Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Over the past few months of making, I've tried incredibly hard to increase the finish of the store jars and urns I make when scaled up. I've encountered a few issues lately when glazing and firing them that could have probably simply been fixed had I spent more time throwing neater interior forms and trimming them with smoother, slightly more flush surfaces. I'm increasing the time it takes to make something to increase the level of craftsmanship in the object and that's precisely what I'm discussing this week.
It's a fascinating thing to look at the same types of pots made a few years apart. In truth, not a vast amount has changed in terms of the overall shape, yet what's improved drastically are qualities such as proportion, finish, how well the different components fit and the surface quality, too.
All of that adds up to pots that at this stage feel far more intentional and accurate and it's a process that really needs dedicated time invested into it, shaping a vessel is one thing, the finish of the surfaces is another, but it all takes hundreds of hours of practice to gradually improve.
That's roughly the subject of this weekend's video, combined with lots of technical details and reasons why I trim in this very particular manner.
Thanks for watching!
How to attach pots to the wheel: youtu.be/mfTZU3lQsLY
How to wedge clay: youtu.be/hYdLGLztT-Q
How to cone smaller amounts of clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
📚 • You'll find many more guides on how to centre and pull up the walls of clay here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
📢 • Find out much more about my work here: https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
⏱ • Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:12 - A cross section of the shape I'm trimming
2:41 - Trimming the lid to fit the body
5:11 - Refining the outer walls
6:11 - Sharpening my tools
7:33 - Dealing with chattered surfaces
9:05 - Turning the lid
12:34 - Trimming the base of the urn
13:44 - The importance of a mirror
16:13 - Checking the thickness of the base
17:55 - Double checking/quality control
19:15 - The finished vessel, for now
22:21 - That's a much better shape!
24:23 - Which shape do you prefer?
*I throw using both a Rohde HMT 500 & 600 potter's wheel and fire using Rohde kilns too, the electric is a TE-200 and the gas kiln is a KG-340.
____
Instagram – instagram.com/floriangadsby
TikTok – tiktok.com/@floriangadsby
Website – floriangadsby.com
Over the past few months of making, I've tried incredibly hard to increase the finish of the store jars and urns I make when scaled up. I've encountered a few issues lately when glazing and firing them that could have probably simply been fixed had I spent more time throwing neater interior forms and trimming them with smoother, slightly more flush surfaces. I'm increasing the time it takes to make something to increase the level of craftsmanship in the object and that's precisely what I'm discussing this week.
It's a fascinating thing to look at the same types of pots made a few years apart. In truth, not a vast amount has changed in terms of the overall shape, yet what's improved drastically are qualities such as proportion, finish, how well the different components fit and the surface quality, too.
All of that adds up to pots that at this stage feel far more intentional and accurate and it's a process that really needs dedicated time invested into it, shaping a vessel is one thing, the finish of the surfaces is another, but it all takes hundreds of hours of practice to gradually improve.
That's roughly the subject of this weekend's video, combined with lots of technical details and reasons why I trim in this very particular manner.
Thanks for watching!
How to attach pots to the wheel: youtu.be/mfTZU3lQsLY
How to wedge clay: youtu.be/hYdLGLztT-Q
How to cone smaller amounts of clay: youtu.be/69dMLpXosSk
📚 • You'll find many more guides on how to centre and pull up the walls of clay here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2WJhtTF0eGhQwf8g2LHcom_KrvJpH_JT
📖 • ORDER MY BOOK: geni.us/bymyhands
📢 • Find out much more about my work here: https://linktr.ee/floriangadsby
⏱ • Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:12 - A cross section of the shape I'm trimming
2:41 - Trimming the lid to fit the body
5:11 - Refining the outer walls
6:11 - Sharpening my tools
7:33 - Dealing with chattered surfaces
9:05 - Turning the lid
12:34 - Trimming the base of the urn
13:44 - The importance of a mirror
16:13 - Checking the thickness of the base
17:55 - Double checking/quality control
19:15 - The finished vessel, for now
22:21 - That's a much better shape!
24:23 - Which shape do you prefer?
*I throw using both a Rohde HMT 500 & 600 potter's wheel and fire using Rohde kilns too, the electric is a TE-200 and the gas kiln is a KG-340.
____
Instagram – instagram.com/floriangadsby
TikTok – tiktok.com/@floriangadsby
Website – floriangadsby.com
