Neo Pots are nice Part II - Page 9 - Orchid Board

Red Orchid · #81 05-23-2013, 09:56 AM

Okay I am impressed that is perfect. Now please share how you accomplished that perfection.

Pilot · #82 05-23-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Orchid

Okay I am impressed that is perfect. Now please share how you accomplished that perfection.

Ok so wrapping a flat piece of clay about a round pot will clearly be an issue in which you have too much clay in some areas and not enough in others. And pushing it into place causes it to be lumpy. So what I tried, and it worked, is that I held one end of the clay piece and took the other and repeatedly stretched it over the pot gently and over a number of repeated tries, the clay stretches and forms the the pot a little more each time. WARNING: take your time as going too fast creates the definite possibility of the clay tearing. Once the clay forms to the pot, allow excess to over lap and quickly cut a line over this overlap which essentially creates two ends that should line up and be perfect matches for one another and hold that seam together for a few seconds. The polymers will want to bond. Trim excess clay in other areas and you're done.

I will fire this as it is now and place the feet and the rim next so as to preserve the smoothness of the sides. The clay, once fired will harden but added soft clay afterwards, and then fired again, seems to make no matter--the clay will still bond. Lets hope I'm right!

Red Orchid · #83 05-23-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot

Ok so wrapping a flat piece of clay about a round pot will clearly be an issue in which you have too much clay in some areas and not enough in others. And pushing it into place causes it to be lumpy. So what I tried, and it worked, is that I held one end of the clay piece and took the other and repeatedly stretched it over the pot gently and over a number of repeated tries, the clay stretches and forms the the pot a little more each time. WARNING: take your time as going too fast creates the definite possibility of the clay tearing. Once the clay forms to the pot, allow excess to over lap and quickly cut a line over this overlap which essentially creates two ends that should line up and be perfect matches for one another and hold that seam together for a few seconds. The polymers will want to bond. Trim excess clay in other areas and you're done.

I will fire this as it is now and place the feet and the rim next so as to preserve the smoothness of the sides. The clay, once fired will harden but added soft clay afterwards, and then fired again, seems to make no matter--the clay will still bond. Lets hope I'm right!

Oh my I can see how hard that is to do. About how thick should the piece of clay be Ryan?

Pilot · #84 05-23-2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Orchid

Oh my I can see how hard that is to do. About how thick should the piece of clay be Ryan?

Its 7 on the knob setting on my pasta press. Not terribly thick but thick enough to stretch a little. I just fired the the part in the photo and its cooling now. I will add on the feet and rim next. This material need not be very thick once fired to be strong.

Red Orchid · #85 05-23-2013, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot

Its 7 on the knob setting on my pasta press. Not terribly thick but thick enough to stretch a little. I just fired the the part in the photo and its cooling now. I will add on the feet and rim next. This material need not be very thick once fired to be strong.

You are correct I made a thin one by mistake and it is strong and looks good. Keep us informed of your progress with this pot.

Pilot · #86 05-23-2013, 02:34 PM

Behold! The first lumpless pot I've made! Lol

Its a bigger one, too. Decorations and lattice to come.

Still needs some light sanding as some dirt and specks got onto the clay as a little three year old spilled moss onto my work space!

MattWoelfsen · #87 05-23-2013, 03:02 PM

Amazing work Ryan. You have inspired me to create my own pots. It is amazing you are displaying your most recent creation on an iPad Smartcover!

Pilot · #88 05-23-2013, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Amazing work Ryan. You have inspired me to create my own pots. It is amazing you are displaying your most recent creation on an iPad Smartcover!

Thanks! But why is it amazing about the iPad? The feet are stout. If you look at a lot of neo lots you'll notice they have these sturdy legs that look like they're squatting under the weight of the pot. I need to refine my technique but I'm pleased how they're coming out now. The next one will be the full pot instead of just the first tier. It'll be for those larger neos I have.

MattWoelfsen · #89 05-23-2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot

Thanks! But why is it amazing about the iPad?.

It is amazing in the sense that I recognized that it is an iPad Smartcover. LOL

Red Orchid · #90 05-23-2013, 06:02 PM

Ryan you have made the absolutely perfect pot. Congrats I am in awe of you. You figured it all out by yourself. Are you an engineer? This is a gift to all of us who enjoy crafts and our Neos .......thanks so much!

. I hope you makes lots of money on eBay. You can also make Bonsai pots there is a demand for them