Potters can benefit from having and using a wide variety of tools. Many are specialized, and yet many also can have a surprising ways they can be used in pottery.
Potter's needles have many uses in pottery. It is one of the most basic and versatile tools available, other than the potter's hands, themselves.
In pottery, brushes have many uses. They are used to apply slurry or slip to joints during construction. Brushes are used to apply decorative effects such as slips, underglazes, glazes, and overglazes. Brushes have other jobs in pottery as well.
Sponges have been used by potters for more than 4,000 years. Natural sponges from the Mediterranean were harvested by the cultures surrounding it. Their potters clearly benefited from the availability of these liquid-holding, porous animal-created structures.
There are many types of sponges on the market today, many of which are suitable for use in creating pottery and studio ceramics. Broadly speaking, there are two main factions: synthetic sponges and natural sponges. In the past, many potters made a point of only using natural sponges. Recently, however, new synthetic sponges have become available which are just as useful and durable.
How to use calipers in pottery as a way to take measurements while throwing on the potters wheel, especially when throwing lidded jars.
