Tip 3: Essential Equipment When Starting Pottery Hobby
The equipment you need depends on which pottery method you want to start with.
This gives you an idea of the larger items in the kit that you'll need to start your pottery hobby:
Throwing pottery: pottery wheel
Hand building ceramics: no special equipment required
Slip casting: some plaster molds.
Buying a pottery wheel:
Pottery wheels come in various sizes, prices, and levels of complexity, ranging from $150 to $5000.
However, when you're just beginning, having the most expensive option isn't necessary. In fact, starting with something more affordable is a wise choice. This allows you to experiment with your new hobby without a significant financial commitment.
You might discover a passion for throwing pottery on the wheel and decide to pursue it full-time. If that's the case, then investing in a higher-end wheel might be justified. But initially, a budget of $250–$300 will suffice. Within this price range, you can find a perfectly suitable pottery wheel to get started with.
A few things to look out for when buying your first pottery wheel:
Certain pottery wheels are intended for tabletop use, while others come with legs for placement on the floor.
The majority of pottery wheels are equipped with foot pedals to regulate the speed of the wheel head, although some feature manual levers. Your preference in this regard is largely subjective. However, from my experience, when you're actively throwing, your hands become covered in clay. Hence, I find foot pedal control more convenient. There are several pottery wheels available on the market that are suitable for beginners in pottery crafting.
Equipment for Hand Building Ceramics
As previously stated, the advantage of hand building lies in its minimal equipment requirements. Apart from clay, which is essential, your expenses are quite low.
For crafting pinch pots or coils, clay is the only requirement.
When creating ceramic tiles, you'll need to form clay slabs. While a slab roller or rolling pin can be used for this purpose, they aren't necessary when you're just beginning. Even without a rolling pin, you can still create a beautiful, flat clay slab.
Equipment for Slip Casting
If you opt for slip casting, you'll require multiple plaster molds and slip to fill them.
Certain potters create their own casting slip by combining clay scraps leftover from previous projects with water to form a paste.
While this approach can save you money, if you're new to the craft, you likely won't have any clay scraps available. Therefore, purchasing casting slip is necessary.
Plaster Molds
You have the option to purchase ready-made plaster molds or create them yourself. While plaster molds may appear costly for their size, it's essential to consider their reusability. Potters can utilize plaster molds repeatedly, allowing one mold to yield numerous pieces.
Additionally, crafting your own plaster molds is relatively straightforward, particularly if you enjoy DIY projects. The advantage of making your own mold is the ability to customize it according to your preferences.