Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 I am fairly new to pottery, and I am having an issue. When I throw a bowl about half the time the rim is split and jagged. What am I doing wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Sounds like you're stretching too fast when making the bowl shape. A picture would be worth a thousand words here though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 I tried attaching a picture but the draconian size limit has defeated me. Let me give it another go. Thanks for your help by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Compress the lip as you throw it. Pull up the walls and then compress the lip -repeat this as you for the bowl. Also leave enough clay on the lip so its thick enough once it streched out . A better photo will help us reallyas thats all we have to go on. As to photo size run your photos thru any photo program and pick a small size and then you can post them. There are photo posting tips on the top of main page if I recall. Welcome to the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Yep compress the rim so it doesn't get ripped up and open slower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Thanks to both of you for your help. I will try what you suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Is all that gunk on rim coming from inside bowl? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 No the lip of the rim is splitting as I pull it up and out. I agree with what the others have said that I am not compressing the rim and I am definitely going too fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 From the pic you posted it looks like the rim is evenly jagged. I think it looks pretty cool. If you can make a few more that look like that, I'd keep them, fire them and glaze them just for kicks. BUT, you do realize that now that you've been told a few ways to correct the "problem", you will never be able to do it again consciously...Recently I had thrown what was to be a yarn bowl but, after it was bone dry, as I was handling it, a chunk broke out of the rim. Rather than toss the bowl, I broke out the rest of the rim so it looked like a low mountain range. I'll Raku fire it and sell it as an art piece down the road. I guess it's a case of learning from our mistakes... JohnnyK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergusonjeff Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 It looks like the problem might be occurring before pulling up the walls. It kind of looks like the clay is being folded over as it is first opened. This would create a layer of slip that prevents the top of the bowl from staying firmly attached to the bottom. I am probably not explaining this very well. Be sure to keep the clay together as you open and don't let the clay fold over on itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Johnny, that is a great idea. I had to crop the picture, I just installed a photo resize so now more of the bowl can be seen. I wish the “problem” circled the whole rim but it does not. I may still fire it with the castle wall motif, but since it does not I may try to trim it to even out the bowl. I am still very new to this, but I absolutely love attempting pottery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Jeff, I am being pretty careful not to let the clay fold over, but I appreciate the thought and will double check when I clay tonight to make sure I am not doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Again pay more attention to compressing the lip just after forming the rough shape-then compress on every pull untill you master the lip. Later after much practice you will find this second nature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Looks like to me that you may be getting your inside fingers above the outside fingers during a pull, sometimes when this happens the inside ridge rises above the outer edge unevenly. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnolia Mud Research Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Skip, compression of the rim after each upward pull is the standard way to prevent the ragged effect. However, for future know-how: Pay attention to just what you are doing to make this happen as you work on making the "jagged rim" NOT happen. Later after you have mastered the smooth rim technique so that all rims are always smooth, you will want to deliberately make the "jagged rim" on some of your work as a decorative effect. LT (someone that has been there, and had to relearn how to make "defects" on purpose). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Mark, thanks so much for your advice. I have definitely not been compressing my lip after each upward pull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Pres, that certainly could be. I’ll have to see tonight if that is happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 LT, While Since I am making ragged rims now I may try to make one tonight to see if I can get it all the way around the bowl. As you said, when I know more I may want this to happen. Right now I am working on smooth lines, thinner bases, and symmetry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Is the pot in the background yours also? No ragged edge there. Is your clay a bit short? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 The bowl in the back is mine. What is your clay short refer to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 14 hours ago, JohnnyK said: you will never be able to do it again consciously I have to laugh...I do this kind of rim all the time, kind of a signature look, and accentuate it even more, like little flames coming up. Skip-I think it is just beautiful, "as is". Simplified, short clay is when clay lacks plasticity and will crack/tear. There are corrections for it. Here's a link to a bit of a discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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