PATEX-302 Smooth Surface Clay Paddle (Length 18 cm) This tool is an essential piece of equipment in hand-building pottery, especially for coiling and slab-building techniques. The primary function of the smooth paddle is to "tap and pat to shape and compact the clay." Its uses include:
- Shaping and adjusting the angle of the piece.
- Compacting the clay and blending seams.
- Adjusting the wall thickness of the raw piece.
Additional notes:
- It should be used when the clay is in a "soft leather-hard" stage. This means the clay can still be reshaped by tapping but should not be too soft and sticky, nor too dry that it cracks when tapped.
- If the clay has high moisture content, tapping it may cause it to stick to the paddle and damage the surface of the work.