I hope you guys liked this more educational style of video! Are there are other topics or techniques similar to this that you'd also like me to make more in-depth videos about? Let me know as a reply to this comment and I'll add it to my 'to-do' list.
Would love to hear more about the effect wheel speed has on pulling clay? I know there's a point where I need to slow the wheel on an upward pull but I haven't dialed it in yet. Also, changing the pressure of your hands during the pull. I tend to use a lot of pressure at the base but by the time I get up about 4 inches the pressure causes me to torque the clay. So---I know its a practice issue, and a learning how to use that pedal more effectively, but if you have any definite thoughts on what works and what doesn't it would be helpful. Thanks for what you do!
Literally THE most clearly explained demo of tap centering. I've never been successful using the "counting" method and dislike the Giffin grip. Thank you as always for sharing your insight.
Thank you for sharing so much of your tips/tricks/knowledge. My work has improved tremendously having learned so much from your videos. A lot of people are afraid to share their skills out of fear of no longer being special, the fact that you’re willing to share show much is massive sign of confidence and I believe you’re raising the level of pottery as a whole. So thank you again you’re a living legend.
You told me you were going to make this video on Instagram. Im late to the party but you delivered. Tap centering the banding wheel and then tape centering a pot on the banding wheel on the wheel is berserker!!! Thank you!
I'm just getting back to pottery after many months away, and I've been watching your older tap centering videos (to be fair, I've been rewatching a lot of your videos) on repeat to try and figure it out. Excellent timing for this video!!!! I'm gonna study up, practice, and finally get it this time. Thank you for sharing your incredible craft !
Omg, THANK YOU! This has seemed liked witchcraft ever since I first saw someone doing it. Putting your tips into practice this morning, even within 5 minutes I was starting to get the hang of it. The revelation was realising I could use my left hand to do it (even with the wheel spinning anti clockwise as usual). I’m left handed and although I throw in the ‘normal’ (western) direction, I seem to have much more control with my left hand for the delicate art of tap centering. I can already see me selling my Giffin Grip (which I’ve never really liked, anyway!) 😀
I can’t wait to try some of these techniques. I’ve been doing pottery for several years now and this is a skill that I just have not been able to master yet. When I was making abut 200 pieces as wedding favors for my wedding last year, I could see how this skill would save a lot of time in the long run.
That was helpful! I've been struggling with tap centering and I've already destroyed some pieces.. A few months back you encouraged me to finally get into pottery, I'm grateful for the content you make. Really love the sharp designs, calming cinematography, and meticulous artistry.
Thank you Florian. This is the most comprehensive video I have watched on tap centring. I am a beginner and have tried this technique. The pros make it look so easy and I can say, from my experience, it is not, but I am determined to master the technique.
You’re amazing and have helped me so much through the start of my pottery journey. Thank you for your attention to detail and artistic touch in making these videos. Not only are they extremely informative, but they are exquisitely produced. Cheers, Florian.
Thank you thank you! I’m one of the people overwhelmed by the counting method and now I’m headed to the studio to practice these methods with my Sharpie in hand. I appreciate you taking the time to put together such a well thought out, step by step process for such a tricky but necessary skill.
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain tap centering in so much detail. From your last video I learned to tap centre some but couldn't get the last few mm. The way you explained using your other hand to apply downward pressure was excellent. I'm going to try again.
I hope you aren't too hard on yourself about past versions of this and other tutorials. I used yours and others to learn how to tap center when I finally got back into a studio last year after 5 years away (I have a different full-time job but wheel throwing is my cherished hobby), and I found that one very useful too. For me, the "counting" advice of others was useful for teaching myself when to tap, but I don't use it now unless I'm really struggling with a wonky piece that I haven't recycled for some reason. I have ended up using the method you talked about to assess whichever part of the pot I'm trying to center, by checking to see if it seems to move against the background as the wheel spins. You discussing that here reassures me that I'm not doing it "wrong". Thank you!
As someone who had a cruel teacher when trying to learn to ride a bike, that comparison is accurate! This is a very kind, self-aware approach to tap centering! thank you
Very useful information! I love the way you linked it to our senses. When I'll practice I'll focus on the sense being use whether its sound (counting), touch or sight. Thank you!
This is a super helpful video, thank you! I can’t wait to try it. I have tried tap centering a few times and just end up frustrated (or tapping my piece off the wheel). I appreciate how you broke it all down into easy to understand steps!
This was helpful! I am an intermediate potter, the pots I throw are another canvas for my painting. I only get three hours a week to increase my throwing skills. I don't think I will ever become a production potter, but I love working with clay. Your videos help me know what to aspire to in my making. Thanks! Hello to Ciro.
Thank you for this updated video. After I watched your last tap centering video I brought a plastic container of quinoa to the studio to practice centering whenever I have a few minutes to spare and I don't want to start another project. Will bring this new knowledge with me tomorrow and have another go at it! Am slowly getting good enough to try tap centering a pot rather than a weighted plastic container.
Oh thank you! Was completely in the doldrums after your first tap centering video; ok, i thought, the fault is just mine--will never figure this out. But now... thank you for giving tap centering the "Florian treatment." Your breaking down the steps is so helpful. Also, your providing different ways to "look" at the process addresses multiple learning styles--different tapping hands, different senses involved, etc. If one way doesn't work all is not lost--another might! The analysis of the tapping itself--hand position, speed etc (plus your showing examples) is invaluable. Tomorrow is a trimming day for me. I will give it a go.
I'm a beginner and find your tutorials very helpful and beautiful art themselves. Currently reading your book, yet another treasure. A million thanks to you Florian.
Thank you for this! I’ll be sharing it with my high school ceramics students. How you have the time to make work and videos I’ll never master, but you’re magical so it makes sense.
Very informative. Thank you for taking the time to pull apart the process. You say you read every comment… I hope this makes you smile … to do that will make you a little off centre! Love your work.
It’s definitely an episode that caters to the potters who watch, or at least that’s what I thought! Which means it’s immensely gratifying to hear that you found it interesting despite not being a potter, thanks so much for watching!
Ah cool! Glad you found it interesting, that’s how I’ve been doing it for a while now for some pots, although really you can use a static point as a reference. Good luck and thanks for watching!
This was such an amazing video to watch! I’ve tried the counting system which just made my head spin so will be trying this. Could you cover how to throw a chuck?
This was the best tap centering video I've ever seen! Love how you broke down all the diff things you do. And how you also provided training wheel methods like using your thumb.
Such good tips! I especially like the keeping the thumb on the opposite hand in place while learning. Also love the idea of the banding wheel on top of the wheel head. This will make it even easier to brush on glazes with an elevated surface. Will practice tap centering this week with your tips!
I find tap centring quite natural. The bit that required more to get used to is to control the strength of the hit with light stuff, but your trick to centre the spinner with another tool helped on that.
So many great tips - I haven’t been able to tap center and I’ve been on and off trying for years. I really think with all the different approaches I will find one that works. Thank you for such a detailed analysis of tsp centering and methods.
Thank you for the important point that if your pots are not great, it’ll be really hard- gonna bookmark this for later when my pots are better (I’ve still not got the removal quite right yet, I prob need a heat gun 😢). Also- thank you for your spiral wedge video, I finally got the hang of it and managed to spiral my reclaim- I had to cut it to 2kg lumps but hopefully can do it in 1 go next time!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Florian! I've tried to tap center a few times before and I've been able to center perfectly round things like plastic bowls, coffee cans, and cups. But not my leather hard pieces (which sometimes are not). I'm going to go out there this morning and practice again and hopefully I'll have a bowl to trim later today to really try it out on. 😉
Glad you found it helpful! Using the other hand really helps at the start, then, slowly you can begin to use it less and less and then introduce your left hand to push down with, thus giving you more support and control. Good luck!
As someone who has no actual pracitcal experience in this yet, i have always wondered why people don't just place it in the center as it has rings which you can see? I guess they become obscured after a while however. Looking forward to giving this ago, (pottery as a whole) just need to find somewhere that does lessons close to me.
I loved this video. Thanks for your generosity always. Can you give us some information about how to get the piece “firm” after centering and before starting to shape it?
Fantastic video. I really really appreciate the time you took to do this. I have a question about centering on the chuck. It seems to me that this brings in the additional difficulty of not just centering but also leveling the piece. Does tap centering help with this as well? The other thing I hoped you would address is keeping the piece on center. I saw that you used slip to adhere the pot to the wheel, which as a beginner I'm afraid to do because the tap centering would take me too long and it would become more and more difficult to move the pot of the slip dries.
In theory, as long as the pot has been centred and thrown well, when tap centred on a chuck, centred also equals levels, provided the rim is level when thrown and you've sliced it off level too, otherwise you could use a level, I guess? but better to get the vessel as a whole 'centred' then, if the base isn't level, you can trim it to be level.
Hello, I make cups out of white cement, and I don’t know what material to use to cover the cups before I use them, because I’m afraid that the material will react with the hot coffee. I hope you can help me.
Apparently, tap centering is not a skill I should be trying to acquire, just yet....my pieces are sometimes a bit... crooked... 🥲 But I did unconsciously wedge the hamburger while making patties the other night, so maybe there's still hope for me becoming a potter some day. 😁
I hope you guys liked this more educational style of video! Are there are other topics or techniques similar to this that you'd also like me to make more in-depth videos about? Let me know as a reply to this comment and I'll add it to my 'to-do' list.
Would love to hear more about the effect wheel speed has on pulling clay? I know there's a point where I need to slow the wheel on an upward pull but I haven't dialed it in yet. Also, changing the pressure of your hands during the pull. I tend to use a lot of pressure at the base but by the time I get up about 4 inches the pressure causes me to torque the clay. So---I know its a practice issue, and a learning how to use that pedal more effectively, but if you have any definite thoughts on what works and what doesn't it would be helpful. Thanks for what you do!
Literally THE most clearly explained demo of tap centering. I've never been successful using the "counting" method and dislike the Giffin grip. Thank you as always for sharing your insight.
Me who knows nothing about pottery and doesn't do pottery: watches intently as if an eager student of the craft.
Same! 😅
Plus one
Same here 😂
Using the other hand’s thumb as a guide is such a good idea! Can’t wait to get into the studio tomorrow to try
I've never done pottery and don't plan on doing so, but I love to watch your videos while I crochet since they are so relaxing and calm
the Bob Ross of clay.....
Thank you for sharing so much of your tips/tricks/knowledge. My work has improved tremendously having learned so much from your videos. A lot of people are afraid to share their skills out of fear of no longer being special, the fact that you’re willing to share show much is massive sign of confidence and I believe you’re raising the level of pottery as a whole. So thank you again you’re a living legend.
You told me you were going to make this video on Instagram. Im late to the party but you delivered. Tap centering the banding wheel and then tape centering a pot on the banding wheel on the wheel is berserker!!! Thank you!
I'm just getting back to pottery after many months away, and I've been watching your older tap centering videos (to be fair, I've been rewatching a lot of your videos) on repeat to try and figure it out. Excellent timing for this video!!!! I'm gonna study up, practice, and finally get it this time. Thank you for sharing your incredible craft !
Omg, THANK YOU! This has seemed liked witchcraft ever since I first saw someone doing it. Putting your tips into practice this morning, even within 5 minutes I was starting to get the hang of it. The revelation was realising I could use my left hand to do it (even with the wheel spinning anti clockwise as usual). I’m left handed and although I throw in the ‘normal’ (western) direction, I seem to have much more control with my left hand for the delicate art of tap centering. I can already see me selling my Giffin Grip (which I’ve never really liked, anyway!) 😀
I can’t wait to try some of these techniques. I’ve been doing pottery for several years now and this is a skill that I just have not been able to master yet. When I was making abut 200 pieces as wedding favors for my wedding last year, I could see how this skill would save a lot of time in the long run.
may only be doing this more as a hobby to relax after work but these techniques are so very helpful to me.
That was helpful! I've been struggling with tap centering and I've already destroyed some pieces..
A few months back you encouraged me to finally get into pottery, I'm grateful for the content you make. Really love the sharp designs, calming cinematography, and meticulous artistry.
Thank you Florian. This is the most comprehensive video I have watched on tap centring. I am a beginner and have tried this technique. The pros make it look so easy and I can say, from my experience, it is not, but I am determined to master the technique.
You’re amazing and have helped me so much through the start of my pottery journey. Thank you for your attention to detail and artistic touch in making these videos. Not only are they extremely informative, but they are exquisitely produced. Cheers, Florian.
Thank you thank you! I’m one of the people overwhelmed by the counting method and now I’m headed to the studio to practice these methods with my Sharpie in hand. I appreciate you taking the time to put together such a well thought out, step by step process for such a tricky but necessary skill.
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain tap centering in so much detail. From your last video I learned to tap centre some but couldn't get the last few mm. The way you explained using your other hand to apply downward pressure was excellent. I'm going to try again.
Thank you. You clearly illustrated how to do this. Now I understand. This will save a lot of my time.
Super helpful! Discovered I have a strong preference for my left hand, even though I'm right handed. Finally got the hang of it!
I hope you aren't too hard on yourself about past versions of this and other tutorials. I used yours and others to learn how to tap center when I finally got back into a studio last year after 5 years away (I have a different full-time job but wheel throwing is my cherished hobby), and I found that one very useful too. For me, the "counting" advice of others was useful for teaching myself when to tap, but I don't use it now unless I'm really struggling with a wonky piece that I haven't recycled for some reason. I have ended up using the method you talked about to assess whichever part of the pot I'm trying to center, by checking to see if it seems to move against the background as the wheel spins. You discussing that here reassures me that I'm not doing it "wrong". Thank you!
Thanks so much! This really is comprehensive, it covers all the things I was missing, nothing left now but to practice.
As someone who had a cruel teacher when trying to learn to ride a bike, that comparison is accurate! This is a very kind, self-aware approach to tap centering! thank you
Very useful information! I love the way you linked it to our senses. When I'll practice I'll focus on the sense being use whether its sound (counting), touch or sight. Thank you!
You are the man florian!
Thank you so much for sharing this, it is the most useful an detailed video of how to tap center!
This is a super helpful video, thank you! I can’t wait to try it. I have tried tap centering a few times and just end up frustrated (or tapping my piece off the wheel). I appreciate how you broke it all down into easy to understand steps!
This was helpful! I am an intermediate potter, the pots I throw are another canvas for my painting. I only get three hours a week to increase my throwing skills. I don't think I will ever become a production potter, but I love working with clay. Your videos help me know what to aspire to in my making. Thanks! Hello to Ciro.
Thank you for this updated video. After I watched your last tap centering video I brought a plastic container of quinoa to the studio to practice centering whenever I have a few minutes to spare and I don't want to start another project. Will bring this new knowledge with me tomorrow and have another go at it! Am slowly getting good enough to try tap centering a pot rather than a weighted plastic container.
Thank you for sharing all your expertise with us... it grows all the other flowers in the sandbox...😊
Oh thank you! Was completely in the doldrums after your first tap centering video; ok, i thought, the fault is just mine--will never figure this out.
But now... thank you for giving tap centering the "Florian treatment."
Your breaking down the steps is so helpful. Also, your providing different ways to "look" at the process addresses multiple learning styles--different tapping hands, different senses involved, etc. If one way doesn't work all is not lost--another might!
The analysis of the tapping itself--hand position, speed etc (plus your showing examples) is invaluable.
Tomorrow is a trimming day for me. I will give it a go.
That was awesome. I almost jumped up and ran to my community studio to start practicing (then I remembered it was closed today).
I'm a beginner and find your tutorials very helpful and beautiful art themselves. Currently reading your book, yet another treasure. A million thanks to you Florian.
Thank you for this! I’ll be sharing it with my high school ceramics students. How you have the time to make work and videos I’ll never master, but you’re magical so it makes sense.
Very informative. Thank you for taking the time to pull apart the process. You say you read every comment… I hope this makes you smile … to do that will make you a little off centre!
Love your work.
This is, by far, the best tap-centering video I've seen. Can't wait to put it in practice! Thank you for your contribution to the art!
Wonderful advice, thank you Florian.
Amazing detailed video - finally understand the theory - can’t wait to start practicing. Thank you again for great educational video
Thank you very much Florian, all the way from Australia. I'm yet to master tap centering but your video has encouraged to put in more practice
Thought this episode would be boring, as I'm a painter not a potter, au contraire. Thanks again mate for entertaining and informing.
It’s definitely an episode that caters to the potters who watch, or at least that’s what I thought! Which means it’s immensely gratifying to hear that you found it interesting despite not being a potter, thanks so much for watching!
single-handedly changing the game. THANK you for such a detailed and informative tutorial!!! can’t wait to incorporate it into my process
I only just watched your original tap centering video, and then bam, a couple weeks lately an updated one! Both very informative btw!
The trick with focusing on the lines behind the rim blew my mind, will be trying this when I am in the studio next!
Ah cool! Glad you found it interesting, that’s how I’ve been doing it for a while now for some pots, although really you can use a static point as a reference. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Thank you, this is the most comprehensive tap centering tutorial I’ve ever seen.
This was such an amazing video to watch! I’ve tried the counting system which just made my head spin so will be trying this. Could you cover how to throw a chuck?
Thank you. Very helpful. I learned about how to measure wheel speed and marking the bottom to find three o clock
This was the best tap centering video I've ever seen! Love how you broke down all the diff things you do. And how you also provided training wheel methods like using your thumb.
Great explanations. I can’t wait to try this.
Such good tips! I especially like the keeping the thumb on the opposite hand in place while learning. Also love the idea of the banding wheel on top of the wheel head. This will make it even easier to brush on glazes with an elevated surface. Will practice tap centering this week with your tips!
Such a good video ! And so thoughtful. This has defeated me and now i want to try again. Thank you
I suck at tap centering, so im taking notes tobtry out on my next pottery class !
I find tap centring quite natural. The bit that required more to get used to is to control the strength of the hit with light stuff, but your trick to centre the spinner with another tool helped on that.
Thanks, as always, for taking the time to help us struggling beginners!
So many great tips - I haven’t been able to tap center and I’ve been on and off trying for years. I really think with all the different approaches I will find one that works. Thank you for such a detailed analysis of tsp centering and methods.
Watching your videos has inspired me to take a community college class on wheel thrown pottery. Thank you!
Thank you for the important point that if your pots are not great, it’ll be really hard- gonna bookmark this for later when my pots are better (I’ve still not got the removal quite right yet, I prob need a heat gun 😢). Also- thank you for your spiral wedge video, I finally got the hang of it and managed to spiral my reclaim- I had to cut it to 2kg lumps but hopefully can do it in 1 go next time!
Thank you so much for this video. It was extremely helpful for me.
"Why do you always take a such long coffee breaks at 3 o'clock?" - "Florian said that's when I have to hit my pots."
Excellent tutorial, very detailed in demonstration, thank you for sharing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Florian! I've tried to tap center a few times before and I've been able to center perfectly round things like plastic bowls, coffee cans, and cups. But not my leather hard pieces (which sometimes are not). I'm going to go out there this morning and practice again and hopefully I'll have a bowl to trim later today to really try it out on. 😉
New Asmr source unlocked!
Muchas gracias!!! Muy útil, en especial como centrar la boca!
Sooo helpful. I struggle to get the timing to tap. Pointing out to coordinate the tap when the pot touches the other hand was an 😮 moment. Thank you.
Glad you found it helpful! Using the other hand really helps at the start, then, slowly you can begin to use it less and less and then introduce your left hand to push down with, thus giving you more support and control. Good luck!
So fired up Florian! Thank youuuuu
Thanks for sharing. I have been learning a lot with y
As someone who has no actual pracitcal experience in this yet, i have always wondered why people don't just place it in the center as it has rings which you can see? I guess they become obscured after a while however. Looking forward to giving this ago, (pottery as a whole) just need to find somewhere that does lessons close to me.
Thank you for clarifying this ❤️🕊
So so usefull
And looks so easy
Now lets practice!
Very good explained and demonstrated👍
I loved this video. Thanks for your generosity always. Can you give us some information about how to get the piece “firm” after centering and before starting to shape it?
I’m trying this out tomorrow when I get to the studio. I have tried and tried but no luck. I’ll let you know
woops, forgot to comment for the algorithm when I watched this earlier! :) Well done friend
Thank you so much❤
Really helpful tips. Thank you.
Thank you for this!
Thank you. Very useful video. 🙏🙏🙏
thanks!!! this is helpful :)
I have a question!!!
Lovely
He can I be so excited about tap centring 😂😊
Fantastic video. I really really appreciate the time you took to do this. I have a question about centering on the chuck. It seems to me that this brings in the additional difficulty of not just centering but also leveling the piece. Does tap centering help with this as well? The other thing I hoped you would address is keeping the piece on center. I saw that you used slip to adhere the pot to the wheel, which as a beginner I'm afraid to do because the tap centering would take me too long and it would become more and more difficult to move the pot of the slip dries.
In theory, as long as the pot has been centred and thrown well, when tap centred on a chuck, centred also equals levels, provided the rim is level when thrown and you've sliced it off level too, otherwise you could use a level, I guess? but better to get the vessel as a whole 'centred' then, if the base isn't level, you can trim it to be level.
Hello, I make cups out of white cement, and I don’t know what material to use to cover the cups before I use them, because I’m afraid that the material will react with the hot coffee. I hope you can help me.
Second! it's sunday...
smack smack smack smack smack smack
i haven't watched yet, but i feel like this video is about lesbians, more to come
yep, fem lovers, at least, do what thou wilt with this
Apparently, tap centering is not a skill I should be trying to acquire, just yet....my pieces are sometimes a bit... crooked... 🥲 But I did unconsciously wedge the hamburger while making patties the other night, so maybe there's still hope for me becoming a potter some day. 😁