Pres Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 When I first learned to throw, trimming was one of the next things I had to master. My prof demonstrated using the trimming tools and working the outside edge of the piece and then working the foot ring in, then if needed leveling off the foot ring with a needle tool. I had very little problem with this technique, as we were using Randall wheels with plaster bats. Everything dried off the bat, and so there was not cutting off from the wheel head. Crank up 3 years when I started at Penn State and using metal wheel heads and having to cut everything off with cutting wire. Sloppy uneven bottoms that would grab my tools and cause uneven pots that had difficult times getting even-plus I was still a newbie. Someone, either a prof or student showed me to use a flat blade held perpendicular across the whole piece directly over the center. By pressing down with this blade the entire bottom would be leveled out. I started to use it constantly and found that there was never any need for the needle tool leveling of the foot ring. It also made it easier to get very even areas on casseroles, plates and other wider forms. I use the technique on nearly everything unless I decide to use a wiggle wire with an untrimmed base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Always trim the outer wall of the pot first, as that determines the diameter of the foot. Then mark where the foot ring will be with the corner of your trimming tool, and trim from the center outward till you meet the mark. The center should even out as you trim it out- using a small, rounded too will cut through the unevenness and level it out. If the foot ring is uneven, it will even out as you round it over- round from the inside edge to the center, then from the outside edge to the center. Because you're not trimming straight down onto the uneven part, the unevenness never comes into play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 I make a mark where the outside of the foot will stand. I then trim form the outer wall to that mark. I then mark where the inside of the foot will be, and trim from the centre to that mark.Then I refine the foot inside and out. Occasionally I get a pot which spins as I have taken a bit much off the foot on final fiddle and so the pot sit s on the centre bottom instead of footrim! Or does the clay play with me and hump up as it dries? Like to know that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Pres, I use the needle tool trim first too. Saves lots of time.I trim the base, especially for the orb shapes. The finish with a foot. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mregecko Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Depending on the form and how well / evenly I cut it off the wheel, I will often clean it up with a sureform tool. It levels out the bottom and gets rid of any "heaviness" I may have missed in throwing. Especially helpful on platters to keep the bottom level. I'll then mark where I want my foot ring, and come in from the side to that point with normally trimming tools. Then I'll trim the interior of the footring. And finally use a rubber rib to clean up everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Point being, by using the hacksaw blade perpendicular to the surface of the base, the bottom becomes level in seconds. Then to trim as normal is quite easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 A youtube video by Hsinchen Lin shows him thumping the bottom of the pot as he trims the bottom. Does anyone here use this technique. If so what are you listening for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 If I want to remove quicker the tooth side, then finish with smooth side. Other wise I just start and finish with smooth side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atanzey Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Pres - have you seen a video of this anywhere? I'd love to see, rather than trying to picture how you're doing this. Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 A youtube video by Hsinchen Lin shows him thumping the bottom of the pot as he trims the bottom. Does anyone here use this technique. If so what are you listening for? I absolutely do this, and teach my students the same. I am listening for the pitch(?) of the sound. Think of the bottom of the vessel like the membrane on a drum. The higher the pitch, the thinner the bottom. The lower, the pitch the thicker. Of course, like much else in ceramics, you have to practice and get a feel for this process, to become good at analyzing the sound. This is especially true considering that the clay is too dry or too wet for trimming the sound will be a bit different. Still a useful technique. Also, I teach students to start with the bottom profile as well, for the reasons others have mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 If I want to remove quicker the tooth side, then finish with smooth side. Other wise I just start and finish with smooth side. Also, if you want to remove things really fast, use a saws-all blade, attached to a reciprocating saw, and you'll trim off the excess in split seconds.....As tone doesn't translate well to text, I am joking folks, though I son't doubt someone has tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 A youtube video by Hsinchen Lin shows him thumping the bottom of the pot as he trims the bottom. Does anyone here use this technique. If so what are you listening for?I do this. You are listening to the thickness of the clay.This is especially helpful on closed forms.Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Pres - have you seen a video of this anywhere? I'd love to see, rather than trying to picture how you're doing this. Alice I have never seen this technique used in a video. Once I have some time, and warmer climes I will try to do a few videos of things I have mentioned here: Opening with an elbow for bowls, trimming with a hacksaw blade, heck I might even try the 12 inch challenge. I would post these on my blog site as the videos take up space. As of now I am heading into 3 weeks at least where I won't be allowed near the clay as I am having some minor surgery for a cyst on my rt thumb. This has been causing problems with my bowling and is now pretty raw from blistering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martha Marks Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Good luck with your surgery, Pres! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 A youtube video by Hsinchen Lin shows him thumping the bottom of the pot as he trims the bottom. Does anyone here use this technique. If so what are you listening for? I absolutely do this, and teach my students the same. I am listening for the pitch(?) of the sound. Think of the bottom of the vessel like the membrane on a drum. The higher the pitch, the thinner the bottom. The lower, the pitch the thicker. Of course, like much else in ceramics, you have to practice and get a feel for this process, to become good at analyzing the sound. This is especially true considering that the clay is too dry or too wet for trimming the sound will be a bit different. Still a useful technique. Also, I teach students to start with the bottom profile as well, for the reasons others have mentioned. Crazy art teacher again here, thump my pots a lot when trimming. Talk to large jars a lot when throwing. Same thing is apparent, if the form is thinner, and more even the timbre(right word?) is different from a pot that is too thick or lacking in volume. When at Penn State the students thought I was nuts, but by the end of the Summer lots of them were doing the same! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Good luck with the surgery, Pres. Having been through two hand surgeries in the past year, I can empathize. Let it heal, don't push it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joy pots Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I trim like Neil except for volume work I first start with the Giffin grip & also tap the bottoms. Good luck Pres. Joy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Good luck, Pres. Go to Hawaii to heal. TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Pres - have you seen a video of this anywhere? I'd love to see, rather than trying to picture how you're doing this. Alice I have never seen this technique used in a video. Once I have some time, and warmer climes I will try to do a few videos of things I have mentioned here: Opening with an elbow for bowls, trimming with a hacksaw blade, heck I might even try the 12 inch challenge. I would post these on my blog site as the videos take up space. As of now I am heading into 3 weeks at least where I won't be allowed near the clay as I am having some minor surgery for a cyst on my rt thumb. This has been causing problems with my bowling and is now pretty raw from blistering. Good luck, a potter who bowls hey?? What is doing the most damage to your thumbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Way to keep the "Weird Art Teacher" stereotype going Pres. Talking to pots, that's a new one....Of course I'm going to have to try it. Good luck with the surgery, and here's hoping you a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Way to keep the "Weird Art Teacher" stereotype going Pres. Talking to pots, that's a new one....Of course I'm going to have to try it. Good luck with the surgery, and here's hoping you a speedy recovery. You could save time in trimming by just using a whipper snipper, that is a flail mower, just run it along a row of pots and bingo, trimmed feet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'm a thumper There is a learning curve It works for me But I also measure bottom and side wall thickness , mark clay Them it's intuitive from there Must visualize inside shape of form. And trim to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kohaku Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I find that my needle tool in becoming an increasingly central part of the process for me. I use it for removing everything up to the final refinement point... especially around the edge of the base... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Throwing does nothing to my thumbs, unless you talk about the thumb nails-they get worn down. As to the thumb, cyst has been there for years, new bowling ball drilled differently might have made things worse. So instead of having to jam the thumb into the ball until it goes in easily, getting things take care of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Just a bit of an update, and a set back. Surgery was scheduled for this morning at 6:30; Dr. decided not to go in because I had an open wound where he would be working. He did not want to risk getting infection into the bone. Some time next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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