just not very rewarding to get super creative with.

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Made some large bowls in grad school 28" diameter. My sister in law has been using it as a magazine rack for years. They were as folks have said. . . boring. I am now making some bowls that use texture before shaping. They are pretty cool, but again with the larger ones you don't see much of the outside. 

 

 

best,

Pres

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Plates and platters are my Achilles heel.  In my mind, I know that they are not difficult to throw and I have the extreme compression part pretty well under control....but then; when it is time to trim it seems like I have more trimmings scattered around me than I have plate/platter.  And, I seem to end up with pieces that are too thin that warp like crazy when fired, or so thick that they might get confused with one of those slide-on weights for barbells (hmmm, maybe there is a market for that).  I think I make one platter each year just to remind me why I don't enjoy making them.

 

Peace,

-Paul

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I can't bring myself to make yarn bowls. As a knitter, I think they're a poorly designed tool. As a potter, most of them are just ugly. It's not always the potter's aesthetic choices, they're just bad as a form.

I make a knitting jar with a wide opening in the lid instead.

edited to add photo.

 

SO your knitting stays with that lid till it is finished, well there's a way to make those last wee bitties get finished, unless you have an endless supply of jars.. I guess you could have

I guess with a wide enough mouth you can get everything through except maybe a big throw!

Or you just break the yarn!

The opening is large enough to get most projects through, even sweater parts. You're right, though, you are committed if you're working on an afghan or something else large.its a fair sized jar: it starts as 3 lbs.

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I guess it would be a tea pot. I have never attempted one. I have bought a few over the years; never used one of them. I am not a tea person. The thought of making basically a covered jar with a handle and spout; to many pieces. Now I will have to make some. Thanks a lot.

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Never have made a Yarn bowl-with no plans on making them. I have not had enough requests on them.

I struggle on tumblers and do not like making them

Any time i make a new form I need to get enough requests so I know the market wants it. 

Whatever comes in something is going out as my make list is always 30-35 forms-I do not let it get over than.

Forms long gone from that list are planters,pincushions (nobody sews much anymore)oil lamps ,aromatherapy lamps,colanders ,tea sets,saki sets,Jugs.Water crocks with spigots-

They have all been replaced with better sellers-casserroles are going away soon as well-slow sales

 

That is interesting you do not get requests for tea sets/planters. It seems all people want of me are teapots and small planters! Mini succulent gardens are an exploding fad down here...

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I guess it would be a tea pot. I have never attempted one. I have bought a few over the years; never used one of them. I am not a tea person. The thought of making basically a covered jar with a handle and spout; to many pieces. Now I will have to make some. Thanks a lot.

 

To me, they are a very fun challenge. I love making the lips to hold the lid (although, it makes them a lot more fragile and I have to be careful not to bump the insides). The hardest part is making 2 or 3 lids to fit, mine tend to shrink unevenly thus I throw several and hope one matches :rolleyes: Attaching the nozzle is also a learning curve, so is the form of the handle.... hmmm a lot of work but I drink a lot of tea...

 

 

Sydney, 

I feel your pain. I had problems with long chalice stems for my communion sets. In the end I ended up making a chuck using basic plumbing parts that I use on my Griffin Grip. They are readily available at Lowes. You can see it in action at my blog site.

 

best,

Pres

 

I desperately want a giffin, but I just can't see myself spending the $$$ just yet when I don't really sell enough vases/long neck forms to justify the cost! I can tap-center bowls/mugs in under a minute, so for now I will stick with rolling wads of clay for adhesion and trimming the old-fashion way!

 

 

I love to belly out vases, but I honestly just hate trimming them. I struggle with finding/making chucks that hold the form well to trim (I prefer to throw a little thicker on a vase since I work with soft clay then trim afterwards). There are few forms I don't like making, but plenty I dislike trimming ie: anything with a long or delicate neck, or something very tall and narrow.

 

The neck got warped when I was trimming it on the chuck.

 

 

 

attachicon.gif34.jpg

 

Why are you trimming them upside down? Why not just wet the bottom and stick it to the wheelhead and trim bottom to top? That is how I trim almost all my jars with skinny necks. Is that the wrong way or something. I just always did it that way.

 

Just realized maybe you put a foot on them? I dunno. All my jars and stuff have flat bottoms so I lick and stickum to the wheelhead and start trimming to get final shape I want.

 

 

I trim them upside down because I love feet. I put a very distinct foot on almost everything I make, it just appeals to me and screams "I was handmade!" (:

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