| Carpenter, surgeon, chef or potter, the tools | | | | Find a wheel that works well for your pottery |
| you use can make the difference between just | | | | style and you will have an invaluable tool in |
| getting by and being a master in your field. | | | | your studio. |
| Imagine if the carpenter tried using a rock | | | | |
| in place of a good solid hammer. What if the | | | | Similar to using a rock in place of a hammer, |
| surgeon had noting but a butter knife in | | | | there are many objects that will do a |
| place of a precision scalpel? How would a top | | | | comparable job as the texturing tools |
| chef produce gourmet food in a tin can over a | | | | designed specifically for potters. But when |
| candle flame? And can the pottery artist get | | | | you want clean, professional results, nothing |
| the results they desire with no wheel? These | | | | beats a good set of tools. Whether you choose |
| are the essential tools of these crafts; the | | | | plastic or metal tools or even want a |
| basics necessary to do the job well. To stand | | | | combination of professional tools and a few |
| out from the crowd of potters however, there | | | | found objects, get yourself a collection of |
| are many more tools available that can both | | | | texturing tools. You will create a style of |
| make your job easier and make the end results | | | | pottery that is unique and representative of |
| superior. To prevent you form going hog-wild | | | | you. |
| and buying every gadget under the sun we take | | | | |
| a look at some of the most useful ones on the | | | | This last tool of the trade may seem a bit |
| market today. | | | | extravagant. But if you have established |
| | | | yourself as a professional potter or are very |
| If you are a serious potter, either as a | | | | serious about your hobby an electric clay |
| professional or as a hobbyist, then you know | | | | extruder can be a time and money saver. Moist |
| the role potter's wheels play in producing | | | | clay can be mixed and blended quickly and |
| your art. Whether electric or foot powered | | | | thoroughly for throwing and sculpturing. You |
| the wheel allows you to form and mold your | | | | can also use it to reclaim hardened clay by |
| clay with ease. If you have never used a | | | | missing it with water before passing it |
| wheel before it will take some practice | | | | through the extruder. You will wonder why you |
| before you are completely comfortable working | | | | wasted so much time in the past hand mixing |
| your clay. But that is the beauty of clay; it | | | | clay and why you just threw out clay that had |
| can be formed and reformed again and again | | | | dried up. |
| until you are satisfied with the end result. | | | | |