Nesting Mixing Bowls

[SusanM]

Hello everyone! I am a hobbiest potter that is trying to become a professional. Recently, a few customers have asked me to create a set of nesting mixing bowls.

 

Does anyone have any tips about this? What ratio of clay weights do you use? How about width/height when throwing? Is there a good formula?

 

 

Thanks!

[bciskepottery]

Use different weights of clay . . . 1 lb, 1.5 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb. etc. Make multiples so you can pick which ones look the best as a set. Glaze fire as a group . . . same shelf.

[Chris Campbell]

A beautiful set of properly nesting bowls is a sign of excellent throwing skills so it's also going to take some time to perfect ... Once you do though, you should be able to throw just about anything else! Good luck!

[midnight_potter]

Hello everyone! I am a hobbiest potter that is trying to become a professional. Recently, a few customers have asked me to create a set of nesting mixing bowls.

 

Does anyone have any tips about this? What ratio of clay weights do you use? How about width/height when throwing? Is there a good formula?

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Probably if you are not super skilled leaving a pound of clay between the sizes would be a good idea, because of the differences in throwing. When you become more skilled ahalf pound is a better idea. A tulip shape is a good shape with an inch or more between the sizes (say, 5", 6" and 7") or 2, 3, and 4 pounds of clay. Make the bowls rounded in the corners with a rib tool to accomodate a spoon and a spout is also a great idea. Set yourself to make several sets and decide what is the better shape when stacked together. This is a great exercise and would be a good class project.

[Kabe]

Hello everyone! I am a hobbiest potter that is trying to become a professional. Recently, a few customers have asked me to create a set of nesting mixing bowls.

 

Does anyone have any tips about this? What ratio of clay weights do you use? How about width/height when throwing? Is there a good formula?

 

 

Thanks!

 

You might try this idea to make a set of nesting bowls. I use it to make coffee mugs that I want to look the same. My throwing skills are still at a level that I'm happy with "somewhat similer" when I attempt to make a matching set. If I keep working at it I will get to the place were I can crank out matching sets like an advanced potter. I still try to make sets so I can aquire the skill. But when I'm in a hurry and don't have years to wait, I sort of cheat. I have seen this technique illustrated in ceramic books so I'm not the only cheater. First I draw up a profile of what I want the shape of the mug to be. I draw it large enough allowing for shrinkage so I don't end up with a tea cup instead of a mug. My clay shrinks 12%. I then cut a copy of this profile out of 1/4 inch wooden under lay-mint like what they put down on a floor before they lay vinyl. (you could use better wood. I use this cause it's cheap). I end up with a rib in the shape of of the outside of the mug. If you want the end result to be the same all the steps getting there must be the same. I measure/ weigh out my balls of clay so they are the same. Center them so the starting mass is the same size, checking with caliper. Open them to the same width and pull my starting cylinder, again checking with calipers. Then I use the rib I made to press the clay against as I make the final pass. It works almost like a mold I mark the rib so I can cut the mugs off at the same height and check with a caliper to make the inside diameter the same. I end up with a set of mugs that look like a set. I make more than what I need and put the most similer ones together. They still are not exactly the same, but thats what makes them hand thrown and not cast.

I haven't tryed it yet, but I think you could do the same thing for nesting bowls. First determine the size of your smallest bowl and draw up the profile shape. Then figure out how thick the walls of the bowls are so you will know how big the second bowl will need to be so the smaller one will fit in it correctly. Enlarge the drawing of the first bowl on a copier to the right size. Take the amount (%) you increased the second drawing by, add it to the copier size and do it again. Now you have a third bowl size that will hold the other two and the profile will be the same on all three. Might take a couple trys to get it right. Then cut a rib pattern of all three bowls and use them to make the final shape of the bowl. If it works you could make four or five of each size at a time and end up with four of five sets. That would be a big time saver. Even if you didn't use the wooden patterns as a rib it would be a good visual guide to compare bowls with as you threw them. I will have to try this myself because my wife wants a set of mixing bowl that match. I just hadn't thought of doing it this way untill I saw your question. Thanks for the help. Gee sure hope it works! ain't clay fun Kabe