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A good way is to get some Melamine, (home centers have it). Get a 4x8ft x 3/4in. sheet and cut in half, glue both halves together, the 1-1/2in. thick table top will be strong enough for what your doing. For legs you have 2 ways you can go, these same home-centers have legs you can just screw to your top, or I recommend a individual tool stand. (the tops vary in size as do the feet, you want a foot print of at least 24in x 28in, the bigger the foot print the more stability you have.
no a better way would be 2 rebuild if u mess up!!!!!!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A lot of people asked us, Lakeside Pottery, Ceramic School and Studio in Stamford, about wedging tables and plaster molds / casts. This page will focus on building wedging tables but also will answer a lot of questions about making plaster molds and plaster surfaces for recycling clay. We use our wedging tables constantly 5-7 days a week and have to replace them approximately every four years. Being that we cannot afford down time waiting for the plaster to dry properly for a week or two, we build only the wedging board of the table with plaster a head of time. When replacements is needed, we "hot swap" the old with new within minutes (four screws attaching the wedging board to the table) and ready to be used instantly.
The table where clay is kneaded must be sturdy and may benefit from being screwed to the wall or to the floor. Other design considerations include: Comfortable height (30 -32"), absorbent surface, cutting wire, and sufficient space to set scale. Some potters use the wedging table to dry recycled clay.
To make our wedging or clay drying tables, we built a wooden frame (hard wood)** 2" - 2 1/2" deep with a bottom made out of plywood. The plaster we used was "No.1 Potter's Plaster" that comes in 50 Lb. bags. A 50 Lb. bag fills up 1,150 cubic inches. For example; a frame 2' x 2' at 2" deep will add up to 1,152 cubic inches. If the depth is increased to 2 1/2", you'll need 1,440 cubic inches and therefore one 50 LB. bag will not be sufficient. See more details below.
** Poplar is one of the less expensive hardwoods which we have used successfully
Pottery plaster must have correct water / plaster ratio, mixed / poured properly and with precise timing. Therefore, the instructions and the data below are important for the quality of the mold and it's longevity. For more details, please visit or web site at: http://lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Tips.html or our home page at: www.lakesidepottery.com
Lakeside Pottery, Ceramic School & Studio
543 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
203-323-2222
www.lakesidepottery.com
What else can I help you with?
What is wedging clay?
Clay wedging is the act of preparing clay for the pottery wheel in order throw your pottery. wedging is accomplished by kneading the clay, usually on a plaster surface, until the clay is uniform in moisture and texture. Some potters like to cut the mass of clay and slap it down hard on the surface and then slap the 2 pieces of clay together with force. The idea is to get rid of any air bubbles and to make the mass of clay evenly moist. This will help the potter to form the clay on the wheel with interference of trapped air bubbles or hard lumps of clay which will cause the piece to be uneven. Also, air bubbles can explode when the piece is fired, especially if the piece is not bone dry.
Where did the term 'wedging clay' come from?
The term "wedging clay" derives from the ceramic and pottery procedures to prepare clay by hand.
Why plaster is enemy for the clay?
plaster.
How do you build a great wall of china for a school project?
Wire mesh, plaster of paris, modeling clay and paint.
Pottery what does the term wedging mean?
Wedging is to potters as kneading is to bakers, only we don't do it for the same reasons. Wedging helps to make a lump of clay uniform, for example if it is slightly firmer on one side than the other. It also helps to remove air bubbles. Basicaly it is mixing it up in a special way using the heals of the hands on a hard (wood or plaster) surface.
How do you recycle hard clay?
As long as clay is not fired, it can be recycled by simple soaking it in water. Eventually it will return to a liquid state (slip). You can then dry it to a workable condition by putting it on plaster slabs and then wedging it to homogenize the clay mass. To simplify the process and make a much more manageable clay, studios use pug mills which do the mixing and removing excess water and air for you.
Did the Navajo build adobe style homes into the sides of the cliffs?
No, that was the Anasazi's home. However, they were not made of adobe but of stone with mud and clay mortar and clay plaster. They used logs for the roof beams.
Why is wedging clay important?
the purpose of wedging clay is to get the air bubles out. if you dont getthe air bubles out, when being fired, the air will try to escape your now hard pot, when it can't , it will explode your pot.
What is the purpose of wedging clay?
the purpose of wedging clay is to get the air bubles out. if you dont getthe air bubles out, when being fired, the air will try to escape your now hard pot, when it can't , it will explode your pot.
What does clay and straw mixed together create?
you
Do plaster molded statues need firing before painting?
No, plaster needs to be dry, but never fired like clay.
Why do you need to wedge clay?
Wedging clay is done to remove air bubbles and ensure a consistent texture throughout the clay body. It also helps to align the particles and make the clay more workable, reducing the chances of cracking or warping during the drying and firing processes.
