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Since I've already gotten one kiln-load done this winter, I'm taking the time to do some more labor-intensive pots for my current production run. I've already talked about oval platters; I also need to catch up on colanders.
I basically start with a medium serving bowl, 4.5 lbs. of clay. I trim on the dry side of leather hard, then, while still on the wheel head, scribe shallow guidelines into the surface. I cut three notches in the foot ring so water won't be trapped under the pot, and with my nifty cutting tool and a lot of patience, drill dozens of holes in a pretty six-point star pattern.
I love this hole cutter. It's so simple. You take a cheap plastic pen holder and an india ink nib, and you reverse the nib. Put the point into the pen holder, so the sturdy, blunt end sticks out. Push into your pot, twist, and you get a perfect hole. And because the nib is only half a cylinder, it's easy to pop out the clay plug one-handed before making the next hole.
I'll lightly sand the inner surface with a green ScotchBrite pad once it's dry. Have to be careful, though. With all the holes, a green-ware colander is much more fragile than the comparable serving bowl.
I basically start with a medium serving bowl, 4.5 lbs. of clay. I trim on the dry side of leather hard, then, while still on the wheel head, scribe shallow guidelines into the surface. I cut three notches in the foot ring so water won't be trapped under the pot, and with my nifty cutting tool and a lot of patience, drill dozens of holes in a pretty six-point star pattern.
I love this hole cutter. It's so simple. You take a cheap plastic pen holder and an india ink nib, and you reverse the nib. Put the point into the pen holder, so the sturdy, blunt end sticks out. Push into your pot, twist, and you get a perfect hole. And because the nib is only half a cylinder, it's easy to pop out the clay plug one-handed before making the next hole.
I'll lightly sand the inner surface with a green ScotchBrite pad once it's dry. Have to be careful, though. With all the holes, a green-ware colander is much more fragile than the comparable serving bowl.