Denice

I am not much of a tool maker but I do collect little wood ice cream spoons.  You can easily reshape them with a knife or dremel tool and make a tool to  smooth a odd corner when you are doing a sculpture or hand building.  They eventually break apart,  popsickle sticks will work but the spoon gives you more options.   Denice

Favorite needle tool is a small screwdriver that my Dad had ground down to a point.
I like the handle - it's shorter than the typical pointer/needle tool - and larger in diameter. The entire tool is also rather short, which I prefer (except when a long one is needed).
It's also easy to find and doesn't roll far when dropped.
Taking inspiration from some of Hsinchuen Lin's early video clips (afore he began marketing his own line of stainless tools), I've an assortment of trimming and chattering tools made from hack saw blades. I've ground off the teeth, heated and bent the blade, then ground the profile. From there, I touch them up with a file. Some of the tools have been repurposed, as the original profile is long gone via sharpening. I don't mind the few moments it takes to resharpen them*.
My favorite (and only) cut-off wire was just the right length (it had been shortened several times!), then it was too short after the last break.
I'd tried several replacement wires, bah!
Now I'm using the core of a bike derailleur cable, which is holding out great. It's very slim, yet resilient.
Derailleur cables (the type I've been using for some time, by Jagwire) have filaments of metal wound around a core cable; I'm unwinding the outer filaments to reveal the core, boom!
Repurposed! Another use for replaced bike cabling! They're also handy for picture frame hanging wires - be sure to completely remove any grease first tho'.
A frosting spatula is so handy! At first I just used it to lever off batts, however, the small arc at the end is just right for mug lip recurve smoothing.
I'm trimming strips off the (automobile) chamois for lip smoothing.
Less often used, I've: several twist drill bits I use for making holes and dressing the holes' edges; a few small kitchen knives for cutting clay; a razor knife that's especially handy for trimming spouts; a few wooden knives/turning tools; a few wooden spoons for extending the inside hand when the hand won't fit; trimmed brushes for slip, glaze, and other stuff too.
At glazing time, there's a few soup ladles (one is a favorite), turkey baster, ear syringe, inexpensive electronic scale, masking tape**, kitchen whisks (one is fitted with a rod, which chucks up to the drill), blade tools for mixing in that bottom bucket edge ...and more, I'll have to take a look, it's been a long slog with no Studio time since October last!
 
*It's easier to keep them sharp then to re-sharpen when totally blunted.
Side note, dressing off the sharpened edges of frequently used metal ribs also doesn't take long; a square-ish edge can also cut, however, the honed razor thin/sharp by clay edge is so much more dangerous!
**plain half or three quarter inch tape makes a sharp clean straight line.
For curvy, I cut the tape into strips.
The pinstriping tape is nice, however, heh, masking tape is inexpensive, and works just fine, given it is cut with a sharp tool.

Years ago I was involved in an overstock grouping for school districts and other gov. organizations. I got several useful things from them, but the most useful was a box of band saw blades that were 1/2 to 5/8 wide. I did not have a band saw that they fit, but found that they made excellent metal ribs for wheel thrown pot trimming and other uses. I cut the band saw blade into 4-6" lengths and rounded the corners. I also made some with angles and sharpened with grinder as in open trimming tools.
 
best,
Pres

I enjoy pulling handles but I also want handles that are more ornate or contemporary.  I have extruded contemporary handles and made press molds for ornate handles.  For a more rustic feel I will cut them out of a slab of clay.  I tried making mugs  without handles but they looked incomplete,   I wound up carving intricate patterns on them.    I enjoy assembling  the cup and handle,  I guess this is why I like the challenge of throwing a teapot.    Denice

Difficult to answer,   when I was making coiled pots I could make two at the same time.   I tried to make three but I had  top coils getting  too firm for my coil/pinch up method of coiling .   When I throw I quit when my wrists and hands start to ache,  I can usually throw four pots.   I have been working on a three dimensional mural for awhile.   Just as I think I am ready to roll out the last back ground tiles I find a area that needs more work.  When I change one tile pattern,  I usually have to change all of them.   All of the  three dimensional tiles are done.    Thinking about working with layered colored clay's when the mural is finished.  

When I start on a mural  I will already have the image in my head,   I start putting my idea down on paper,   I redraw it several times improving and and increasing the size of the drawing  then I have Kinko's blow it up to the final size.   My husband and I check out any problems it may have with the perspective and flow.    When I throw I tend to make the same thing over and over again and then give them some personality with glaze.  Hand building is where I tend to start with a large slab that just takes off,  sometimes I am just challenging myself to see what I can make the clay do.   They usually don't make it to the kiln.   Denice

Difficult to answer,   when I was making coiled pots I could make two at the same time.   I tried to make three but I had  top coils getting  too firm for my coil/pinch up method of coiling .   When I throw I quit when my wrists and hands start to ache,  I can usually throw four pots.   I have been working on a three dimensional mural for awhile.   Just as I think I am ready to roll out the last back ground tiles I find a area that needs more work.  When I change one tile pattern,  I usually have to change all of them.   All of the  three dimensional tiles are done.    Thinking about working with layered colored clay's when the mural is finished.  

This is a one off slab construction based on an idea inspired by a bunch of weeds, Preliminary sketches were similar, but I made the thrown rim and lid a little larger than planned. Of greatest importance here was the texture in the slabs that wraps around the piece. Glazing was done by staining the piece with iron oxide and cobalt stains, with wash off.  The inside was glazed after washing off the stains as was the top with and upside down dip. Them areas of the piece were glazed with brown, blue and off white glazes sponged and dry brushed on. Then an atomizer was used to spray  a rutile green glaze over large areas emphasizing the natural landscape look of weeds in dark forest.  I am very happy with the way the textures and the rest of the piece turned out. This was originally made as a demo/door prize piece two years ago, glazed this year. It was given away as a door prize along with some chalices, and vases to folks taking the adult Ceramics class a the HS I used to teach at.
 
 
best,
Pres

Definitely get a one hp.  I bought a used Brent a few years ago and it had a new half hp.  motor.    I don't consider myself a strong thrower but I find myself wanting a little more horse power now and then.   I am mostly a handbuilder  so this wheel will work for me.    Denice

Definitely get a one hp.  I bought a used Brent a few years ago and it had a new half hp.  motor.    I don't consider myself a strong thrower but I find myself wanting a little more horse power now and then.   I am mostly a handbuilder  so this wheel will work for me.    Denice

I don't do a lot of throwing but I have learned that keeping the  thickness of the clay the same is the key.   I even try to keep the turns in sculptures  the same,   If I can't I will make the area angled to ease into a area with varied thickness.  My throwing teacher in college would walk behind our wheels hollering (compression, compression, compression)  especially on a flat platter.   Denice

I don't do a lot of throwing but I have learned that keeping the  thickness of the clay the same is the key.   I even try to keep the turns in sculptures  the same,   If I can't I will make the area angled to ease into a area with varied thickness.  My throwing teacher in college would walk behind our wheels hollering (compression, compression, compression)  especially on a flat platter.   Denice

Difficult to answer,   when I was making coiled pots I could make two at the same time.   I tried to make three but I had  top coils getting  too firm for my coil/pinch up method of coiling .   When I throw I quit when my wrists and hands start to ache,  I can usually throw four pots.   I have been working on a three dimensional mural for awhile.   Just as I think I am ready to roll out the last back ground tiles I find a area that needs more work.  When I change one tile pattern,  I usually have to change all of them.   All of the  three dimensional tiles are done.    Thinking about working with layered colored clay's when the mural is finished.  

Difficult to answer,   when I was making coiled pots I could make two at the same time.   I tried to make three but I had  top coils getting  too firm for my coil/pinch up method of coiling .   When I throw I quit when my wrists and hands start to ache,  I can usually throw four pots.   I have been working on a three dimensional mural for awhile.   Just as I think I am ready to roll out the last back ground tiles I find a area that needs more work.  When I change one tile pattern,  I usually have to change all of them.   All of the  three dimensional tiles are done.    Thinking about working with layered colored clay's when the mural is finished.  

I don't do a lot of throwing but I have learned that keeping the  thickness of the clay the same is the key.   I even try to keep the turns in sculptures  the same,   If I can't I will make the area angled to ease into a area with varied thickness.  My throwing teacher in college would walk behind our wheels hollering (compression, compression, compression)  especially on a flat platter.   Denice

I have always kept a dog bed in my studio,   I have  only had three dogs in the past  that would hang around.   My  new dog  is still at that chewing stage so I haven't introduced him to the studio yet.   He is a chiwienne  and somewhere around a year old,   it could be another year before I try.  He is laying on the top edge of the couch right now looking through the blinds,  he must be part cat.     Denice

I have always kept a dog bed in my studio,   I have  only had three dogs in the past  that would hang around.   My  new dog  is still at that chewing stage so I haven't introduced him to the studio yet.   He is a chiwienne  and somewhere around a year old,   it could be another year before I try.  He is laying on the top edge of the couch right now looking through the blinds,  he must be part cat.     Denice

I have always kept a dog bed in my studio,   I have  only had three dogs in the past  that would hang around.   My  new dog  is still at that chewing stage so I haven't introduced him to the studio yet.   He is a chiwienne  and somewhere around a year old,   it could be another year before I try.  He is laying on the top edge of the couch right now looking through the blinds,  he must be part cat.     Denice

I have always kept a dog bed in my studio,   I have  only had three dogs in the past  that would hang around.   My  new dog  is still at that chewing stage so I haven't introduced him to the studio yet.   He is a chiwienne  and somewhere around a year old,   it could be another year before I try.  He is laying on the top edge of the couch right now looking through the blinds,  he must be part cat.     Denice

I have always kept a dog bed in my studio,   I have  only had three dogs in the past  that would hang around.   My  new dog  is still at that chewing stage so I haven't introduced him to the studio yet.   He is a chiwienne  and somewhere around a year old,   it could be another year before I try.  He is laying on the top edge of the couch right now looking through the blinds,  he must be part cat.     Denice

Cool mixer,  I haven't seen one like that before,  it would be much easier to clean.   When I started working with clay at home,   I had a small table that folded down on the wall, folding chair, bucket, wooden thumb,  old steak knife and sponge  and a small paragon kiln.   I shared a single car garage with my husband who worked on cars in the garage.  Everything had to fold away  so he could have room to work.  My current abundant supply of tools has happened over the last 50 years,  I haven't thrown any of them away.   I think I'll give them to my son as his inheritance.  Denice

Cool mixer,  I haven't seen one like that before,  it would be much easier to clean.   When I started working with clay at home,   I had a small table that folded down on the wall, folding chair, bucket, wooden thumb,  old steak knife and sponge  and a small paragon kiln.   I shared a single car garage with my husband who worked on cars in the garage.  Everything had to fold away  so he could have room to work.  My current abundant supply of tools has happened over the last 50 years,  I haven't thrown any of them away.   I think I'll give them to my son as his inheritance.  Denice

Cool mixer,  I haven't seen one like that before,  it would be much easier to clean.   When I started working with clay at home,   I had a small table that folded down on the wall, folding chair, bucket, wooden thumb,  old steak knife and sponge  and a small paragon kiln.   I shared a single car garage with my husband who worked on cars in the garage.  Everything had to fold away  so he could have room to work.  My current abundant supply of tools has happened over the last 50 years,  I haven't thrown any of them away.   I think I'll give them to my son as his inheritance.  Denice

I don't have any unusual tools but I do use  tool tray inserts that I store my tools in.   They are to be used in large tool chest,  the plastic is heavy you don't need any support.  They stack inside of each other and are easy to wash out.  I am kind of a tool hoarder so I have three of them  filled.    Denice

I can lose a day working in my studio,  even recycling clay and cleaning  time fly's by.   My husbands loves to work on cars but hates lawn work.  We hire a man to help us with outdoor work,  last summer the front end on his car broke.  My husband  agrees to fix his car instead of paying him for his work that day.    The hired man comments later  that he has never seen someone so happy to be working on a car.  My husband spent his life writing technical books on amusement rides, plane, trains and construction  equipment.   But is happiest when he is working with his hands.  Denice