Clay Mentality
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Centering | Next Page, "Throwing/Shaping"> |
 Centering a Cone  Centered Lump
| Centering is a two dimensional procedure that allows the entire wheel ceramic proccess to exist. Through verticly and horizontally centering the clay body, it is possible to create even walls, and perfectly spherical shapes. Centering is said to be the most difficult wheel skill to learn. It requires much paitience to even the top and side of a ball of clay, but the result is very rewarding. A perfectly centered ball of clay does not bump, bounce or in any other way appear to be distorted. There are three common ways to center. The first method involves placing the wrist bone of the right hand on top of the lump, and the flat portion of the left wrist on the side of lump, pressing both in hard until the lump is centered. The second method is very simple, it involves using palms in a similar position as the first, but using body weight instead of arm muscle to press the lump. The third method is really fun, press inward with both hands, moving up the mound until it forms a cone shape, then using both hands to press it back down into a short lump. I tend to use a combination of techniques and vary them depending upon the size of the lump and the desired starting size of the lump Centering is usually thought of as only being done at the begining of a throw, but sometimes while working on a piece, it will lose center due to accidental bumps, dry-hand pulls, air pockets or a variety of other problems. Once the piece has been opened there isn't a lot that can be done with the traditional centering methods. If a piece is off center vertically, almost the only thing that can recover it is using a needle tool to cut it to being even. Horizontally off-center is more likely to occur, but is a little easier to fix, with a cyllinder it is possible to use a rib to push in and cause the piece to jump back near center (work done on the piece after the problem occured causes perfect center to be no longer possible at this point). In addition to using a rib, it is sometimes also possible to correct minor problems by simply "collaring" the piece, grabbing it with two hands and pushing in while holding steady. |
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