Markp1964 Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 What's the best method to make smooth, even usable coils for hand building? Mine seem to start with varied thicknesses, and by the time I get them evened out, the clay is dry and not flexible enough to bend cleanly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick White Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 If you are rolling the coils on a canvas work surface, dampen the canvas rolling area first. Then the coils will not dry out as you are rolling them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 Also spritz your palms with a spray bottle set to mist. It'll help keep the surface of the coil from drying out so quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 watching youtube and workshop presentations, i notice that people roll out all the coils right at the beginning and keep them wrapped in sheets of plastic until needed. is that how you are working? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitchmss Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 I find that the longer your coils get, you need to spread your fingers out more, so that you are touching more of the coil at a single time. This will help with getting consistent coils. Also, use a consistent pressure, moving your hands in a constant motion. If the coil becomes oval/square, stop and tap the high points back to more round. Coils dont need to be a absolute perfect round shape, as you will be manipulating them further in your construction, although the more consistent your coils, the easier it all will be. If this is part of a project, and you need to learn how to make coils, the ignore the following, if you are working on your own, using coils, you could also extrude them. As everyone else said, a mist bottle, spraying the canvas work table down so that it is damp, but not wet, will help to keep coils from drying out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhPotter Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 Bill Van Gilder has used what is in the pics as a coil maker. By adjusting the carriage bolt you can infinitely vary the thickness of the coil. Also, I have read, if the coil gets out of round, twist the coil then finish rolling out the coil, it will even out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 mark, if you would like to see a very good method of making very delicate coil pots, watch the Youtube videos made by Joyce Michaud. she teaches at Hood college in maryland and has used coils to make lovely things. in 12.21 minutes, you will learn a lot. it is an excerpt from a video here on ceramic arts network. i cannot find it using search but maybe you can. i watched the excerpt last night and found it excellent. her technique is completely different from the usual "roll out a coil and stick it to another one". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted January 26, 2019 Report Share Posted January 26, 2019 13 hours ago, oldlady said: Youtube videos made by Joyce Michaud. Here is one-there are others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Vk5uDnQze1Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted January 26, 2019 Report Share Posted January 26, 2019 thanks, lee, that is the best one. a totally different approach that might help you a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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