I think you need to let your handles set for about an hour before you attempt attaching them - I lay them on a hard paper roll thing (I don’t remember what was on the roll but it’s pretty sturdy)
It's definitely easier with firmer clay... just B-mix is so touchy. So far none of the mugs that are drying have handle cracks, so for that clay at least it's a benefit. I did let the ones I pulled first set for about that amount of time, and you're right, it was easier.
Enjoyed watching the process of making handles for mugs! I had no idea that you basically use a caulk gun with a different tip to make them but makes sense they would have a tool for that job. Keep pumping out content!
Zip tie your extruder you have to a metal shelf corner post, save some money. Watch Vaughan Smith from Wescote Bell pottery in Nova Scotia, he has great tutorials attaching handles. Use a brush to smooth out the clay, firmer cups and let handles set up for a bit after extruding. Also add a small bit of rolled clay to support bottom of handles where it attaches to cup, works great. You had me cracking up! You can do it!
I follow Vaughn too. I would so love to go visit his studio in Nova Scotia. We're all so lucky to have these experts sharing their years of knowledge:)
Sarah, what a great attitude you have ~ pressing forward with something that's not your favorite! Yep, I totally agree that practice helps us get better. Guess it makes sense to make things that people really want. 😍 Great video! Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
Hi Sarah! I definitely struggle with the making of the plugs and pulling from the pots! It does help if you pull the plugs (like Florian does), as it kind-of gets the process started. But it's not easy to hold the pot just right and pull the handle without getting a thin spot in the wrong place. But then again, I haven't been pulling handles for decades! As for extruded, they tend to lack the graceful taper that I like. So I've kind of settled on a combo of the two, and will use a tool to cut the handle from the block of clay, then work one end a bit to get that taper. More work, but to me, it adds a subtle elegance...depending on the style of handle and shape of the pot. On more squared, I leave the handle the same from top to bottom. Great video, and I love that you challenge yourself and show others that we all go through learning processes, no matter how much experience we may have. Anything less is stagnation!
I agree that graceful taper is so pretty! Thanks for all your thoughts on the process. I am not sure what I will settle into for a final method in the coming years.
I absolutely love your videos 😂! The maximum handles I can do on a day is 3 :)) it is a motivational video. It usually reaches me at the time of my morning coffee so I start the day with lots of smiles))) thank you! Headed to the studio for handles 😅😅
You're a brave girl creating this challenge for yourself! Had me curious how Florian pulls his handles directly on the mug, so had to watch his video. First of all, I don't think he uses B-mix (ever?). Additionally, it looks like his clay is a little dryer when he starts. Personally, I've never understood why a person would want to spend the time pulling a handle when there are much quicker and consistent alternative methods as you point out. Guess it's a way to show off a learned skill. 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this comment. I do feel like some methods are showy. At the end of the day you're creating a functional piece, the longer I spend on that handle, the less money I make. I thought maybe I would learn to love handles if I just practiced it more... nope. Maybe I'll try again next year. Yes, I agree with you on Florian, dryer more forgiving clay. His precision and techniques get him tons of youtube followers. I am quite certain he makes far more money on youtube than he does selling pottery. It motivates you differently. I think I am just too practical for that. Give me a tool to simplify my life any day!
Nice catch with that cup! If you ever will try that method when you roll the clay, then fasten it, maybe try to roll it an inch more cone like. you don’t have more clay at the end that you fastens and less likelihood that you get that weak spot in the handle. Also, there is a tool a wooden tool that is a little rounded on one of the ends, kind of small spoon’s convex side. I find that to be very useful to work the handles clay to the side of the pot. Oh I wish you could send pictures! Do you have an Amazon wishlist? Is there an over way to send you pictures and presents 🎁? You inspire me!
Yes! After I slept on it, the next morning I did one more mug with a more cone shaped piece and dryer clay. It worked much better. I'll have to make a wishlist, lol. That sounds like a great tool! I'll see if I can find it.
I hate making handles I either warp the mug or handle crack and fall off when one turns out its a happy dance lol. I have 2 cheap hand held extruders I can not justified buying a diamond core yet
I probably won't make another handle for a year after that, lol. I'd buy a big extruder, but then I would just be on the hook to make more mugs and they are my worst seller.
Both your mugs and the handles need to be drier before you attach. I leave my mugs under loose plastic for as long as it takes them to get leather hard. While the mugs are drying, I make the handles. Then I wait until the mugs & handles are close to the same firmness before I attach. Also you said you don't want to waste clay by practicing . .. do you not reclaim your unfired clay??
Another vote for dryer mugs and handles, noted. What type of clay do you use? I am definitely selecting projects that can be made in one sitting, dry without my supervision for a day, and into the kiln the next. I suppose if mugs were something I loved, I could get into a rhythm of doing one of the steps each day so that there were always mugs of the perfect dryness to work on. For me, they are my worst selling item.
What fun watching you make and attach all of those handles! I would do two and say, yeah, I'm done! Way to go!!
Thank you for watching! Now I just have to glaze all of those mugs!
I was mesmerized by this process. I had no idea how tedious making handles could be and somehow you drew me in! Fascinating!!
Thanks for watching. Handles can be a bit tedious to watch and not as exciting as some parts of ceramics!
@@threelittlepotters it wasn’t tedious to watch at all. I was mesmerized. I was just thinking that was an awful lot for you to have to do. ❤️
Amazing perseverance! I would have given up especially when pulling the handles from the mug itself. I give you lots of credit!! Great video, thanks!
Thank you so much! Now I have to glaze them all, sigh.
I think you need to let your handles set for about an hour before you attempt attaching them - I lay them on a hard paper roll thing (I don’t remember what was on the roll but it’s pretty sturdy)
It's definitely easier with firmer clay... just B-mix is so touchy. So far none of the mugs that are drying have handle cracks, so for that clay at least it's a benefit. I did let the ones I pulled first set for about that amount of time, and you're right, it was easier.
Enjoyed watching the process of making handles for mugs! I had no idea that you basically use a caulk gun with a different tip to make them but makes sense they would have a tool for that job. Keep pumping out content!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, the handheld extruders are exactly like caulk guns.... except you have to load the clay and then clean it, ugh.
Zip tie your extruder you have to a metal shelf corner post, save some money. Watch Vaughan Smith from Wescote Bell pottery in Nova Scotia, he has great tutorials attaching handles. Use a brush to smooth out the clay, firmer cups and let handles set up for a bit after extruding. Also add a small bit of rolled clay to support bottom of handles where it attaches to cup, works great. You had me cracking up! You can do it!
Or Simon Leach on pulling handles off the mug - great tutorials on handles
I follow him, I'll have to look for the video! I just don't know if I have the desire to practice enough to get good at it, lol.
I follow Vaughn too. I would so love to go visit his studio in Nova Scotia. We're all so lucky to have these experts sharing their years of knowledge:)
Sarah, what a great attitude you have ~ pressing forward with something that's not your favorite! Yep, I totally agree that practice helps us get better. Guess it makes sense to make things that people really want. 😍 Great video! Blessings, ~ Carol Amato
Yes, sadly I still need a lot of practice on this particular skill, lol. Thanks for watching!
Hi Sarah! I definitely struggle with the making of the plugs and pulling from the pots! It does help if you pull the plugs (like Florian does), as it kind-of gets the process started. But it's not easy to hold the pot just right and pull the handle without getting a thin spot in the wrong place. But then again, I haven't been pulling handles for decades! As for extruded, they tend to lack the graceful taper that I like. So I've kind of settled on a combo of the two, and will use a tool to cut the handle from the block of clay, then work one end a bit to get that taper. More work, but to me, it adds a subtle elegance...depending on the style of handle and shape of the pot. On more squared, I leave the handle the same from top to bottom. Great video, and I love that you challenge yourself and show others that we all go through learning processes, no matter how much experience we may have. Anything less is stagnation!
I agree that graceful taper is so pretty! Thanks for all your thoughts on the process. I am not sure what I will settle into for a final method in the coming years.
I absolutely love your videos 😂! The maximum handles I can do on a day is 3 :)) it is a motivational video. It usually reaches me at the time of my morning coffee so I start the day with lots of smiles))) thank you! Headed to the studio for handles 😅😅
Awesome! Thank you! I think 3 is the perfect number!
😂 you crack me up ty for sharing your challenge you go girl!
Lol, there was some definite suffering in this one. Thank you for watching!
I have a battery powered caulk gun for my extruder dies. Works very well!!
I need that! Squeezing that thing is no fun.
You're a brave girl creating this challenge for yourself! Had me curious how Florian pulls his handles directly on the mug, so had to watch his video. First of all, I don't think he uses B-mix (ever?). Additionally, it looks like his clay is a little dryer when he starts. Personally, I've never understood why a person would want to spend the time pulling a handle when there are much quicker and consistent alternative methods as you point out. Guess it's a way to show off a learned skill. 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this comment. I do feel like some methods are showy. At the end of the day you're creating a functional piece, the longer I spend on that handle, the less money I make. I thought maybe I would learn to love handles if I just practiced it more... nope. Maybe I'll try again next year. Yes, I agree with you on Florian, dryer more forgiving clay. His precision and techniques get him tons of youtube followers. I am quite certain he makes far more money on youtube than he does selling pottery. It motivates you differently. I think I am just too practical for that. Give me a tool to simplify my life any day!
@@threelittlepotters Agreed! I really like diamond core handle extruder you have. I have a cheaper brand, but it still works good and easy to clean!
Omg😂😂😂crazy girl😂😂😂😂
About midway through I began to realize how crazy that challenge was, lol!
Nice catch with that cup!
If you ever will try that method when you roll the clay, then fasten it, maybe try to roll it an inch more cone like. you don’t have more clay at the end that you fastens and less likelihood that you get that weak spot in the handle. Also, there is a tool a wooden tool that is a little rounded on one of the ends, kind of small spoon’s convex side. I find that to be very useful to work the handles clay to the side of the pot. Oh I wish you could send pictures!
Do you have an Amazon wishlist? Is there an over way to send you pictures and presents 🎁?
You inspire me!
Yes! After I slept on it, the next morning I did one more mug with a more cone shaped piece and dryer clay. It worked much better. I'll have to make a wishlist, lol. That sounds like a great tool! I'll see if I can find it.
@@threelittlepotters maybe you can carve one (with a knife on a stick, I don’t know if “carved” is an English word). ;)
Babe, I think we should get the wall extruder.
I'm okay if we only use it once a year. Let's never have this torture again.
Agreed! Unless they're really expensive...
I hate making handles I either warp the mug or handle crack and fall off when one turns out its a happy dance lol. I have 2 cheap hand held extruders I can not justified buying a diamond core yet
I probably won't make another handle for a year after that, lol. I'd buy a big extruder, but then I would just be on the hook to make more mugs and they are my worst seller.
Both your mugs and the handles need to be drier before you attach. I leave my mugs under loose plastic for as long as it takes them to get leather hard. While the mugs are drying, I make the handles. Then I wait until the mugs & handles are close to the same firmness before I attach. Also you said you don't want to waste clay by practicing . .. do you not reclaim your unfired clay??
Another vote for dryer mugs and handles, noted. What type of clay do you use? I am definitely selecting projects that can be made in one sitting, dry without my supervision for a day, and into the kiln the next. I suppose if mugs were something I loved, I could get into a rhythm of doing one of the steps each day so that there were always mugs of the perfect dryness to work on. For me, they are my worst selling item.