1. Fine Synthetic Sponge
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Characteristics: Yellow spherical sponge.
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Usage: Used to absorb water to dab or moisten the clay surface while shaping on the pottery wheel, as well as to remove burrs, smooth the surface of the piece, and clean the clay surface for a smooth finish.
2. Wood Trimming Tool / Wooden Scraper Knife
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Characteristics: A wooden stick with one flat, pointed end and the other end relatively blunt.
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Usage: A versatile tool for cutting, scraping, trimming, reaching into corners, or impressing patterns onto the clay, as well as for trimming excess material from parts of the piece that are inaccessible to fingers.
3. Rib Tool / Curved Scraper
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Characteristics: A curved wooden plate with a hole in the middle for a comfortable grip.
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Usage: Used for smoothing, scraping, and shaping the side structure of the piece to be smooth and consistently proportioned while shaping on the pottery wheel.
4. Metal Scraper
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Characteristics: A thin metal sheet in a semi-circular or oval shape.
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Usage: Used for smoothing, trimming, and refining the surface of the piece, or for scraping off excess clay for final shaping.
5. Small Loop Tool
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Characteristics: A wooden handle with small wire loop heads at both ends (round and square shapes).
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Usage: Used for scraping, hollowing, trimming, or removing small amounts of clay. Ideal for creating grooves, decorating patterns, and adding fine details to sculptures.
6. Large Loop Tool
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Characteristics: A thick wooden handle with a larger and wider wire loop head than the previous tool.
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Usage: Used for hollowing out large amounts of clay from the piece (e.g., trimming the foot of a cup/bowl on the pottery wheel or hollowing out the inside of a sculpture to reduce thickness before firing).
7. Needle Tool
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Characteristics: Metal handle with a sharp needle point.
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Usage: Used for scoring, cutting rough edges of pieces on the pottery wheel, puncturing air bubbles in the clay, or scoring surfaces to prepare joints for attaching clay parts.
8. Clay Cutting Wire
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Characteristics: A twisted wire with wooden handles on both ends.
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Usage: Used for cutting large blocks of clay or for stretching taut to cut beneath the base of a piece to separate it from the pottery wheel after throwing.