G-1 The wooden rib or shaping tool is designed for smoothing, trimming, and shaping ceramic pieces, whether hand-built or thrown on a pottery wheel.
Main Uses
- Smoothing and Shaping: Used to smooth the surface of the piece while the wheel is spinning, to make the clay surface even, remove fingerprints, and help push and shape rounded forms (e.g., the belly of a bowl or the curve of a vase) for a beautiful, smooth proportion.
- Removing Water and Air Bubbles: Used to scrape off excess water from the surface of the piece during shaping to prevent the clay from becoming too wet or soft and collapsing, and to help compress the clay body more firmly.
- Removing Excess Clay at the Base: The straight edge or angled part of the wooden rib can be easily used to scrape off excess clay at the base of the piece where it attaches to the wheel.
Highlights
- Versatile Design: The wood has different curved edges on each side and a small curved notch at the end, allowing it to be used to fit various curves of the workpiece.
- Hole in the Center: Designed for a firm, comfortable grip, preventing it from slipping easily when hands are wet with water or slip.