Pottery tools

Handbuilding & Sculpting

Sculpting and handbuilding tools: clay cutters, slab rolling guides and pins, hump and cup molds, texture mats, extruders, styluses and sculpting tools.

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Buying guide

Tools for sculpting and handbuilding

Handbuilding covers pinch pots, coils, slabs and sculpture. Modeling tools in wood and metal smooth joins, add detail and carve. Slab tools such as rolling guides, pins and canvas help you roll slabs of even thickness, which is the key to pieces that dry flat.

Clay cutters make clean circles, squares and repeated shapes, and molds and forms give slabs consistent curves for plates, bowls and mugs.

See thickness guidelines and joining tips in handbuilding with slabs.

Common questions

What tools do I need for handbuilding pottery?

A rolling pin with slab guides, a needle tool, a fettling or craft knife, a rib, a sponge and a few modeling tools are enough to start with pinch, coil and slab work.

How thick should a clay slab be?

About 1/4 in suits most mugs, plates and boxes. Tiles and ornaments can be thinner; large platters and planters are usually a little thicker.

How do I stop slab pieces from cracking at the joins?

Score both edges, add slip, press firmly, then reinforce the inside seam with a thin coil. Dry the piece slowly under loose plastic.

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