Gift Guide for Artists who Paint and Draw

This guide has more than 30 ideas for artists who paint, draw, and create. Most suggestions are priced between $25 and $100, along with a few higher ticket items. There are plenty of ideas for the painter or artist in your life, or perhaps you’ll find a gift for yourself. In general, this guide focuses on high-quality art supplies, equipment, and books.

Note: This site uses affiliate links for sites such as Amazon and Blick. If you click the links and complete a purchase, we may receive a percentage at no extra cost to you.

Blick Noir French Easel

The Blick Noir French Easel.

The Blick Noir French Easel.

Perfect for in the studio or on the go, this black French-style wooden easel from Blick is stylish, functional, and a great deal. The easel combines a sketchbox, easel, and canvas carrier into one unit. Folded, it measures a compact 22 x 16 x 6.5 inches, and it can extend up to 73” tall and accommodate canvases up to 34” tall. It weighs about 10 lbs. This is a great easel for someone setting up an at-home studio and can be carried or folded down for painting in plein air. It retails for around $100.

Golden A-Z Acrylic Explorers Kit

The Golden A-Z Acrylic Explorer Kit.

The Golden A-Z Acrylic Explorer Kit.

This popular set introduces artists to a variety of products Golden Acrylics—the company bills it as a workshop in a box and it basically is. It includes heavy body (i.e. thick) acrylics, fluid acrylics, high flow acrylics as well as pastes, gels and mediums. It’s a great intro to Golden’s high quality product line, and can really expand an artist’s skill set. The kit retails for around $28 and includes 4 tubes of paint, 5 small bottles of paint, 4 tubes of different mediums and a bottle of clear painting medium.

Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook

The Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook.

The Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook.

The Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook from Bee Paper is a favorite mixed media pad that came out on top in our recent review of mixed media pads. It can do everything from light watercolor to ink to marker, colored pencil, and anything else. The sketchbooks are available in a variety of sizes (9x12” is a great option) and has a stiff cardboard back and a leatherette cover with a wire binding for easy turning of pages. The 93 lb / 150 gsm paper is light cream color and is a pleasure to use, and the books range from 6x4 inches to 14x17 inches, with 50 or 60 pages per book.

Williamsburg Oil Paint Sets

The Williamsburg Oil Paint Signature Series has 9 colors in 11 ml tubes.

The Williamsburg Oil Paint Signature Series has 9 colors in 11 ml tubes.

Williamsburg is known for its intensely pigmented, handmade oil paints that are the favorite paints of many professional artists. Available individually or in a variety of sets, try the Signature Series set of 9 for an introduction to these wonderful oil paints. An oil painter will appreciate this, or any set of the high quality Williamsburg paints. The Signature Series set has 9 tubes with 11 ml of paint each, or about 1/3 of an ounce.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

This classic, first published almost 30 years ago, helps artists, writers, and creative types unlock their full potential. Through a series of exercises, such as a letter to yourself and the famous “morning pages” of free writing (visual artists can just substitute sketching) everyone can discover their creative path in an open-ended way that accommodates everyone. At times a bit new age-y, this book is still worth a read for the ideas and exercises. The book grew out of a series of workshops that Cameron ran, and the book feels like you are in the room with Cameron’s gentle but insistent guidance.

Faber-Castell 9000 Series Drawing Set

Faber-Castell 9000 Series Drawing Set.

Faber-Castell 9000 Series Drawing Set.

Faber-Castell makes some of the best pencils and is the choice of professionals and serious artists. It’s easy to just reach for the signature green pencils first. This set of 12 pencils from F-C’s signature 9000 series has one pencil each ranging from the soft and dark 8B up to 2H. There’s also a set for designers that ranges from 5B to 5H. The sets come in a hinged metal tin or a soft bag and usually retail for around $15-$20. This is the perfect set for anyone who loves to draw. Pair it with a sketchbook and a sharpener for a perfect gift.

Tote Bag for Tools, Pencils, and Brushes

JJRing Nylon Tote Bag

JJRing Nylon Tote Bag

Every artist can use a little organizational help, and a tote bag keeps everything is at hand and easy to find. The JJRing nylon art/craft bag is has a 16 pockets, is available in eight colors, and is a great value, typically priced at $15 to $25.

Caran D’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils

The Caran D’Ache Luminance pictured here in the 20 pencil box.

The Caran D’Ache Luminance pictured here in the 20 pencil box.

The ultra-premium Luminance colored pencils are a joy to use and the entire set is 100 percent lightfast, which means that the pigments are designed to withstand UV rays. Under museum conditions, these colors will hold up for at least 100 years. The Luminance (and the Derwent Lightfast) were our top picks in a recent test of colored pencils based on the color intensity, quality, and the lightfast ratings. The Luminance also has an easy-to-use cardboard box where each pencil is inset into foam, so the pencils don’t jumble around. Prices range from a set of 20 pencils for $55 to a set of 76 pencils for around $225.

The Story of Painting: How Art Was Made

The Story of Painting: How Art Was Made from DK.

The Story of Painting: How Art Was Made from DK.

This 2019 book covers the entire 25,000 year history of painting with illustrations, texts, and guides to technique, composition, and subject matter. It’s a great overview for a beginning painter, or a wonderful reference book for the more experienced artist. The details, images, and texts make this more than just a coffee table book. It’s available in hardcover for around $25.

 
The book includes detailed examinations of numerous paintings.

The book includes detailed examinations of numerous paintings.

Utrecht Artists’ Watercolor Paint Box

The Utrecht Watercolor Box is a complete painting kit.

The Utrecht Watercolor Box is a complete painting kit.

This set has everything an artist needs to get started with watercolor painting and it’s made by Utrecht, the Brooklyn, NY company known for high quality, artist-grade paints and mediums. It comes in a beechwood box and includes a 9x12” watercolor block, four brushes, a flat knife, a needed eraser, plastic palette with 24 wells, and 18 tubes of watercolor paint. The box usually retails for around $225.

Utrecht also sells smaller sets of just watercolor paints.

Anker Soundcore Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones

The Anker Soundcore Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones.

The Anker Soundcore Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones.

Over-ear noise cancelling headphones can really help you focus on your work, especially if you work in a shared or noisy environment. There are a lot of options for this type of headphone, but the Anker Soundcore Q20 strike a balance between quality and affordability, especially considering they will probably get covered in paint at some point. These headphones have an impressive 40 hour playing time, and a dynamic sound quality that while not quite audiophile level, really deliver a lot for the $50 price tag.

Liquitex Acrylic Gouache

The Liquitex Acrylic Gouache 12 color essentials kit.

The Liquitex Acrylic Gouache 12 color essentials kit.

Gouache is a type of opaque watercolor paint, and the Liquitex Acrylic Gouache is an interesting twist on this product that is really nice to use. Think of it as a matte acrylic paint that is fluid right out of the bottle and will result in a matte finish that doesn’t show brush strokes or cracks. It’s become a favorite acrylic paint of many. It’s available in small squeeze bottles—to use, just press out what you will need on a tray or palette. The colors are available individually or in a variety of sets. Try the 12 color essentials set for around $55 or the fluorescent set is also fun.

Blick Super Value Bulk Canvas Pack

The Blick Super Value Bulk Canvas Pack has 40 16x20” pre-primed canvases.

The Blick Super Value Bulk Canvas Pack has 40 16x20” pre-primed canvases.

Almost a gag gift for the extreme size, this bulk pack of 40 stretched canvases are great for anyone who paints a lot. These 16x20” canvases are pre-primed with acrylic gesso on 5/8” thick stretcher bars. At around $120, these canvases work out to about $3 each—an incredible value. And a gift like this will provide plenty of surfaces for an artist to get to work.

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paint

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paint.

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paint.

Water mixable oil paint is an interesting innovation made by a variety of manufacturers. It allows you to thin paint with water (although most companies do make some mediums as well) but more importantly, you can clean up this paint with water and soap. This makes it so much easier to keep hands, brushes, palettes, and everything clean, especially if you are painting at home. Winsor & Newtown makes a great line of water mixable oil paint called Artisan, and it’s available individually and in sets. The set of 10 colors in the smaller 0.7 ounce tubes is a great introduction to this line.

Foam Daubers

Foam daubers aka sponges on a stick.

Foam daubers aka sponges on a stick.

These sponges on a stick are a fun craft tool for artists of all ages. Variously known as spouncers, daubers, or stick sponges, these are a great way to add polka dots and round shapes to any surface. Use with acrylic, watercolor, or inks. Available in bulk packs for around $10–20, they are a great tool for any artist.

Create Dangerously: The Power and Responsibility of the Artist by Albert Camus

Create Dangerously by Albert Camus.

Create Dangerously by Albert Camus.

This 1957 speech by the Nobel Prize winner was first published as a standalone text in 2019 in this small, pocket-sized book. A call to arms for artists to participate in society, it’s an interesting read for anyone considering a career in the art or who is interested in what role artists might take in civic discourse. The paperback usually retails for $8.

Canson XL Black Drawing Pad

The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook

The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook

A sketchbook with black paper is a fun way to mix things up in the studio. Pair it with opaque colors from pens or pencils, and you’ve got a whole new way to approach color and design. A studio favorite is the student-grade Canson XL Black Drawing Pad. Each pad features 40 pages with 92lb black paper, with micro-perforations at the side if you want to remove a drawing for framing or other purposes. Available in 7x10” or 9x12”, expect to pay $7 to $10 for these pads. For a great gift, pair this with gel pens or colored pencils.

X-Acto Basic Knife Set and Case

The X-Acto Basic Knife Set with case.

The X-Acto Basic Knife Set with case.

Every artist needs X-Acto knives at some point, and this basic set of 3 knives and 10 replacement blades is a great introduction to the variety of blades from this venerable company. Use this for trimming watercolor paper, collages, or any art and hobby purposes, these will get used all the time. This set typically retails for around $23. Pair it with a cutting mat (see below) for a great gift.

Self-Healing Cutting Mat

Alvin Cutting Mats are one option for self-healing cutting mats.

Alvin Cutting Mats are one option for self-healing cutting mats.

Self-healing cutting mats are a great way to protect both your tables from cuts and it helps your knife blades stay sharp longer. Available from a variety of manufacturers (Alvin, Blick, Cricut, X-Acto etc) the main thing is to pick the size and color that works for your space. Traditionally available in green and black from Alvin, there are now a variety of colors and sizes. For at-home use, an 18x24” mat or 24x36” sizes are usually best, but you can go bigger or smaller. In addition to cutting, these make great surfaces for using liquid or hot glue, or for moving around drawings or paintings that are not yet dry. The larger sizes are also useful for covering tables used for drawing, painting, and crafts.

Arches Watercolor Blocks

Arches watercolor blocks come in a variety of paper thicknesses and finishes.

Arches watercolor blocks come in a variety of paper thicknesses and finishes.

Arches makes some of the best watercolor paper and watercolor blocks are a great way to try out their paper. Sealed on the side with glue, each sheet stays in place and won’t warp, and can then be cut off using a dull knife. Then the next sheet is ready to go. These come in hot and cold press in a variety of thickness. Cold press paper has a bit more texture and the mid-weight 140 lb / 300 gsm paper is a good place to start, such as an 8x10 block of 20 sheets that retails for around $33. Pair this with a high-quality set of watercolors (such as Sennilier, Utrecht, etc) and you’ve got a great gift for a watercolor artist.

Sennelier Watercolor Travel Set

Sennelier La Petite Watercolor Travel Set

Sennelier La Petite Watercolor Travel Set

Sennelier makes some of the best watercolors that are rich in hue, depth, and just enough transparency. They are a pleasure to use and when paired with a watercolor block (see above) make a great gift. This travel set includes 12 tubes of watercolor paint and a small palette for adding water. The tubes hold 10ml or .33 oz of watercolor paint, which can go a long way—especially if they are mixed with water and used wet on wet. It’s a great introduction to the Sennelier line of watercolors, and generally retails for $35-$40.

JBL Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Flip 4 portable bluetooth speaker.

The JBL Flip 4 portable bluetooth speaker.

It’s always great to have music or podcasts in the studio, and a portable bluetooth speaker makes it easy to play anything from your phone, tablet, or laptop. The JBL Flip 4 is slightly older (meaning it’s available at a discount) but is still a great option that sounds great, is easy to pair with devices, and comes with long-lasting build quality. For something bigger and louder, check out the JBL Charge line of speakers. The JBL Flip 4 is waterproof, available in a variety of colors, and usually retails for around $90.

Studio Designs Fusion Center Drafting Table

Studio Designs Fusion Drafting Table and Stool. (Cabinet is not part of the set).

Studio Designs Fusion Drafting Table and Stool. (Cabinet is not part of the set).

Studio Designs is known for high quality but affordable studio furniture (I’ve been using the Graphix II Workstation for years) and the Fusion Center is a great introductory table and stool for artists who draw, paint, or craft. Featuring a work area that is just under 24 x 35 inches, the table can adjust from flat to a 60 degree angle. There’s also a pencil and brush rack, and a slide-out side table, giving the table an overall potential footprint of 24x48 inches, and the table is adjustable from 26.75 to 35.35 high. It’s a great first desk for the serious hobbyist or art student who is ready for their own dedicated table. It typically retails for around $125.

Daybook: The Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt

An older edition of Daybook by Anne Truitt.

An older edition of Daybook by Anne Truitt.

This classic journal by the American sculptor has been in print continuously since it was published in the early 1980s. In it, Truitt details her daily observations about artmaking as well as her history as an artist and mother. It’s an enlightening read that ranges from the mundane, to money concerns, to the theoretical underpinnings of her works and how she made them. It’s available new and used, including a recent digital edition that includes Daybook and two more books of Truitt’s journals. For more, check out this excerpt of the book. Daybook is available in paperback for around $15.

Holbein Artist’s Gouache Set

The 12 color set of Holbein Artists’ Gouache.

The 12 color set of Holbein Artists’ Gouache.

Gouache is the opaque version of watercolors and Holbein makes some of the finest gouaches around. These professional grade paints are vibrant, dry to a matte finish, and can be thinned with water if less intensity is desired. The colors are available individually or as sets, ranging from five colors for around $30 to all 84 colors for over $700. A set of 12 or 18 colors makes a great introduction to this line of colors and in the smaller .2 ml tubes, these sets range from $44 to $53.

Pentel Pocket Brush

The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen with two refills.

The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen with two refills.

The Pentel Pocket Brush is a portable, easy-to-use, and refillable brush pen that can lay down a super-fine line or a heavier stroke. Perfect for travel and on the go ink sketches, it can also be used in the studio for finished work. It’s good for painting, cartooning, and more, and is available with gray, black, or sepia-colored ink. The brush and two refills typically retails for around $13, and refills are about $3 for a two pack. Pair this with a mixed media sketchbook (such as the Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook) and you’ve got a great gift.

Alice Neel: People Come First

Alice Neel: People Come First is a 2021 monograph published by the Met Museum.

Alice Neel: People Come First is a 2021 monograph published by the Met Museum.

This 2021 monograph focuses on Neel’s history, social activism, and portraits. Published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and based on the blockbuster exhibition there, the hardcover book includes high-quality reproductions and essays on Neel and her work. A sense of life was in every mark that Neel made and this book is a deep look into a fascinating artist and her body of work.

Sennelier Abstract Kit

The Sennelier Abstract Acrylic Paint Kit with 8 tips.

The Sennelier Abstract Acrylic Paint Kit with 8 tips.

Sennelier Abstract acrylic paints are a new twist on painting. The paint can be squeezed out on a palette like any other paint, or try the various tips directly on these plastic pouches to squeeze paint right out of the bag. It makes the act of painting physical and immediate, and can open up a new way of working for any artist. The set includes 5 paints and 8 tips, and typically retails for around $35.

Blick Studio Black Cotton Canvas

Blick Studio Black Cotton Canvas are pre-primed and stretched and ready to paint.

Blick Studio Black Cotton Canvas are pre-primed and stretched and ready to paint.

Black primed canvases are a completely different way to approach painting, and these pre-primed and stretched cotton canvases from Blick allow you to get right to painting in acrylic or oil. Available in 5 sizes ranging from 8x10 inches to 20x24 inches, these canvases have a traditional 3/4” deep stretcher bar and are suitable for hanging or framing. Pair these with an acrylic or oil painting set for a great gift.

Golden Fluid Acrylics Set

The Golden Fluid Acrylic Set includes 10 paints.

The Golden Fluid Acrylic Set includes 10 paints.

Golden fluid acrylics are high flow, thin paints for artist that spray, brush, stain, or paint. They are highly saturated with pigment and they are almost ink-like in how they lay down and dry. They are a great way to mix things up and can be used with various mediums or thinned even further with water. The set of paints includes 10 colors in 1 oz jars and usually retails for around $42

Blick Super Value Hardbound Sketchbook

The Blick Super Value Hardbound Sketchbook two pack.

The Blick Super Value Hardbound Sketchbook two pack.

Hardbound sketchbooks are great ways to keep all your sketches, thoughts, and notes in one place and this 2 pack is simply an incredible deal. At around $12 for two sketchbooks, it’s the same price you’ll pay for one hardbound sketchbook at other stores. The 65 lb paper measures 8.5x11 inches and is smooth, white, and acid free.

Caran D’Ache Pablo and Supracolor Gift Box

The Caran D’Ache Pablo and Supracolor box set.

The Caran D’Ache Pablo and Supracolor box set.

This handsome wooden box has a full set of Caran D’Ache Pablo colored pencil and Supracolor water-mixable colored pencils. The two lines blend together easily, giving you an unlimited range of possibilities for drawing, shading, blending, and working wet. At $464, it’s quite the statement gift but it includes 180 pencils, for an average cost of $2.58 each.

Other Gift Ideas

Classes: A set of classes at a local studio or art studio can be a great gift.

Magazine Subscriptions: Magazines are great sources of ideas and inspiration.

Tours, Trips, or Conferences: Look for painting-specific travel tours, retreats, or conferences.

What are your favorite gift ideas for artists? Let us know in the comments.

Gift Guides

Check out these posts:

Gift Guide for Potters

Gift Guide for Young Artists and Creative Kids

"If you can walk, you can dance" Louise Nevelson on making art

Louise Nevelson: Light and Shadow by Laurie Wilson

Louise Nevelson: Light and Shadow by Laurie Wilson

Louise Nevelson: Light and Shadow is a 2016 biography of the artist by Laurie Wilson. It’s a comprehensive, detailed overview of Nevelson’s life and approaches to art and is a great read.

From a young age, Nevelson was always making art but a combination of factors kept her on the margins of the art world until her late 50s, when she began to show in New York City and then, around the world. In her 60s and 70s, Nevelson became one of the most prominent sculptors in the world, working with installations, public art, and making numerous museum and solo gallery shows with her sculptural works.

It’s an inspiring story, and one that probably rings true to most artists in both the joy of art making but also the struggles to forge an artistic life and create your own path.

Below are a few excerpts from the book, with words by Wilson and quotes from Nevelson. The book is available in hardcover or digital editions.

Nevelson on making art:

“I’d rather work twenty-four hours a day in my studio … than do anything I know. Because this is living. It’s like pure water…. The essence of living is in doing, and in doing, I have made my world, and it’s a much better world than I ever saw outside.”

Sculpture is like a person…

One of Nevelson’s observations about this work could describe her aim as an artist: “I tell people who ask, that I don’t use wood; I don’t use black; I don’t make sculpture. If the sum of this wall doesn’t transcend wood and black and making something, then I’ve failed. Sculpture is like a person, who adds up to a lot more than a few cents worth of chemicals. I’m trying to communicate. Not to make something.” For Nevelson, this went beyond a statement about art; she was trying to articulate what she knew about the human condition: We are all alike and we are all different. And she saw her mission as expressing these contradictory truths, not in so many words, but through the formal decisions she made in her art.


On terra cotta clay, and approaches to different mediums.

Nevelson claimed that she worked on stone only when she was “a little exhausted creatively.” When she felt in full power, she preferred terra-cotta because “it gives flight and does not retard or restrict … the quick response of the clay to each idea; it permits a simplicity of approach.

…

It seems Nevelson was repeatedly driven to create new formats and new versions, when she approached a familiar medium, as though the tried-and-true was never quite so satisfying as what had yet to be attempted or seen.

From the book: a 1944 experiment with found wood and a tire.

From the book: a 1944 experiment with found wood and a tire.

On sexism in the arts:

When asked if men treated her as an equal, Nevelson was quick to answer. “Originally, no—at 70 years, yes.”

“When I first started, nobody took me seriously. In the galleries—a woman! I’d look in the mirror and see the gestures they made behind my back. Meshugganah! A woman wanting to be a sculptor. A man sculptor said to me, ‘Louise, you don’t want to be a sculptor. To be a sculptor, you’ve got to have balls.’ ‘I’ve got balls,’ I said. But it hurt inside.”

Ferocious Bull, 1942. Another sculptural experiment that was lost.

Ferocious Bull, 1942. Another sculptural experiment that was lost.

If you can walk…

Jean Lipman, who had written Nevelson’s World a few years earlier, recalled a moment when Charles Kuralt asked Nevelson toward the end of the TV interview how, at age eighty, she could possibly maintain the energy and quality of the work that had made her famous. Nevelson paused for a full minute and said: “Look, Dear, if you can walk, you can dance.”

Louise Nevelson: Light and Shadow

512 pages, 2016, by Laurie Wilson.

The "Arena of My Own Spirit." Anne Truitt on Finding Certainty in Her Work

Daybook by Anne Truitt, the 1984 Penguin paperback edition.

Daybook by Anne Truitt, the 1984 Penguin paperback edition.

This text is from Anne Truitt’s journal Daybook. First published in 1982, it’s been in print since and is a wonderful book that should be on every artist’s bookshelf. Truitt was known for her minimalist sculptures and paintings. She also published three journals, including Daybook, Turn, and Prospect, that chronicled her approaches to art making, parenthood, memories, and thoughts on life as an artist.

This journal entry is from 1975, but is reflecting on 1961, about a year after the birth of Truitt’s son. In this passage, she describes how she started making the work that became her signature style.

From Daybook, by Anne Truitt:

27 March, 1975

It was in this familiar context that, one year after Sam’s birth, my work suddenly erupted into certainty. I was taken by surprise and to this day do not know why it happened.

When Sam was a few months old, fairly launched, I rented a room at 1506 30th Street, across from our house. On the third floor, looking west from a sort of turret that jutted out into the air, it was rather pokey but exceedingly convenient as I could run back and forth easily. I picked up my work where I had left off in San Francisco and continued to make loose drawings with black and brown ink. These were done very fast, on sheets of newsprint paper into which the ink was absorbed in such a way as to make them look more expressionistic than they were in my mind. I was on the track of square and rectangular shapes, articulated back into the depth of the ink, echoing the structures I had seen on archeological sites in Mexico, most particularly those of Mayan temples. I began making these obsessively repetitive shapes in the summer of 1958 after Mary’s birth, not only in drawings but also in three dimensions. I used very dark brown clay, heavily grogged, and built up the sculptures from the inside out, using the classical method taught me by Alexander Giampietro. I still sometimes miss the marvelous feeling of rolling the clay between my fingers and thumb and then pushing the warm, full shape against its fellows to swell the unity of a structure growing slowly under my hand. This satisfaction with the certainty of a familiar and compatible process was one of the pleasures I had to forego when my work changed direction and forced me to go against the grain of my own taste and training.

On a visit to my studio early in 1961, Kenneth Noland pointed out to me the possibility of enlarging the scale of these sculptures. I remember my reluctance to absorb this idea, partly because I was afraid and partly because of my pleasure in using clay in a way that gave me such satisfaction. I think, however, that his suggestion opened up my thinking and combined with my obsessive concern with the weights of squares and rectangles to pave the way for the change that took place some months later.

The change itself was set off by a weekend trip to New York with my friend, Mary Pinchot Meyer, in November 1961, almost one year to the day after Sam’s birth. We went up on Saturday and spent the afternoon looking at art. This was my first concentrated exposure since 1957, when I had moved to San Francico, and I was astonished to note the freedom with which materials of various sorts were being used. More specifically, how they were being put to use. That is, I noticed that the materials were used without particular attention to their intrinsic bent, as if what I had always thought of as their natural characteristics was being disregarded. For the first time, I grasped the fact that art could spring from concept, and medium could be in its service. I had always rooted myself in process, the thrust of my endeavor being to seek patiently and unremittingly how an idea would emerge from a material. My insight into the art I saw that afternoon reversed this emphasis, throwing the balance of meaning from material to idea. And this reversal released me from the limitations of material into the exhilarating arena of my own spirit.

At the Guggenheim Museum, I saw my first Ad Reinhardt. I was baffled by what looked to be an all-black painting and enchanted when Mary pointed out the delicate changes in hue. I remember feeling a wave of gratitude—to her for showing me such an incredibly beautiful fact and to the painter for having made it to be seen. Farther along the museum’s ramp, a painting constructed with wooden sticks and planes also caught my attention, setting off a kind of home feeling; I do not remember the artist’s name but liked his using plain old wood such as I had seen all my life in carpentry. And when we rounded into the lowest semicircular gallery, I saw my first Barnett Newman, a universe of blue paint by which I was immediately ravished. My whole self was lifted into it. “Enough” was my radiant feeling—for once in my life enough space, enough color. It seemed to me that I had never before been free. Even running in a field had not given me the same airy beatitude. I would not have believed it possible had I not seen it with my own eyes. Such openness wiped out with one swoop all of my puny ideas. I staggered out into the street, intoxicated with freedom, lifted into a realm I had not dreamed could be caught into existence. I was completely taken by surprise, the more so as I had only earlier that day been thinking how I felt like a plowed field, my children all born, my life laid out; I saw myself stretched like brown earth in furrows, open to the sky, well planted, my life as a human being complete. My yearning for a family, my husband and my children, had been satisfied. I had looked for no more in the human sense and felt content.

I went home early to Mary’s mother’s apartment, where we were staying, thinking I would sleep and absorb in self-forgetfulness the fullness of the day. Instead, I stayed up almost the whole night, sitting wakeful in the middle of my bed like a frog on a lily pad. Even three baths spaced through the night failed to still my mind, and at some time during these long hours I decided, hugging myself with determined delight, to make exactly what I wanted to make. The tip of balance from the physical to the conceptual in art had set me to thinking about my life in a whole new way. What did I know, I asked myself. What did I love? What was it that meant the very most to me inside my very own self? The fields and trees and fences and boards and lattices of my childhood rushed across my inner eye as if borne by a great, strong wind. I saw them all, detail and panorama, and my feeling for them welled up to sweep me into the knowledge that I could make them. I knew that that was exactly what I was going to do and how I was going to do it.

Anne Truitt, First, 1961. Acrylic on wood, 44 1/4 x 17 3/4 x 7 inches. Image via annetruitt.org.

Anne Truitt, First, 1961. Acrylic on wood, 44 1/4 x 17 3/4 x 7 inches. Image via annetruitt.org.

Mary Meyer and I returned to Washington the next day, and early Monday morning I bought some white shelf paper and went to my studio. There I drew to full size three 54” irregularly pointed boards, backed by two rectangular boards, placed on a flat rectangular board. I went straight down 30th Street to a lumber store and ordered the boards cut to the size of my drawing; I bought clamps and glue and some white house paint. When the boards were ready, I glued them together, painted them, and there was my sculpture: First.

I returned immediately to the lumber store with two more drawings. While I was explaining to the man what I wanted and what I intended to do, he said mildly, “You can have them put together across the street if you want to, in our mill.” “Oh, can I?” I said. “Thank you.” And I seized my daughter Mary in her dark blue snowsuit from the counter where she had been perched to watch what was going on. I had to rush off for a carpool and hadn’t time to go to the mill right then, but I remember stopping outside the store and going down on my knees in the snow to hug Mary and tell here that I could make whatever I wanted to now, overcome by the possibilities that surged into my mind. I had seen that size would be a problem and had had no idea how I was going to make what I saw in my mind in that little studio with my meager equipment, time, and strength.

When I got back to the mill, I went in to see the manager. He placidly looked at my roll of drawings and allowed as how he could make them up for me. But, he suggested, I could make scale drawings and that would be easier for us both. So off I went and bought a scale ruler. A young architectural student was buying something at the same time and showed me how to use it. So I set up a system: scale drawings and mill fabrication. I also telephoned the financial advisor who had charge of the money I had inherited and asked him to transfer five thousand dollars into a new, special checking account. I used this account exclusively for my work from then on, replenishing the funds from my capital without giving it too much thought.

Anne Truitt, 1978.

Anne Truitt, 1978.

In 1962, I made thirty seven sculptures, ranging in size from that of the first fence up to around ten feet tall. Most of these I made in Kenneth Noland’s studio in Twining Court, which he generously allowed me to rent for ten dollars a month after his departure for New York. It was a ramshackle old carriage house with a huge hayloft equipped with a large hay door and hooked lift, which I used to hoist the larger sculpture in and out. There were also four other rooms, two crammed with rusted bedsprings; I had these carted off, and then whitewashed one of the rooms so I had a place for finished work. No heat, no water, rats—I used to stamp my feet when I came in—and the place was dismally damp. No matter.

— Excerpt from Daybook by Anne Truitt, 1984 paperback edition, pages 148–153.

Skutt Kiln Buyers Guide for Potters and Ceramic Artists

The Skutt 1027 Kiln, our top pick for an electric top loader Skutt kiln.

The Skutt 1027 Kiln, our top pick for an electric top loader Skutt kiln.

Skutt Kilns are some of the most popular and dependable top-loading electric kilns on the market. Manufactured by Skutt in Portland, Oregon, the company has a variety of kilns to suit just about any size studio and budget. The following guide will cover all the features of current Skutt kilns, along with tips and suggestions on how to buy a kiln.

Top Pick: Skutt 1027-3 with KMT Touchscreen Controller

The Skutt 1027-3 is the top pick for a Skutt electric kiln. Featuring upgraded, 3-inch-thick bricks, it’s an efficient workhorse of a kiln that is also Skutt’s most popular model. It’s a great size for any studio, with an interior chamber measuring 22.5 inches in diameter by 27 inches tall, for a total of 6.4 cubic feet of loading area.

The kiln is small enough that an individual potter can fill it with some frequency, while it also has enough capacity for an academic or shared studio. It can easily fire to cone 10, along with mid range or low fire temperatures. And the KMT Touchscreen Controller makes for an easy and efficient user interface.

It’s a great kiln package that is listed around $4000 but can sometimes be found for as low as $3100 to $3200.

There are a lot more sizes of Skutt kilns. Keep reading for a complete buyer’s guide to Skutt kilns.

Table of Contents

  1. Top Pick: Skutt 1027

  2. Choosing a Top Loader Electric Kiln

  3. Skutt Controllers

  4. Skutt Product Number Explainer

  5. Electrical Requirements

  6. Lid Lifters

  7. Venting Options

  8. Kiln Furniture

  9. Sectional Design

  10. What To Expect with Ordering and Delivery

  11. Skutt Kiln Models

  12. Summary

Choosing a Top Loading Electric Kiln

Skutt makes a wide variety of kilns.

Skutt makes a wide variety of kilns.

Choosing an electric kiln is a big decision. You’ll want to consider power availability, the size of your studio, the size of the work that you make, and your budget. It can be a commitment: with care and proper maintenance, an electric kiln can easily last 30 years or more. But where to start? There’s a lot of options, sizes, and a confusing array of product numbers. This guide will help you understand the models in the Skutt product line.

Front Loader vs Top Loader
Electric kilns can be broken down into two main categories, front loaders and top loaders. While Skutt has occasionally made a front loader, at the time of this writing, the entire Skutt product line was top loading kilns.

Top loaders are usually smaller, have thinner walls, and generally are made in sections that allow for easier transport. Top loaders can be harder to load, although they are available in a variety of heights. Top loaders are usually the kiln of choice for home studio and for individual studios.

Front loaders are heavier and not made in sections, as the entire kiln frame needs to support the weight of the door. There are some small front loaders, but generally you will find these types of kilns in production studio or larger spaces. Front loaders can often accommodate taller firing chambers.

Electric vs Gas
Skutt only makes electric kilns, so this post won’t cover any gas kilns. But in general, think of an electric kiln as a big, insulated incandescent bulb. The inside walls of an electric kiln are lined with “elements” made from nichrome wire, i.e. nickel-chrome wire. Electricity is run through these elements at a rate determined by the controller, and over time, heat builds up inside the kiln. When properly installed, electric kilns are safe and easy to operate, and typically there is little to no odor or anything noxious coming out of the kiln.

The Skutt KilnMaster Touchscreen Controller

The Skutt KilnMaster Touchscreen Controller

Skutt Controllers

Skutt makes kilns with two types of controllers, which are both dependable and allow you to program and run the the kiln by itself. (It is always recommended that you be present when the kiln finishes firing to check that the program runs correctly.)

The KilnMaster Touchscreen Controller is the latest and greatest controller technology, featuring built-in WiFi and a free app, so that you can connect your device to the kiln and monitor the firing. The Touchscreen Controller features the same ramp and firing modes found on previous Skutt kilns, but with added features including a program library, help screens, diagnostic tools, and much more. It costs more, but this is a recommended upgrade. For an added fee, you can upgrade to a premium account with more features including text or email alerts, multiple users on one account, and more.

The KilnMaster Controller.

The KilnMaster Controller.

The KilnMaster Controller is the standard controller on Skutt kilns with a button pad and small, one-color display. This controller has the same ramp and on-board programming capabilities as the touchscreen model, but with fewer bells and whistles. It’s a sturdy, dependable controller that itself was an upgrade from the older kiln sitter models. If you currently have an older kiln sitter kiln, check and see if you can upgrade it to a computerized model.

Skutt Product Numbers

Skutt kilns are numbered based on this system, and we’ll use a KMT-1027-3-PK as our example.

  • Controller type (KM = KilnMaster, KMT = KilnMaster Touchscreen)

  • Sides of the kiln are indicated in the first one or two numbers (the 1027 is a ten-sided kiln)

  • Depth of firing chamber is indicated by the final two numbers (the 1027 is 27 inches deep)

  • Any kiln with a “3” after the kiln number is a model with the 3 inch brick upgrade as opposed to the standard 2.5 inch bricks

  • PK stands for Production Series Kilns, an upgrade in wiring gauge and other features found in four kilns models that are appropriate for extremely busy studios.

  • LF is only found on one large oval kiln, and it stands for a Low Fire only rating.

Electrical Requirements

Electric Kilns need to be properly installed and it’s best to check your power situation with an electrician before ordering a kiln so that you know exactly what type of power you have and how large of an amperage draw and breaker box you can install.

Types of Power: 208 or 240 and single phase or three phase
Generally, residential power in the United States is 240 volt and commercial and school buildings have 208 volt, and these can be available in either single phase or three phase. You’ll need to pick a kiln model that matches the power you have available as the elements and other features are fitted to match your power.

Amperage
Amperage measures the draw of electricity, and Skutt kilns range from 20 amps to 79. It’s recommended to have a breaker box with a fuse that is about 25 percent higher than that. Having an electrician check what you have available will help narrow down your choices, especially if you are considering a larger kiln. Larger kilns have bigger amperage draws that may require running new wires or breaker boxes.

NEMA outlet guide.

NEMA outlet guide.

Plug or Direct Wire
Smaller kilns will plug in and Skutt ships them with the most appropriate plug. Your electrician may need to install or change the outlet to match this plug. Larger kilns need to be “hard wired” or have wires directly connected to the power cutoff box.

Lid Lifter

Skutt 10- and 12-side kilns now come standard with a spring-loaded lid lifter.

Skutt 10- and 12-side kilns now come standard with a spring-loaded lid lifter.

All the 10- and 12-sided Skutt kilns now come standard with spring-loaded lid lifters. It makes the kilns easy to lift with two fingers and reduces the chance of slamming a lid down, which can damage the bricks. The Skutt lid lifter attaches just to the top ring, making it simple to take your kiln apart if necessary. It’s a great upgrade and if you have an older kiln, you might want to look into a lid-lifter upgrade.

Venting Options

The Skutt EnviroVent 2 consists of a spring-loaded pressure attachment at the base of the kiln, metal hose, and squirrel cage type blower.

The Skutt EnviroVent 2 consists of a spring-loaded pressure attachment at the base of the kiln, metal hose, and squirrel cage type blower.

An optional kiln vent helps remove gases while the kiln is firing and will help even out the firing temperature inside the kiln. In top loading kilns, a small hole about the diameter of a pencil is drilled in the floor of the kiln and the vent hose is mounted below this hole with a simple spring mechanism. At the end of the hose, a blower is connected to move the air towards an outlet vent. Skutt’s current vent model is the EnviroVent2. Another optional upgrade to this system is the Envirolink, which connects to the kiln controller and can be programmed to shut off when the kiln cools to a certain temperature, such as 200 degrees F.

A vent is definitely needed if your kiln is located in your house or in an enclosed studio space. If your kiln is in a semi-open space, such as a garage with the door open, you may not need a vent. Consider your space and how much airflow there is to determine if you need a vent.

Finally, some spaces may choose to install an exhaust hood above the kiln. This can really help remove excess heat from your kiln room.

Kiln Furniture

Select a furniture kit that matches the size of your kiln.

Select a furniture kit that matches the size of your kiln.

Kiln Furniture refers to the kiln shelves and posts that you will put inside your kiln. Unless you have these, you should plan to order the basic kit that comes with your kiln. Some retailers sell a kiln and furniture kit as a package, but if you are buying this separately expect to add $300 to $1,500 or more getting all the shelves and posts that you need. Think about what you fire: if you mostly make tall pots or big sculptures, you won’t need a lot of shelves. If you make shorter pieces, you’ll need more shelves to make use of the firing chamber.

Shelf size by Kiln Model

Skutt 614 9.25” x 5” half shelves, or 9.25” x 10” full shelves
Skutt 714 13” x 6.5” half round, or 13” full round
Skutt 818 15” x 8” half shelves, or 15 x 16” full
Skutt 818-3 15” x 8” half shelves, or 15” full round
Skutt 1027 22” x 10 5/8” half shelves, or 19.5” full round
Skutt 1027-3 20” x 9 7/8” half shelves, or 19.5” full round
Skutt 1227 26” x 13” half shelves
Skutt 1627 26” x 13” half shelves for ends, 13” x 16” shelves for center

Sectional Design

The Skutt 1222 picture here consists of a top lid, two rings, and a floor that all latch together. The floor sits on a metal stand to elevate the kiln.

The Skutt 1222 picture here consists of a top lid, two rings, and a floor that all latch together. The floor sits on a metal stand to elevate the kiln.

Most top loading kilns are designed to be taken apart in “rings” or sections that clamp together. This allows you to get the kiln pieces through doors and into spaces where a large front loader can’t go. When you receive your kiln, there will be instructions on how to take apart the kiln. Generally, this includes removing screws and undoing some of the wires inside the control panel. Smaller kilns may just come apart into the body and lid, while the largest kilns have separate top and bottoms, and up to 3 middle rings.

What to Expect With Ordering and Delivery

Skutt Kilns can be ordered directly from Skutt, via an online retailer, or through your local ceramic supplier. In general, the kilns will ship directly from Skutt. In the past, it was typical to wait 10 to 12 weeks for delivery, but since the Covid epidemic, production times have stretched as long as four to six months due to socially-distanced manufacturing along with increased demand for kilns. It can be a long wait but it’s worth it!

As the kilns are all basically coming straight from Skutt, it pays to shop around and find the best deal. To compare, calculate the cost of the kiln, furniture package, and cost of delivery. If you are in a building with a loading dock, any truck can deliver to you. But for a residential building, you will need a delivery truck with a lift gate, and this service may cost extra.

When the kiln is delivered, the delivery driver will take it as far as the curb, or possibly up to your garage or studio building. It will be up to you to then get it inside. Be ready with help, and/or screwdrivers, electrical pliers, and other tools to take your kiln apart if needed. Then it’s simply a matter of getting your kiln hooked up to begin firing.

Skutt Ceramic Kiln Models

This guide will cover Skutt ceramic kilns starting with the smallest sizes first. The kilns are all made with the same controllers, bricks, metal, and other high-quality parts. The difference is mostly in the size of the kiln and firing chamber. In addition to the size and model of kiln, with Skutt there is often an option for an upgraded 3 inch thick bricks in the wall. Also make sure to select the correct phase (single or three phase) and voltage (208 or 240) for your studio.

Skutt 614-3

The Skutt 614-3 pictured here with a touchscreen controller.

The Skutt 614-3 pictured here with a touchscreen controller.

The Skutt 614-3 is the only Skutt kiln that can be fired while connected to a standard household current but it will need a modified outlet for a NEMA 5-20 plug. This is a great kiln for porcelain jewelry, doll heads, or glaze tests. It’s small, but has all the same features as larger Skutt kilns including 3 inch thick bricks. It’s available with the KilnMaster (KM) or Touchscreen (KMT) controller.

Skutt 614-3
Phase: 1
Volt: 115
Amperage: 20
Recommended Breaker: 30 amp
Max Cone: 6
Chamber: 11” diameter by 13.5” deep (0.8 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 5-20
Outside dimensions: 17” wide plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 29” x 28” x 28”
Weight: 88lbs
Typical Price: KM-614 $1243–$1640, KMT-614 $1537–1975

Skutt 714

The Skutt 714 kiln, with a 1.4 cubic foot firing chamber.

The Skutt 714 kiln, with a 1.4 cubic foot firing chamber.

The 714 model is almost the same as the 614-3, except that it has a wider diameter, seven sides as opposed to six, and only comes with the 2.5 inch thick brick. It has a larger 1.4 cubic foot firing chamber, but the same depth as the 614. Think of this as a jewelry or test kiln but on the big side.

Skutt 714
Phase: 1
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 20
Recommended Breaker: 30 amp
Max Cone: 8
Chamber: 14.3” diameter by 13.5” deep (1.4 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 14-30
Outside dimensions: 20” wide with control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 29” x 28” x 28”
Weight: 95lbs
Typical Price: KM-714 $1323–$1740, KMT-714 $1616-2075

Skutt 818

The Skutt 818 is a small studio kiln. It’s available with the standard 2.5 inch thick bricks, or an upgraded 3 inch thick brick. The 818-3 with the thicker walls has a slightly smaller firing chamber. This kiln is around 17 inches wide by 18 inches deep.

The Skutt 818 is a small studio kiln.

The Skutt 818 is a small studio kiln.

Skutt 818
Phase: 1
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 26.7
Recommended Breaker: 40 amp
Max Cone: 10
Chamber: 17.5” diameter by 18” deep (2.6 cubic feet)
818-3: 16.5” diameter by 18” deep (2.3 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50
Outside dimensions: 22.5” wide plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 32” x 32” x 32”
Weight: 145 lbs (818-3 weighs 160 lbs)
Typical Price: KM-818 $1,586–$2,075
KMT-818 $1,882–$2,400
KM-818-3 $1,642–$2,170
KMT-818-3 $1,938-$2,495

Skutt 822

The Skutt 822 pictured here with the KMT Touchscreen controller.

The Skutt 822 pictured here with the KMT Touchscreen controller.

The Skutt 822 is another small, eight-sided studio kiln. It’s available with the standard 2.5 inch thick bricks, or an upgraded 3 inch thick brick. The diameter is the same as the 818, but this kiln has a firing chamber that is 4.5 inches taller, at 22.5 inches deep.

Skutt 822
Phase: 1
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 33.4-38.5
Recommended Breaker: 50 amp
Max Cone: 10
Chamber: 17.5” diameter by 22.5” deep (3.2 cubic feet)
822-3: 16.5” diameter by 22.5” deep (2.9 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50
Outside dimensions: 22.5” wide plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 32” x 32” x 37”
Weight: 170 lbs (822-3 weighs 180 lbs)
Typical Price: KM-822 $1,694–$2,230
KMT-822 $2,005–$2,555
KM-822-3 $1,864–$2,330
KMT-822-3 $2,100-$2,655

Skutt 1018

The Skutt 1018 is a ten side kiln that has a firing chamber around 23 inches wide by 18 inches deep.

The Skutt 1018 is a ten side kiln that has a firing chamber around 23 inches wide by 18 inches deep.

The Skutt 1018 is wide but short kiln that is easy to load. It features a 23 inch wide firing chamber that is 18 inches deep. It’s also available with the 3 inch brick upgrade, which results in a slightly narrower firing chamber.

Skutt 1018
Phase: 1
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 39.4-40
Recommended Breaker: 50 amp
Max Cone: 10
Chamber: 23.4” diameter by 18” deep (4.6 cubic feet)
1018-3: 22.5” diameter by 18” deep (4.2 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50
Outside dimensions 28.5” wide with control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 37” x 40” x 35” high
Weight: 250 lbs (1018-3 weighs 275 lbs)
Typical Price:
KM-1018 $2,216–$2,910
KMT-1018 $2,525–$3,235
KM-1018-3 $2,300–$3,020
KMT-1018-3 $2,609-$3,345

Skutt 1022

The Skutt 1022 has a 23 inch wide chamber with a depth of 22.5 inches.

The Skutt 1022 has a 23 inch wide chamber with a depth of 22.5 inches.

The Skutt 1022 is exactly the same as the 1018, but it’s 4.5 inches taller with a 22.5 inch deep firing chamber. This brings the volume to 5.7 cubic feet on the 1022, or 5.25 cubic feet on the 1022-3 model. If you love the taller 1027 but find it hard to load, the 1022 might be the best kiln for your studio. The 1022 is also the smallest Skutt kiln that is available with three phase wiring.

Skutt 1022
Phase: 1 and 3
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 34.6-48
Recommended Breaker: 50 to 60 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 10
Chamber: 23.4” diameter by 22.5” deep (5.7 cubic feet)
1022-3: 22.5” diameter by 22.5” deep (5.25 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50 for single phase, 15-50 for three phase
Outside dimensions: 28.5” wide plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 37” x 40” x 41” high
Weight: 270 lbs (1022-3 weighs 298 lbs)
Typical Price: *add $150–$200 for 3 inch brick option
KM-1022 1 Phase $2,447–$3,230
KM-1022 3 Phase $2,999–$3,280
KMT-1022 1 Phase $2,776–$3,555
KMT-1022 3 Phase $2,836–$3,605

Skutt 1027

The Skutt 1027 is the company’s most popular model because of it’s ideal combination of width, height, and price.

The Skutt 1027 is the company’s most popular model because of it’s ideal combination of width, height, and price.

The Skutt 1027 is the company’s most popular model and also the top recommendation if you were to choose just one kiln. The kiln chamber is about 23 inches wide by 27 inch, for a total of 7 cubic feet of firing space (or 6.4 cubic feet for the 3 inch brick model.) This depth and width is big enough for most pots and sculptures, but not so huge that it is impossible to fill. Many busy studios rely on 1027s too, as they are quick to fire and affordable, with a few models coming in right around $3,000.

Skutt 1027
Phase: 1 and 3
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 29.3-48
Recommended Breaker: 50 to 60 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 10 (note: the 208V 1 phase model can only go to cone 6)
Chamber: 23.4” diameter by 27” deep (7 cubic feet)
1027-3: 22.5” diameter by 27” deep (6.4 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50 for single phase, 15-50 for three phase
Outside dimensions: 28.5” wide plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 37” x 40” x 44” high
Weight: 290 lbs (1027-3 weighs 320 lbs)
Typical Price: *add $100 to $150 for 3 inch brick upgrade
KM-1027 1 Phase $2,687–$3,860
KM-1027 3 Phase $3,380–$3,585
KMT-1027 1 Phase $3,667–$3,860
KMT-1027 3 Phase $3,714–$3,910

Skutt 1218

The Skutt 1218-3 is a wide and low kiln with 3 inch thick walls.

The Skutt 1218-3 is a wide and low kiln with 3 inch thick walls.

Skutt makes four options for the wider 12-sided kilns, ranging from an 18 inch firing chamber depth to 31 inches. The shortest, the 1218-3, has a 28 inch opening and an 18 inch depth for a total of 6.6 cubic feet of firing space. This is almost as much as the 1027, but it will only accommodate shorter pieces. But if that works for your studio, this is much easier to load.

The 1218-3 and all the larger Skutt kilns are only available with 3 inch bricks in the walls.

Skutt 1218
Phase: 1 and 3
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 29.3-48
Recommended Breaker: 40 to 60 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 10 (note: the 208V 1 phase model can only go to cone 8)
Chamber: 28” diameter by 18” deep (6.6 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50 for single phase, 15-50 for three phase
Outside dimensions: 34” wide plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 42” x 45” x 35” high
Weight: 330 lbs
Typical Price:
KM-1218 1 Phase $2,691–$3,575
KM-1218 3 Phase $3,307–$3,625
KMT-1218 1 Phase $3,705–$3,900
KMT-1218 3 Phase $3,705–$3,950

Skutt 1222

The Skutt 1222-3 is a wide, medium height kiln with a firing chamber that is 28 inches wide and 22.5 inches deep.

The Skutt 1222-3 is a wide, medium height kiln with a firing chamber that is 28 inches wide and 22.5 inches deep.

The Skutt 1222-3 is the same width as the 1218 but with a depth of 22.5 inches, for a total firing chamber of 8.1 cubic feet. Like other larger Skutt kilns, it’s only available with the thicker 3 inch thick bricks. The kiln will fire to cone 10, except for the the 208V 1 phase model, which tops out at cone 8.

Skutt 1222-3
Phase: 1 and 3
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 34.6-48
Recommended Breaker: 50 to 60 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 10 (note: the 208V 1 phase model can only go to cone 8)
Chamber: 28” diameter by 22.5” deep (8.1 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50 for single phase, 15-50 for three phase
Outside dimensions: 34” wide with control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 42” x 45” x 41” high
Weight: 330 lbs
Typical Price:
KM-1222 1 Phase $2,922–$3,850
KM-1222 3 Phase $3,586–$3,900
KMT-1222 1 Phase $3,966–$4,175
KMT-1222 3 Phase $4,013–$4,225

Skutt 1227

The Skutt 1227 is a large barrel kiln with a 28 inch wide firing chamber that is 27 inches deep.

The Skutt 1227 is a large barrel kiln with a 28 inch wide firing chamber that is 27 inches deep.

The Skutt 1227 is a big barrel kiln that is often found in academic studios or is favored by production potters and sculptors. It’s 28 inches wide and 27 inches deep, for a total firing chamber that is 9.9 cubic feet. Like the other large Skutt kilns, it’s only available with 3 inch thick brick in the walls. There’s also an upgraded “PK” model, which stands for production kiln. These kilns have heavier gauge wires, more robust relays, and a slightly different wiring configuration. The PK models cost about $500 more, which is probably worth it if you are planning to fire the kiln more than a few times a month.

The standard 1227-3 models can be plugged in, while the PK models require a direct wire into the cutoff box. For max temperatures, these kilns have a range: the PK models can all achieve cone 10 while the regular 1227-3 are cone 8, except the 208V 1 Phase, which has a maximum temperature of cone 5.

Skutt 1227-3
Phase: 1 and 3
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 29.3–69 (PK models have a higher amp draw)
Recommended Breaker: 40 to 90 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 1227-3-PK models: 10
1227-3: Cone 8, except 208V 1 phase model can only go to cone 5
Chamber: 28” diameter by 27” deep (9.9 cubic feet)
NEMA Plug: 6-50 for single phase, 15-50 for three phase, direct wire for PK models
Outside dimensions: 34” wide with control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 42” x 45” x 44” high
Weight: 400 lbs
Typical Price:
KM-1227 1 Phase $3,166–$4,220
KM-1227 3 Phase $3,884–$4.270
KM-1227 PK models $3,639–$4,870
KMT-1227 1 Phase $3,530–$4,545
KMT-1227 3 Phase $3,530–$4,595
KMT-1227 PK models $3,596–$5,195

Skutt 1231

The Skutt 1231 is the tallest kiln in Skutt’s lineup, with a 31 inch tall firing chamber that is 28 inches wide.

The Skutt 1231 is the tallest kiln in Skutt’s lineup, with a 31 inch tall firing chamber that is 28 inches wide.

The Skutt 1231-3 is the tallest kiln in Skutt’s product line. It’s 28 inches wide with a depth of 31 inches, for an 11.6 cubic foot firing chamber. This added height is great, especially if you make sculptures or taller pots, but it can be very hard to load. Even the tallest people with longer arms may want a small step stool on the side to make it easier to load.

The 1231 comes standard with the 3 inch bricks and the “PK” production kiln upgrade of thicker gauge wires and improved relays. This kiln is most commonly found in academic and community studios, or production studios. But based on the difficulty in loading this kiln, I would advise getting a 1227 barrel,a 1627 oval, or look into front-loading options for taller kilns.

Skutt 1227-3-PK
Phase: 1 and 3
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 46–69
Recommended Breaker: 60 to 90 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 10
Chamber: 28” diameter by 31” deep (11.6 cubic feet)
Connection: must be direct wired
Outside dimensions: 34” wide with control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 42” x 45” x 49” high
Weight: 450 lbs
Typical Price:
KM-1231 1 Phase $3,639–$5,000
KM-1231 3 Phase $3,789–$5,000
KMT-1231 1 Phase $3,979–$5,325
KMT-1231 3 Phase $4,122–$5,325

Skutt 1627

The oval shaped Skutt 1627 is the largest kiln in Skutt’s product line.

The oval shaped Skutt 1627 is the largest kiln in Skutt’s product line.

The 1627 is Skutt’s largest kiln with 18.5 cubic feet in the oval firing chamber. Inside, the chamber is 30.75 wide, 46 inches long, and 27 inches deep. This is a big top loader! It’s a great option for academic or production studios, or an individual sculptor or potter with a high rate of production. It comes standard with the 3 inch bricks in the wall and the PK production kiln upgrades of heavier wires and more robust relays. The standard model is only available in 3 phase power and can fire to cone 10, while the 1627-3-PK-LF “low fire” model is available in single or three phase, but can only fire to cone 1.

The lid is lighter than you think but it still takes some strength to get it up. While lid lifters come standard on the new 10 and 12-sided kilns, in the case of the 1627 the lid lifter upgrade is only available in combination with the integrated rolling stand.

Skutt 1627-3-PK
Phase: 3 (1627-3-PK-LF is available in 1 and 3)
Volt: 208/240
Amperage: 46–69
Recommended Breaker: 60 to 90 amp, depending on the model
Max Cone: 10 (Cone 1 for LF models)
Chamber: 46” length x 30.75” wide by 27” deep (18.5 cubic feet)
Connection: must be direct wired
Outside dimensions: 36” deep by 52” wide, plus control panel on one side
Shipping dimension: 58” x 50” x 54” high
Weight: 535 lbs
Typical Price:
KM-1627 $6,259–$8,050
KMT-1627 $6,259–$8,375

Summary

This post has covered all the models, features, and accessories for Skutt ceramic kilns. These are America’s most popular kiln for a reason: they are dependable, well made, and available to fit almost any sized studio and budget. And with upgraded features like the standard lid lifter on 10 and 12-sided kilns, options such as the touchscreen controller, and Skutt’s stellar reputation for quality and customer service, you can’t go wrong with a Skutt kiln.

Any thoughts on this buyer’s guide or Skutt kilns? Let us know in the comments.

Gift Guide for Young Artists and Creative Kids

Art supplies make a wonderful gift for kids and this guide will cover a wide variety of quality tools and kits for kids of all ages.

As an artist and a parent, my philosophy is to provide quality supplies such as colored pencils and paper and let kids follow their own ideas. But it can also be fun to work with a kit or set, so I have included a few favorites here too. And sometimes a special tool or supply is just the thing to unlock a whole world for a kid, and for adults too.

This post has a variety of ideas for kids of all ages, including art supplies, kits, books, and supplies.

Note: This site uses affiliate links for sites such as Amazon and Blick. If you click the links and complete a purchase, we may receive a percentage at no extra cost to you.

Faber-Castell Young Artist’s Essentials Gift Set

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This kit, from the venerable German art supply manufacturer, includes 64 pieces in a handsome wooden box. The kit includes colored pencils, watercolor pencils, graphite pencils, oil pastels, markers, small sheets of watercolor paper, and a sharpener. Pair this with a drawing pad and your kid is set for hours and hours of drawing and painting. Kids love having these sets and it also helps organize their materials. This kit is listed at $50 but I’ve seen it on sale for half that.

Strathmore Vision Sketchbook

Strathmore Vision Mixed Media sketchbook is great for anyone.

Strathmore Vision Mixed Media sketchbook is great for anyone.

The Strathmore Vision Mixed Media sketchbook has great paper and a second, customizable cover in slate blue cardstock. Simply rip off the first cover and start drawing and painting! And the thicker, 98lb mixed media paper works well with pencils, crayons, markers, and can even be used with ink and light washes of watercolor. Any mixed media pad is better than a drawing sketchbook because of the thicker paper (check out our mixed media sketchbook review here) but this pad is a great option for kids, teenagers, and students. It usually costs around $10 for a 9x12'“ pad.

The customizable, blank cover is a great feature of the Strathmore Vision mixed media pad.

The customizable, blank cover is a great feature of the Strathmore Vision mixed media pad.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

The Prismacolor Premier 24 count pack in a metal tin with two plastic trays of pencils.

The Prismacolor Premier 24 count pack in a metal tin with two plastic trays of pencils.

Prismacolor Premiers are some of the best and most affordable artist-grade colored pencils on the market. They are great for adults but kids will also appreciate the soft cores and vibrant colors. And they are quite affordable too. They do cost more than Crayola or other school brands, but those pencils are have hard cores and inferior pigment. Go with the bold colors of Prismacolor Premiers, or click here to see our full review of colored pencils.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are available individually or in sets ranging from 12 to 150 colors. A 24-count tin typically costs around $25.

Magic Clay Kit

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This set of air-dry clay comes with 36 colors, 47 accessories including a few tools, and will generate hours of fun crafting and creating. The clay dries in about 24 hours and has mess-free clean up. There’s also a larger kit with 50 colors of clay. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

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The Original Spirograph

No childhood is complete without this classic geometric drawing tool, first released in 1965. It’s equally fun for adults and allows you to explore patterns, math, and hand control. Create endless designs and try it with pens, pencils, and any sort of drawing media. The sets do come with fine point pens as well.

There are a variety of sets including a Spirograph Jr., scratch art, or a small travel version, but the Original Deluxe for around $24 is a great option.

Arnold Grummer Zig-Zag Books

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These prefolded, acid-free, accordion-style zig zag booklets give kids a fun way to make their own books, stories, or extended drawing panels. Available in three different sizes, the packs come with 12 booklets. Pair these packs with colored pencils or markers for a gift that will provide hours of fun and creativity. The packs come with chipboard covers and insert pages too.

The Arnold Grummer Zig Zag book packs typically range from $16 to $23.

Jovi Plastilina

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For sculptors of all ages, Jovi Plastilina is a non-hardening modeling clay that holds fine detail and can be reused over and over. It’s great for model making, small sculptures, or can be used to make stop-motion animation.

The colors will blend, if desired, or you can work to keep them separate. The clay is gluten free, is non-staining, and cleans up easily. The recommended pack costs around $29 and comes with 30 bars, 2 each of 15 colors, but there are a variety of pack sizes available that range in price from $9 to $75. This is a great, basic art supply that provides amazing, open-ended sculpting possibilities.

Dough Builders

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These plastic body parts—essential generic Potato Head parts—pair well with Plastilina, Play-Do, or any sort of modeling dough. Make fun creatures, characters, monsters and animals.

Amazon sells a huge 260-piece tub for around $30, while Blick has a more modest sized set for around $6.50 with 25 assorted parts. The large tub has 26 styles of pieces with 10 of each, so a smaller set might be enough for most kids but the big tub is great for parties, classrooms, or larger gatherings.

Alphacolor Biggies Tempera Cakes

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These semi-moist cakes of non-toxic tempera paint respond immediately to a wet brush. These cakes will never spoil or dry out, making them a long-lasting addition to your craft drawer without dealing with a bunch of bottles of paint. These opaque colors will blend, and stay vibrant and velvety smooth when dry. Pair these with a pad of mixed media or watercolor paper, and your kid will have unlimited possibilities.

These are available as an 8 pack in a plastic tray, or as 12 individual cakes. There are some complaints about the tray (it can get messy) but consider putting the paints inside separate deli containers or styrofoam trays, or any sort of system that makes sense to you. For $20 for the 8 pack, they’re an awesome set of paints for young artists.

ArtBin Sketch Board and Storage Bin

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The ArtBin Sketch Board is great for drawing or watercolor on the go, or to simply organize art supplies at home. ArtBin makes simple, functional storage bins and this takes their basic bin to the next level with pencil storage, pocket, and a clip inside and on the top to hold a pad or paper in place. Note that the plastic molding is not perfectly flat, so plan to use this with cardboard behind your paper such as a sketchpad or watercolor block.

The ArtBin Sketch Board typically retails for between $26 and $30. It measures 11.5” x 16” x 1.5” deep, and will easily hold a 9x12” sketchpad.

Canson XL Black Drawing Pad

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Black paper really makes colors pop and pairs well with colored pencils, pastels, and gel pens. It’s a fun a way to switch things up and the Canson XL Black Drawing Pads have great quality at an affordable price. Available in two sizes: 10x7” and 9x12”, they typically retail for $7 to $10.

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens

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Gel pens look great on all sorts of media, including black paper or on top of other paints, and the Sakura Gelly Roll Pens are some of the best out there. These may not be best for younger kids, but older elementary school children and older should be able to use these without too much mess—just let the ink dry before touching. Available in a variety of sets, try the Classic set of 10 pens for a young artist for around $12 to $14. There are other sets available, including metallic pens or the complete line of 74 Gelly Roll pens retails for around $85.

Arnold Grummer Dip Handmade Paper Kit

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Turn your scrap and waste paper into beautiful homemade paper with this 8 1/2” x 11” paper making screen. It’s super fun to explore this process, and you can use the results to make more projects! In addition to this screen, you’ll need a tub that can fit the screen (such as a plastic dish tub or deep cake pan), blender, and recycled paper or buy speciality paper fiber. The kit does come with some dried botanical pieces to get you started.

The 8 1/2 x 11” screen is a great size to start, but there’s a smaller screen available, as well as a deluxe kit that comes with a variety of templates. Kids will love making paper but you might find yourself experimenting with your own paper.

Jumbo Crayons and Pencils

Small hands will love extra big pencils and crayons, but even as an adult, these are some of my favorites. Here’s a few different quality options for jumbo-sized art supplies:

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Stabilo Woody

The Stabilo Woody is a “3 in 1” pencil that combines the features of a colored pencil, watercolor pencil, and a wax crayon. It can even be wiped off flat surfaces such as glass windows or tiles. It has an extra thick, 10mm thick core. Available in sets ranging from 6 to 18 pencils.

 
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Faber-Castell 9000 Series Jumbo Pencils

The Faber-Castell 9000 Series pencils have been in production since 1905 and they are an artist-grade classic. But hands old and young will appreciate the Jumbo version (these are my favorite sketching pencils too) that comes in a set of 5 with hardnesses ranging from HB to 8B. Be sure to get a large pencil sharpener that will accommodate these pencils, such as a Faber-Castell sharpener.

 

Jumbo Colored Pencils from Cretacolor, Jolly or Faber-Castell

There are a variety of jumbo colored pencils that are well made and will provide extra-thick, durable cores for hours of vibrant drawing. Some adults love these big pencils for coloring book work too!

For colored pencils, check out Cretacolor Megas or the Jolly X-Big options.

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Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Magnus

For oversized watercolor pencils, check out the Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Magnus pencils. These are professional, artist-grade pencils with 5.3mm cores that will be appreciated by any artist including kids. Use dry as a colored pencil, or blend with water and brush to activate the line. Available individually or in sets of 12, 18, or 24.

The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia

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Recommended for ages 8 and up, this visual encyclopedia from DK covers the history of art including painting, sculpture, and photography. The 9x11” book has 304 pages that are full of images and info on art history classics. Available in paperback or hardcover, it’s a great deal at $18 to $22.

Elmer’s Slime Kits

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Make your own slime at home! These are so fun for kids and get their hands moving and imagination going. Just be prepared for some cleanup, but the good news, is it’s all washable.

Add metallic glitter, confetti, and other fun effects to customize your slime.

Make Ink: A Forager’s Guide to Natural Inkmaking by Jason Logan

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Use this book as a guide to turn things you find inside or outside into ink. Beautifully illustrated and full of info and recipes, this book will show you and your kid how to make ink from flowers, plants, acorns, bark, copper, turmeric and more. Middle school and up will be fine with this book but elementary-age kids will need parent help.

The book is available in hardcover for around $26.

Marbling Kits and Supplies

The Boku-Undo marbling dye kit is sold at Blick and Amazon, and Amazon also carries an option (linked below) with brushes.

The Boku-Undo marbling dye kit is sold at Blick and Amazon, and Amazon also carries an option (linked below) with brushes.

Making marbled paper is fun for kids, teens, and adults. There are a variety of kits and supplies, some require mixing a thickener with water and waiting for everything to mix overnight. But the inks from Boku-Undo float on plain water and can be used right away. You will need some sort of tray or tub, inks, brushes, and paper such as watercolor paper. You will only be limited by the size of your tub and paper, and your imagination.

Alginate / Plaster Casting Kit

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The Luna Bean Hand Casting Kit is a foolproof way to make a mold in a bucket using skin-safe alginate, and then cast the mold with the provided gypsum plaster cement. But you don’t have to just make hands. Make a mold of a toy, a Playdoh sculpture, heck—make a mold of anything! Teenagers will be able to use this on their own (make sure they wear a dust mask) and you can work with younger children to introduce them to the casting process. It’s really fun, and if you’ve never made a mold, the resulting detail will astonish you. This $40 kit includes a bucket, alginate, and plaster. There are also larger and smaller kits.

If you are looking for your own skin-safe casting material without the bucket, try Smooth-On Alja Safe

Blick Studio Table Easel by Jullian

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This table top easel is stable, well made, and will hold canvases up to 24” tall. It also folds flat so it can be put away when not in use. It folds to 10 1/2” x 18” x 2” deep, making it small enough to take on the go too. For $18, this is a great option that will be equally useful to adults as kids. Inspire the painter in an artist of any age with this table top easel.

Blick Studio Canvas Panels

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Canvas panels are an economical way to introduce beginners to painting on canvas. Each panel is approximately 1/8” thick and features double-primed, 5oz canvas stretched over a stiff board. Lightweight, warp resistant, and acid free, these canvas panels are ready for acrylic, oil or any painting medium. Available in packs of 5 or larger classroom packs, young painters can make lots of work without taking up a ton of room with these. These panels are available in sizes ranging from 4” x 5” to 20” x 24”.

Sargent Art Acrylic Paint Pot Set

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This set of acrylic paints includes 6 or 12 paint pots with screw on caps. The pots are not removeable, so the paints all stay together and are less likely to be tipped over. And the pots can be refilled with other acrylic paint as needed. This is a great set for elementary-age painters or any artist looking for a bit of organization in their studio. These cost around $5 for 6 colors, or $10 for 12 colors.

Klutz Friendship Bracelet Kit

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Making friendship bracelets is a classic childhood activity and introduces ideas of pattern making, detail work, and craft skills. This book and kit includes everything a kid needs to make 12 bracelets. Recommended for ages 8 and up, the kit comes with 10 skeins of thread.

Wear’m Denim Apron

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This simple denim apron with a back tie and a front pocket comes in two sizes, the smaller is perfect for kids while the large will work for teens and adults. Easy to launder and long-lasting, just make sure to tie the string together before washing, or it may pull out. These are just about the cheapest aprons out there, and they work great. $6 for the small or $9 for the larger size.

Lomida Flip Book Kit

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Young artists can create their own cartoons with this complete kit! It includes six 4.5” x 2.5” flip books with 90 pages each, a set of 12 pencils, sharpener, and pencil. This is sure to entertain and inspire, and gives kids insights about cartoons and stop-motion animation. The kit is $15.

Craft Bin

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A craft bin full of supplies is a sure way to entertain kids. With glue, scissors, pom poms, and tons of other pieces, they can go crazy making whatever they want. The Funzbo bin is a good option, with a regular and mega size, but there are a wide variety of craft bins to choose from, typically ranging from $12 to about $30. Recommended for ages 4 to 10.

Tempera Paint Sticks

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Tempera paint sticks are sort of like markers, but with non-toxic, washable tempera paint. An easy way to paint with no need for water or brushes, these are great for when time is tight or clean up is a concern. Kwik Stix makes highly reviewed and recommended tempera paint sticks in a variety of colors and styles, including metallic, neon, and thinner sticks too.

How to Draw Books

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Kids often appreciate a guidebook for learning how to draw and there are a lot of books out there on learning how to draw animals, faces, or they might appreciate a book on comic book and manga drawing styles.

For budding comic book artists, check out our guide to making a booklet with a long-reach stapler. Kids love having their own little booklet to draw in, or a simple sketchbook to carry around.

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Scratch-Art Boards

Scratch art is a cool way to make colorful images. Typically black over a colorful base, the color is revealed by scratching through the black with a metal or wooden stylus, stick, toothpick, or anything that can pull off the top material. Kids really love this and the scratch art paper is typically available in packs of 5, 10, 30 or more sheets. I haven’t really encountered a “bad” brand so order what seems best to you but the links here are to Scratch-Art Brand.

SunPrint Paper

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Cyanotype is an early photographic process first discovered in 1842, and the SunPrint Paper is a great way to introduce this process to artists of all ages. To use, place flowers, objects, or anything on top of the paper and expose it to the sun where the exposed paper will turn blue. Then, rinse the paper in water to “fix” the image, although they may fade somewhat over time. A fun activity for all, this can get kids thinking about image making, materials, and the basic fundamentals of photography. Each pack comes with 15 sheets of 8.5 x 11” paper.

For larger sheets than SunPrint or raw materials to create your own cyanotype, shop Jacquard Cyanotype products at Blick.

Blick Studio Adjustable Activity Easel

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This easel is an affordable and flexible model that can be used on the floor or tabletop. It’s great for younger kids and it can be raised to a top height of 54”. The easel is 26 inches wide, and comes with a 25 foot roll of 18” paper. Typically priced around $90, this should provide years of use for painting and drawing.

The Year of Knots by Windy Chien

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Knots as art? Why not! (lol sorry). This book details Chien’s year long exploration of knots and while it is aimed at adults, older elementary school kids and up will appreciate it too. Beautiful illustrated with a ton of knots, plan to spend some money on rope to do these projects too. Knots and knot art touches on math, hand skills, macramé, craft, and so many other topics. It’s a fantastic jumping off point to explore more than just rope.

U.S. Art Supply Adjustable Portable Easel

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This compact wooden easel has a drawer for supplies and can accommodate paper or canvas up to 11” x14”. It measures 13.25" wide, 10.25" deep, and 2" high, and includes a wooden painters palette. It also includes a handle for carrying. For $30, it’s a nice little unit that should see years of use if treated carefully. It’s also a great gift for a young painter—pair it with a watercolor or acrylic set and they are ready to get to work at home or outside.

Conclusion

Giving kids art supplies is a great idea as it sparks their creativity, introduces motor control skills, and gives them the freedom to make their decisions and follow their ideas. This gift guide has more than 35 recommendations of art supplies and kits. For the most part, these are supplies that can used in open-ended ways rather than a kit that can only do one thing.

What are your favorite ideas for kids art supplies? Let us know in the comments.

Best Ware Carts and Mobile Shelves for Pottery, Ceramics, and Sculpture Studios

Ware Carts can add a lot of storage space to your studio and are great for holding in-progress work. If you get a model on wheels, it will make your studio even more flexible and allow you to maximize space.

There are six ware carts made for ceramic studios, but you can also use wire shelving and even bakery carts. This post will cover every type of ware cart I’ve seen in ceramic studios, along with recommended picks. In truth, any of these will be quality additions to your studio. You’ll just need to select the cart that works for your space, and budget.

The Brent Ware Cart: our top pick for a ware cart / mobile shelving in a ceramic studio.

The Brent Ware Cart: our top pick for a ware cart / mobile shelving in a ceramic studio.

Top Pick: Brent Ware Cart

The Brent Ware Cart is my favorite ware cart for a few reasons. It has the typical Brent overbuilt / bombproof construction; it’s tall; and it’s made with round steel pipe. As ware carts are designed to move, the round sides are comfortable to grab and roll. It’s a small difference, but a detail that really makes this cart stand out. The center top bar is also less conspicuous, and I like the rounded look. Brent makes a few other carts, including a mobile shelf cart, if you want to go for a matching look too.

This cart ships flat and assembles by bolting together the cross bars and adding plywood shelves. It comes with 4” locking casters, and measures 35 inches wide, 24 inches deep, and 72 3/4” tall. The shelves are 24” x 32” and it can hold up to 9 full shelves, or you can use it with a combination of 12 x 32” half shelves.

The Brent Ware Cart typically retails for around $700 plus $150 for the shelves, or you can cut plywood yourself to make the 32” wide shelving.

Budget Pick: Wire Shelving on Wheels

Seville Classics 2’ x 4’ x 6’ tall heavy duty wheeled wire shelving.

Seville Classics 2’ x 4’ x 6’ tall heavy duty wheeled wire shelving.

Ceramic-specific ware carts retail for between $425 and $700 plus shelves, but for less than half that you can get heavy duty wire shelving on wheels. The wire shelving is not ideal for greenware that is too wet, but you can use boards to store wet pieces on it. And it is great for pieces that are leather hard, for drying tiles, or for any other sort of storage.

For wire shelving used as a ware cart, I’d go for 24” deep shelving such as the Seville Classics 24” x 48” x 72” tall unit with 3 inch casters. The whole unit is rated to hold 500 lbs. This is lower than the 750 to 1000 lbs that a ceramic ware cart will hold, but should be plenty for most studios.

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Ultra-Budget Pick: Amazon Basics Wire Shelving on Wheels

For a mobile wire shelving unit that is perfect for smaller studios, you can’t beat the $60 Amazon Basics mobile wire shelving. It’s got 5 shelves, measures 14” deep x 30” wide x 64.75” tall. It’s not as strong or big as a ceramic ware cart but it should hold up under individual / light duty use. Just don’t expect these to survive in an academic or community studio with heavy use.

Budget Pick: Bakery Carts

The Gridmann Bakery Cart with locking casters.

The Gridmann Bakery Cart with locking casters.

Bakery carts are another option for ceramic studios. They aren’t as sturdy or designed for the weight of clay or plaster, but can work for light-duty purposes. They are also cheaper and are often easy to find used. They tend to be smaller, built around the size of an 18” x 26” sheet pan. You’ll need to cut your own plywood shelves or with the narrow width, you can also make shelves with drywall.

Bakery carts are especially popular with tile makers as they really expand your storage area and they work with homemade, drywall shelves.

There are many option, but a solid one is the Gridmann Bakery Cart, which retails for around $150 plus the cost of shelves. In many ways, bakery work is pretty similar to ceramics so maybe these carts would be an ideal option for your studio.

These are just a few of the options for a studio. The post continues below with information on every ware cart on the market.

A Note on Plywood Shelves: Most ware carts have the option of adding precut shelves. You can also make your own with 3/4” interior-grade plywood. Cut it yourself with a plunge saw or table saw, or have a lumber yard cut it for you. You could use 1/2” plywood, but that will bend or warp over time. 3/4” plywood is a better investment as it is more likely to stay flat. It’s worth it to get the best grade of plywood you can afford, you’ll be happy you did years down the road.

If you get a narrow cart, such as a bakery cart, you can also make shelves out of drywall. Just be sure to cover the edges with duct tape or gummed paper packing tape, so that you won’t get drywall crumbs all over your studio.

Table of Contents

  • Top Pick: Brent Ware Cart

  • Budget Pick: Mobile Wire Shelving and Bakery Carts

  • Runner up: Bailey Ware Truck

  • North Star Ware Cart

  • Axner Ware Cart

  • Laguna Ware Cart

  • Debcor Ware Cart

  • Bakery Carts

  • Summary

Runner Up: Bailey Ware Cart

The Bailey Ware Cart, pictured here with the 13 shelf option.

The Bailey Ware Cart, pictured here with the 13 shelf option.

The Bailey Ware Cart is another great option that is about the same size as the Brent Ware Cart but has more shelves and is cheaper. Made of square steel bars and angle iron, it measures 24” deep x 34 1/2” wide x 74 1/4” tall. It has 6” casters and is available with 13 or 26 shelves. The 13 shelf unit retails for around $500 while the 26 shelf unit is around $650. The 26 shelf unit has a 2.5” spacing and is great for studios that do a lot of tile work, whereas the 5” spacing on the 13 shelf unit should work for most studios.

The Bailey Cart has a boxy shape, is easy to roll, and will be a piece of studio furniture that will last for decades. I have used these in a variety of studios and really like them, especially for tile work. When considering this unit, do note the top bars in the front and back. You will either have to use the top shelf for shorter ware, or as is more common, not use the top shelf or two.

Other Ware Cart options:

North Star Ware Truck

The North Star Ware Truck has easy-to-change shelf supports.

The North Star Ware Truck has easy-to-change shelf supports.

The North Star Ware Truck is characterized by it’s flexible shelf supports that hook in place without any tools. It’s a flexible, easy to use design. (You’ll have to gauge how often you need to change the set up of your ware cart to know if this makes sense to you.)

The entire unit is 39” wide, 24” deep and 67” tall and has 6” locking casters. It’s a bit shorter than most ware carts. It can hold up to 22 shelves, but it comes standard with 8 brackets, which gives you 4 shelves in addition to the bottom shelf. This package typically costs around $700.

This is a well thought out cart and is a great option if you want something shorter. Personally, I’d go with a taller cart like the Brent or the Bailey, but the North Star is one of the more flexible options.

Axner Ware Cart

The Axner Ware Cart is almost square, with shelves measure 32” x 36” inches.

The Axner Ware Cart is almost square, with shelves measure 32” x 36” inches.

The Axner Ware Cart is the biggest cart reviewed here. 36” wide, 32” deep, and 84” tall, this boxy behemoth will hold more ware than you’ll know what to do with. It has the potential for 11 shelves and is listed at a 1000 lb max load with 6” casters. Truthfully, this is the one ware cart I’ve never used in person. But it’s big! A deeper version of the Bailey ware cart in a way, that I’m sure is made with good quality from Axner / Laguna. At $500, it’s a good deal.

Halve shelves are listed at $10 each, it would be $220 for all 22. You could probably cut your own for cheaper.

Laguna Ware Cart

The Laguna Ware Cart in the distinctive Laguna teal paint job.

The Laguna Ware Cart in the distinctive Laguna teal paint job.

The Laguna Ware Cart has a center support column that can accommodate 18 half shelves. A distinctive design, it is easy to load even on the top shelf. The drawback is that it’s harder to grab and roll this cart, and you can occasionally catch yourself on the protruding shelf supports.

The cart measures 24” deep x 38” wide x 58” tall with 4” casters, with the shelves measure 12 x 36”. The cart retails for $425 and includes six shelves. It’s a good deal, but it is a shorter shelf and it’s just harder to grab and move this cart when you want to.

Debcor Ware Truck

The Debcor Ware Truck

The Debcor Ware Truck

The Debcor Ware Truck is the shortest option for ceramic ware carts, measuring 24” deep x 32” wide x 54” tall with 4” locking casters. The half shelves measure 12” x 28”, or 24” x 28” for full shelves. Like the Laguna Ware Cart, the Debcor Truck has a top cross bar that doesn’t interfere with loading ware. Although it’s shorter, this could potentially be a great option if you use the top layer for loading tall work.

This cart retails for $575 with 12 plywood half shelves. The cart can accommodate 8 full shelves or 16 half shelves, so you may want to cut a few extra.

Summary

Shelving on wheels just makes every studio better, and a quality ware cart is an investment that will last for decades while maximizing studio space. This post has covered every ceramic-specific option I’m aware of, along with wire shelving and bakery carts. The Brent Ware Cart is my favorite, followed closely by the Bailey Ware Cart, but truthfully, any ware cart is a better option that immobile shelving or no shelving at all.

What do you use for mobile shelving in your studio? Let us know in the comments.

Best Wet Polisher / Grinder for Ceramics and Sculpture

There are a variety of wet polishers/grinders on the market, but models from Flex, Makita, and Metabo are clear market leaders. These are long-lasting, professional-grade tools that will hold up under heavy use for all your grinding and polishing needs. There are other options, but the top three picks are clearly superior to various generics and off-brand models. These tools are mostly designed for polishing and routing marble and stone, but they work great with ceramic, glaze, concrete and other materials.

A complete review and guide to wet polishers is below, but first:

TOP PICK: Flex LE 12-3 100 Variable Speed Wet Polisher / Grinder

The Flex LE 12-3 100 Variable Speed Wet Polisher / Grinder.

The Flex LE 12-3 100 Variable Speed Wet Polisher / Grinder.

The top pick (and the model I use in the studio) is the Flex LE 12-3 100 Variable Speed Wet Polisher / Grinder.

The Flex polisher has a 9.3 amp motor with speeds ranging from 1200 to 3700 RPM, can accommodate up to 5 inch pads, weighs 5.5 lbs (2.4kg), and it is made with high-quality rubber hoses and cords that stand the test of time. One distributor reports that of all the wet grinder models, this gets returned the least, speaking to its quality. The Flex Variable Speed Wet Polisher typically retails for around $320-$340.

Like most power tools, you do have to pay for quality with wet polishers. The top three models from Flex, Makita and Metabo are among the most expensive models, generally costing between $300 and $350 plus extra for a pad and grinding discs. But for an electric tool used in such close proximity to water, you definitely want a tool that you can trust.

Is this a necessary tool for everyone? Most likely not. A wet polisher/grinder is a specialized piece of equipment. But once you have one, you’ll find lots of uses ranging from clean up and polishing, to opening up new decorative possibilities with ceramic glazes. And it’s always great to have a water-based sanding operation to keep dust down in your studio.

SAFETY NOTE

Wet polishers / grinders have electrical motors and a water feed. Use proper safety equipment including eye protection, rubber gloves, and possibly a rubber apron. These machines will cast water in many directions, so create a protected area and endeavor to keep water away from the motor and electrical cords. If you feel a “tingle” of electricity, cease use and assess what is causing the problem. All of these tools come with a built-in Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) and if possible, you should plug them into an outlet that also has a GFCI. If the on-unit GFCI is not working, do not use the tool.

Table of Contents

  1. Top Pick: Flex LE 12-3 100 Variable Speed Wet Polisher / Grinder

  2. 2nd Top Pick: Metabo PWE 11-100 Variable Wet Polisher / Grinder

  3. 3rd Top Pick: Makita PW5001C Variable Speed Stone Polisher

  4. Runner Up: Stadea SWP 101K Wet Polisher

  5. Other options

  6. Comparison Chart / Buyer’s Guide

  7. How To Use A Wet Polisher

  8. Summary

Top Pick: Flex LE 12-3 100 Variable Speed Wet Polisher and Grinder

The Flex Wet Polisher / Grinder with a 4 inch pad attached, and showing 4 and 5 inch Stadea brand diamond grinding pads.

The Flex Wet Polisher / Grinder with a 4 inch pad attached, and showing 4 and 5 inch Stadea brand diamond grinding pads.

The Flex LE 12-3 100 is the top pick because of its many high-quality features including variable speed, ability to accommodate up to 5” pads, quality of construction including a rubber hose that won’t get kinks, and durability. It’s a close race with the Makita and Metabo models, but this German-made machine stands out for it’s overall quality and ease of use. I’m happy to report that this is the machine I have been using in my studio and it has held up under 6 years of frequent use. If I was shopping today, I would look most closely at this model and the Metabo.

The Flex comes with a 1 year warranty, and has a 9.3 amp motor with speeds ranging from 1200 to 3700 RPM. It does not come with an adapter for the quick-release hose, so you will have to find something that works for your studio. I use a simple garden hose to quick-release connector and I’ve also found attachments to get the hose connector fitted on a faucet.

Flex also makes a single speed model that costs about $20 less, but I think a variable speed wet polisher is the way to go. I typically use speeds ranging from 2 to 4 on this, or 1700 to 2400 RPMs. The speed adjuster is a dial on the back of the tool (see pictures below).

If you read online reviews, the only drawbacks that users report is difficulty finding the right hose connector (I found it easy to find however) and some report GFCI issues. I am very careful when using a wet polisher, and can say I’ve never felt one tingle or shock from this machine.

Slideshow of more images of the Flex LE 12-3 100 Wet Polisher.

2nd Top Pick: Metabo PWE 11-100 Wet Polisher / Grinder

The Metabo PWE 11-100 Wet Polisher, pictured here with a 4 inch pad.

The Metabo PWE 11-100 Wet Polisher, pictured here with a 4 inch pad.

The Metabo PWE 11-100 another variable speed, German-made wet polisher / grinder that has a lot of great features and is one of 3 professional-grade wet polishers that are best for ceramic and sculpture studios. It has a 9.6 amp motor with speeds ranging from 1700 to 6100 RPM, can accommodate up to a 5 inch pad. It also has an adjustable handle and a standard 1 year warranty with can be extended to 3 years with online registration.

Note the conveniently placed water switch near the rear hand grip on the Metabo.

Note the conveniently placed water switch near the rear hand grip on the Metabo.

This is the most recent wet polisher to the market, and Metabo has looked hard at the Flex and Makita models to try to find innovative touches, namely the extra speed, adjustable handle, and best of all, placing the water switch near the rear grip so you can cut the water with a push of your finger.

Some online users report issues with finding a quick connect adapter that works, but I think if you just take your grinder to the hardware store, you should be able to find something that works. All in all, this is a great model that goes head to head with the Flex. I’m really happy with my Flex Wet Polisher but I’d look really close at this model if I was buying a new machine today.

3rd Top Pick: Makita PW5001C 4” Wet Polisher / Grinder

The Makita PW5001C Wet Polisher

The Makita PW5001C Wet Polisher

The Makita PW5001C Wet Polisher is one of the most popular wet grinders on the market and you will find extensive reviews and feedback, which speaks to its overall quality and professional-grade durability. It has a 7.9 amp motor with speeds ranging from 2000 to 4000 RPM, and can accommodate up to a 4” pad.

This model was the first to feature a water feed on the bottom of the machine, which was an innovation soon copied by Flex and Metabo. It has a 1 year warranty. It also has a traditional side grip front handle, similar to what you see on angle grinders.

Some reviews once again found issues with getting the correct attachments for the quick-release hose, but I’m sure a well-stocked hardware store will have something that will get this machine working in your studio.

Overall, it’s a great tool but has a few drawbacks in comparison to the Flex and Metabo including a weaker motor, smaller speed range, and is only recommended up to a 4 inch pad. In general, I mostly use 4 inch pads but I like to have the option for a bigger pad for polishing flat surfaces. But if the Makita seems right for you, don’t let the pad size be the deciding factor. This is the best-selling wet polisher for a reason and Makita is trusted by many professionals in the stone polishing business.

Runner Up: Stadea SWP101K Wet Polisher

The Stadea 101K Wet Polisher / Grinder.

The Stadea 101K Wet Polisher / Grinder.

Outside of the top three professional-grade wet polishers, the Stadea 101K is the best of the budget models. It has a variable speed motor with a range of 700 to 3000 RPM, a splash guard, and can accommodate up to a 5 inch pad. At 9 pounds, it does weigh significantly more than top 3 models, which all weigh about 5 to 5.5 lbs.

The Stadea wet polisher comes with a 6 month warranty and is available as a standalone tool for $200 or can be purchased in packages that include a pad and grinding discs for around $300. Stadea pads are a great option for diamond polishing pads and what I use in the studio, so that package might be an attractive purchase.

Stadea also sells packages, such as this kit with a 4 inch pad, 7 diamond grinding discs, and a buffing pad.

Stadea also sells packages, such as this kit with a 4 inch pad, 7 diamond grinding discs, and a buffing pad.

Users report a variety of problems with this model (and every other budget model) including water leaks and issues with feeling a tingle of electricity while using. It seems that some of these problems may stem from improper use or setting up a workspace incorrectly, so just be careful and you should be fine. But the issue with cheap washers or improper fit of the built-in garden hose connector are annoying and speak to the drawbacks of shopping budget-grade models. If they shortchange the hose connector, what else might be a problem?

Other Models and Options

The six models described below are very affordable but have lots of mixed reviews online. Some users report that these worked great for them, others point to issues with build-quality, overheating, motors dying, and other issues. They also have short warranties or none at all, so shop at your own risk! Many of these models have very similar looking parts, such as the switch on the water valve, and the brass garden hose attachment.

The Damo 4” Wet Polisher Kit

The Damo 4” Wet Polisher Kit

Damo Variable Speed Wet Polisher

The Damo variable speed wet polisher has a 7 amp motor with speeds ranging from 700 to 3000 RPM and is available as a polisher for $180 or as a kit for around $220 to $240. It has a side handle, a bottom water feed with a switch near the rear of the tool, and can accommodate up to 5 inch pads. Overall, many online reviewers were happy with this tool although it’s weight (6.5 lbs) was reported as a drawback. A decent number of reviewers also mentioned that the tool stopped working or had broken parts after a month or two of use. If you’ll occasionally need a wet polisher, this might work, but it’s most likely not going to hold up for months or years under heavy use.

The Hardin WV 4” Wet Polisher Kit

The Hardin WV 4” Wet Polisher Kit

Hardin WV Polisher

The Hardin WV Polisher features an 8 amp motor with speeds ranging from 1000 to 4000 RPM and comes in a kit with a 4 inch backer and set of diamond polishing pads. It has a top water feed with a shutoff valve by the front handle, and comes with a hose and garden-hose attachment.

It has a 90 day warranty and extremely mixed reviews, including a few that mentioned the onboard GFCI didn’t trip even when exposed to water. Yikes! It’s available for the ultra-budget price of $107.

Hardin HWV Wet Polisher

The Hardin HWV Wet Polisher has an 800 watt motor with speeds ranging from 700 to 3000 RPM, and is designed to use with 4” pads. I wasn’t able to locate warranty or weight information, but I assume it’s around the same as the Hardin unit listed above. This polisher comes with a backer pad, diamond discs, and a hose attachment that will fit a standard garden hose. It was a bottom water feed, a splash guard, and two handles options.

Like all the budget models, it has extremely mixed reviews with some users saying they loved it while others reported that motor ran extremely hot, and that they had problems with the GFCI. One user reported that extra plastic flashing from the manufacturing process were blocking air vents to the motor, and that cutting those helped reduce the motor overheating issue. Overall, this is a very budget option that costs $140 for the bare tool or around $165 for a kit.

The Hardin HWV Wet Polisher Kit.

The Hardin HWV Wet Polisher Kit.

The Kawaii WEP 250 Wet Polisher

The Kawaii WEP 250 Wet Polisher

Kawaii WEP 250

The Kawaii WEP 250 Wet Polisher has variable speeds ranging from 900 to 2800, can accommodate up to 5 inch pads, and has a 90 day warranty. This is a model that is carried at Home Depot so you might be able to see it in person in store. It weighs 6 lbs and has many similar parts to other models here, including the water valve switch and garden hose connector. It doesn’t have a lot of reviews online so it’s hard to get much info, but it seems like a pretty straightforward option. One reviewer compared it to the Metabo and described this as a great budget option but did report feeling a few tingles while using, and that the hose connector had to be taped to reduce leakage. It retails for around $145

QuickT Wet Polisher.jpg

QuickT SPW702A Wet Polisher

The QuickT SPW702A Wet Polisher is one of a few models with the “old school” top water line feed, and it has variable speeds ranging from 1000–3000 RPM. It comes with a splash guard, brass hose fitting on the water line, and retails for the budget price of around $150 in a kit that includes pads.

It has a lot of great reviews online, and some who had a few problems. To my eye, it looks very similar to the Hardin WV model with the top water feed. As with many of these budget models, warranty info is not mentioned. It may work for a project or two, or longer if you take care, but it doesn’t come with any sort of manufacturer standing behind it.

ZFE 800 W variable speed polisher grinder.jpg

ZFE 4” Wet Polisher

The ZFE 4” Wet Polisher is another model with the water feed at the top, a splash guard, and a weight listed at between 8.5 and 9 lbs. To my eye, it looks very similar to the QuickT and Hardin WV models, and it retails for around the same price, $170 with a backer pad and polishing pads. It has a variable speed ranging from 500 to 3000 RPM, and doesn’t have warranty info listed online. It has varied reviews with some reporting great success, and others mentioning problems with the O rings on the water line.

Wet Polisher / Grinder Comparison Chart

This chart is with the top picks first, then other models are listed alphabetically.
Note: All models have built in GFCI and 5/8" arbor for backer pad attachments. Some manufacturers list motor by amp, watts, or both and every effort has been made to locate that info.

Top Picks Typical Price Motor Max Pad RPM Range Weight Water Feed Warranty
Flex LE 12-3 100 $320-$340 7.9 amp, 1150 watt 5" 1200-3700 5.3 lbs Bottom 1 year
Metabo PWE 11-100 $310-$330 9.6 amp, 1100 watt 5" 1700-6100 4.9 lbs Bottom 1 to 3 years
Makita PW5001C $300-$320 7.9 amp 4" 2000-4000 5.1 lbs Bottom 1 Year
Stadea SWP101K $198 800 watt 5" 700-3000 9 lbs Bottom 6 months
Other Models
Damo $180 7 amp, 800 watt 4" 700-3000 6.5 lbs Bottom ?
Hardin WV $108 800 watt 5" 1000-4000 8.8 lbs Top 90 days
Hardin HWV $165 800 watt 5" 700-3000 ? Bottom ?
Kawaii WEP 250 $145 7 amp, 900 watt 5" 900-2800 6 lbs Bottom 90 days
QuickT SPW702A $151 800 watt 5" 1000-3500 9 lbs Top ?
ZFE $170 800 watt 5" 500-3000 8.7 lbs Top ?

How to Use a Wet Grinder and a Few Tips

Wet Polisher / Grinders are a specialized tool that can really make short work of your polishing jobs. But with that speed comes potential mess if you don’t have the proper set up. A few tips:

  • Use in a large slop sink or something with walls if possible. This will keep water splashing down.

  • Be aware of where the polisher might spray water, keep electrical outlets protected

  • Wear rubber gloves and rubber apron

  • Use the least amount of water you need.

  • Clean your tool after use, the sprayed water will contain a lot of grit which can cause problems with switches, dials and other moving parts of your tool.

  • For ceramic glaze or kiln shelf clean up, I use 50 grit pads first, then 100, 200 and 400. I don’t usually go higher than 400. Rather than get the traditional 50-3000 grit pad set, you may just need 4 pads. I use Stadea pads. Click here to purchase individual pads.

  • If needed, get multiple backer pads so you can use different size pads. My favorite size is 4” but I do have 5” too.

For a really cool use of this tool, check out what the artist Brad Miller does with his wet polisher. He makes textured forms and then layers multiple colors of pigmented slip and glaze. After the final glaze fire, he will polish back through, revealing the stratified layers.

Summary

Wet Polishers are great tools if you are looking for a dust-free way to grind ceramic, glaze, stone, concrete or other hard surfaces. They will quickly dispense with the biggest glaze drips, getting your piece ready for display. They are also great for cleaning up kiln shelves. There are a variety of models on the market but 3 professional grade models from Flex, Metabo, and Makita really stand out. Not only are these models backed by good warranties, the tools are built to last and survive the test of time. There are also budget options available if you are looking for a tool that will be used just occasionally. The tradeoffs between the professional grade and budget models are clear: fewer hassles, better parts, and tools that will just keep working. The goal of this post was to share my own experience with wet polishers and to give an overview of what is available to buy.

Wall Mounted Clay Extruder Buyer's Guide

Clay extruders are an efficient way to make hollow forms, coils, and other shapes. They are basically tubes with a die attachment and a lever, and there are just enough models on the market to make it a bit confusing to choose. This guide will cover recommended models, and includes a comparison chart of all the models on the market so that you can pick the best extruder for your studio.

The models covered here will make hollow forms ranging from about 2 inches wide to 8 inches wide, although most models will extrude forms around 3 inches wide. They will also make solid coils and other shapes, and all models have blank dies that you can customize to suit your needs or some manufacturers will make custom dies. The smaller sized barrels, such as the Bailey 4” wide extruder, will be the best choice for most studios. But there are larger models and upgrade picks to consider too.

When choosing a model, consider how you will be using it. If you will mostly make solid coil, handle, or other shapes, stick with a 4” wide model as that will be easiest to manage. If you will be making mostly hollow forms, any size model will be relatively easy to extrude; just choose a model that will be big enough for your needs. Other options to consider are the lever style, die options, and ease of cleanup.

The North Star Big Blue Extruder, the only extruder on the market with a round “wagon wheel” handle. It’s wall mounted with a variety of dies.

The North Star Big Blue Extruder, the only extruder on the market with a round “wagon wheel” handle. It’s wall mounted with a variety of dies.

TOP PICK

The top pick and I believe most innovative extruder on the market is the North Star Big Blue Extruder. Featuring a wagon wheel handle, it is easy to use, has a large capacity barrel, and is durable and long lasting. It’s one of the more expensive extruders (aside from powered extruders) but the size, versatility and easy of use more than compensate for the high price point. The gear system allows you to turn the handle and extrude with ease, and the barrel can hold up to 25 lbs of clay. The Big Blue extruders typically retail from around $900 to $1090.

The Bailey 4 inch extruder features a wall mount, lever handle, and interchangeable dies.

The Bailey 4 inch extruder features a wall mount, lever handle, and interchangeable dies.

BEST FOR MOST STUDIOS

For most studios, a basic Bailey 4” extruder is a great option. The 4 inch square barrel allows you to make hollow forms up to 3 inches in diameter, but it’s not so large that it’s hard to extrude the clay. This extruder typically costs around $400 and the die kit is an additional $130. It’s one of the better options when you consider price and the die options, but drawbacks include installing the dies and that the barrel is welded to the wall mount, making clean up harder.



If you are looking for a handheld, mini extruder, or “clay gun,” check out our Handheld Extruder Guide here.

A complete review of wall mounted clay extruders follows.

Table of Contents

  1. Top Pick: North Star Big Blue Extruder

  2. Runner Up: Bailey 4, 5 or 9 inch extruders

  3. North Star 4 inch extruder

  4. Scott Creek 4 or 5 inch extruder

  5. Brent Extruders

  6. Other Wall Mounted Extruders

  7. Powered Extruders

  8. Extruder Tips

  9. Extruder Comparison Chart

  10. Summary

Top Pick: North Star Big Blue Extruder

The North Star Big Blue Extruder.

The North Star Big Blue Extruder.

The North Start Big Blue Extruder combines a big barrel capacity with an easy-to-turn wagon wheel handle and a wide selection of dies. It does cost a premium, typically $900 to $1090, but the size and versatility makes it a wonderful addition to any studio.

The Big Blue has a 6 x 6 x 12 inch tall aluminum barrel that will hold up to a full 25 lb bag of clay. The dies can extrude up to a 4.5 x 4.5 inch wide hollow form, and the dies are a sturdy, hard plastic.

To use the extruder, the die and bottom brace are attached to the barrel with two hex screws. The dies have helpful channels to lock into place. Then, the barrel is filled with clay, and this whole unit is slid up and in and attached to the machine. On one hand, this is an advantage as the dies and clay can be added at a workbench, but the drawback is that you have to move up to about 30 lbs in to place and secure it on the ledge “lip” that will hold the barrel securely. Overall, I find it easy to use, but you want to make sure that you don’t drop a clay-filled barrel on your feet so a shelf or stool underneath can help.

The wagon wheel handle and rack and pinion gears are the real selling point for me, as it makes it much easier to extrude large amounts of clay for extra long tubes and coils. Every other extruder on the market uses some form of a lever handle, which can be dangerous if left sticking out into your space, and they can be hard to pull down. The wagon wheel handle is also relatively compact, or at least it doesn’t stick out into your space.

The Big Blue Extruder is not cheap, typically priced anywhere from $900 to $1090, and the dies cost about $40 each. But, it’s an amazing machine that if properly cared for, will work for decades. I simply keep it clean and add some grease to the gears from time to time.

Runner Up / Best for Most Studios: Bailey 4”, 5” or 9” Extruders

The Bailey 4 wall mounted extruded with a 4” barrel.

The Bailey 4 wall mounted extruded with a 4” barrel.

Bailey makes a great line of clay extruders that are well built and available at a lower price point than the North Star Big Blue. The Bailey models feature a barrel welded to the wall mount, dies that attach with a brace, and a plunger with a lever that slides up and down the pole.

The models include a 4” barrel, a 5” barrel, and a much larger 9” barrel. The 4” and 5” models are available in mild steel or stainless steel—you’ll want to go with stainless if you are using porcelain and are worried about rust. Bailey also makes two sizes of die kits, one kit fits both the 4 and 5 inch barrels, while there’s a larger kit for the 9” extruder. There’s also an extension kit that adapts the small dies to the bigger barrel. If you want, there’s also an upgraded powered version with a variety of stands and other tools suitable for a production studio. When considering the Bailey models, keep in mind the cost of the die kit because the models only come with one coil die and two blank plates, so you’ll definitely have to buy dies.

Overall, it’s a flexible system that is well engineered and is suitable for a wide variety of studios. On the 4 and 5 inch models, the die is attached to the bottom of the barrel via a brace with swinging arms, which are then screwed tight with wing nuts. Then, clay is added to the barrel, the plunger is inserted and you pull the lever to extrude the clay. The 9” model only differs in that the die is held on with C clamps. On all models, hollow form dies are held in place with a cross bar—it screws on to the dies so if you are frequently using multiple hollow forms, plan to buy extra cross bars to save time.

The Bailey 9” extruder can make hollow forms up to 8” in diameter.

The Bailey 9” extruder can make hollow forms up to 8” in diameter.

It’s a bit cumbersome to attach the dies but once in place, these are easy to use. One drawback is the Baileys are harder to clean as the barrel is mounted to the wall. If you have time, let any clay inside dry completely, scrape it out, and then wipe clean with a large sponge. It’s helpful to oil moving parts and the dies as needed, to prevent rusting. It’s also easy to lose the wing nuts with the Bailey models, so keep track of those! If you are doing a serious amount of extruding, you’ll also want to research the various expansion boxes and powered models that Bailey makes.

Understanding the models

The 4” models will hold 11 lbs of clay. The 5” will hold 17 lbs of clay. The die kit is the same for both of these models, ranging from 2 to 3” diameter for hollow forms. The 5” models allow you to extrude longer or more forms, but it may be harder to pull the lever with the increased volume of clay.

Standard 4” typically costs between $310 and $390, while the Stainless 4” ranges from $345 to $435, and the die kit costs about $130. The Standard 5 typically retails for $340 to $425. There is also a Stainless 5 option, but it’s only available with a custom build.

The 9” model will hold up to 29 lbs of clay andtypically retails for between $520 and $650, and the die kit for this model costs around $150.

Overall, for most studios I would recommend the 4” model as that will be the easiest to extrude and 11 lbs of clay will result in a decent amount of extruded forms.

North Star 4” Stainless Extruder

The North Star 4” Stainless extruder comes with the 3 dies picture and the lockout plate.

The North Star 4” Stainless extruder comes with the 3 dies picture and the lockout plate.

In addition to the Big Blue Extruder, North Star makes a lever-style extruder with a 4” wide steel or upgraded stainless barrel. The lever is fixed, as opposed to the sliding style of the Bailey, making it a safer to operate. (There’s a chance of pinched fingers with the Bailey if you’re not careful). There’s also a lever extension that will help make extruding easier. The trade off with the fixed lever is the barrel is smaller, holding just 8 to 9 pounds of clay. But, this should still extrude hollow forms that are 15 to 18 inches tall or more, you’ll just have to reload the barrel a bit more frequently.

The North Star 4” Standard Extruder is made with mild steel.

The North Star 4” Standard Extruder is made with mild steel.

The compact size, fixed lever, simplicity of use, and optional stainless upgrade make this a great extruder for most studios. The steel barrel typically retails for around $370, while I’ve seen this stainless anywhere from $409 to $519, and the extruder does come with 4 coil dies. You will need to purchase the hollow die set separately.

Another consideration with either of these models is that there is a 6” expansion box that allows you to use the same dies as used in the Big Blue Extruder. If you wanted to keep open an upgrade possibility, this is the model for you.

The Stainless option exists for those who work in porcelain and want the smallest possibility of rust possible. But if you keep your extruder clean and maintained, it should stay rust free.

This extruder is available at many clay suppliers or direct from North Star.

Scott Creek 4” and 5” Extruders

The Scott Creek 4” Extruder

The Scott Creek 4” Extruder

Scott Creek makes a 4” round barrel and 5” square barrel extruder with an interesting twist: a stair-step lever crank that you move up and down as needed. These extruders also have a great feature: a quick-release die cap to make installing and switching dies a breeze.

Both models feature an aluminum barrel, which will never rust and can be used with porcelain. The barrels also can be removed from the wall mount for easy cleaning, which is a noteworthy feature for an extruder!

All in all this is a great system. You pay extra up front for features such as the aluminum barrel and quick-release end cap, but the ease of use will more than make up that cost over traditional steel extruders.

Scott Creek 5 inch extruder.gif

The 4” round barrel typically costs around $400 and the dies range from $52 to $140, and the 5” square barrel costs around $440 plus the dies. There are also expansion boxes for each model and associated dies, and Scott Creek makes table mounts and and a free-standing extruder stand.

With all this great stuff (especially that quick-release cap) I still would favor the Bailey system over these because of the flexibility of using the same die sets in different Bailey models. With the Scott Creek, you are locked in to that size die, or the specific expansion box that goes with that model. But if you take a look and find that the die sets and sizes work for your needs, then by all means, get one of these extruders. It will be a workhorse and there are many positive reviews of these models.

These extruders are available at speciality ceramic suppliers or directly from Scott Creek.

Brent Extruders

The Brent HD Extruder features a removeable barrel and quick-release end cap.

The Brent HD Extruder features a removeable barrel and quick-release end cap.

Amoco Brent makes two extruders, the STD and HD, that combine a lot of the best features of other manufactures in a typical overbuilt Brent style, allowing it to take all kinds of use (and abuse) such as what you might find in an academic studio. But you will pay extra, with each model clocking in around $650 to $700. This review will focus on the HD as it has some upgrade features and can often be found for a bit less than the STD, around $650.

The Brent HD extruder has a 4” round steel barrel that will hold up to 10 pounds of clay. The barrel attaches to the wall bracket with 2 quick-release pins, making it easy to remove and clean. It also has a twist-and-turn end cap to hold dies, making it way less fussy than the Bailey extruders. Another thoughtful feature is a built-in hook to hang the end cap when not in use. Finally, it has a “clutch” lever to facilitate either raising or lowering the plunger and lever.

In addition to the wall mount, Brent makes a table mount and a mount designed to fit on a Brent slab roller. Like Brent slab rollers, this is an overbuilt workhorse that does come at a premium price. A drawback is a relatively limited selection of hollow dies. In general, all round barrel extruders just don’t have as much space and die options as a similar-sized square barrel.

If you have a Brent slab roller or love Brent products, then go with this extruder. It’s well built and has a lot of features, but for the main thing that you want an extruder to do—extrude shapes, especially hollow forms!—this extruder has limitations. But custom dies might solve your problems. For more info on this model and dies, the Brent website has the best info but you might find it for sale for less at online retailers or ceramic suppliers..

Other Wall Mounted Clay Extruders

There are a few more extruders that are on the market. But with limited availability, I’m reluctant to recommend these until they are sold at more locations and it’s clear there will be long-lasting product support from the manufacturers. But if you see features and prices that work for you, go ahead and order a whole set up.

Crackpots Extruder

The Crackpots Clay Extruder

The Crackpots Clay Extruder

The Crackpots Extruder is a straight forward, fixed lever, round barrel extruder with a variety of interesting die options, especially from aftermarket die vendors on eBay. It typically retails for $199 or less, making it one of the most affordable wall-mounted extruders.

Find it at oldsashartisans.com.

 

Clay Master 4” Extruder

The Clay Master extruder is available at a few ceramic suppliers. It’s unclear who manufacturers this device and the die options are limited. But, other square 4 inch dies will most likely work with this extruder. It has a fixed or “anchored” handle and will hold about 8 pounds of clay. Find it at clay-king.com or other ceramic suppliers.

EX-115 4” Extruder

Another extruder with limited availability is the EX-115 4” Extruder. This model features a fixed lever, a round barrel, and square dies. Bailey or North Star dies will most likely work with this model. Find out more at clay-king.com.

Powered Extruders

If you have a production studio or just want an easier way to extrude, powered extruders are available. They are not the main focus of this article, but for more info check out these websites:

Bailey System 3 Power Drive, starts at $946 but you’ll need to order barrel, dies and other parts. See more at baileypottery.com

MudTools Push Extruder, $1,400. See more at mudtools.com.

Peter Pugger Hydraulic Extruder, $4999. See more at clay-king.com.

Extruder Tips

A few tips for getting the most out of your extruder.

  1. Keep it clean! A clean extruder stays rust free and functional. You can put a light oil on moving parts to keep things functional.

  2. For cleaning, get big blocks of clay out and if you have time, you can let other clay bits dry. Then knock them out and proceed with cleaning. It’s always easiest to clean completely dried clay.

  3. Use the most moist clay you can as this will be easier to extrude. But, if you are working with bigger forms, stiffer clay can hold more structure right away.

  4. Some people recommend spraying cooking oil inside extruders. I never do this for two reasons. 1) cooking oil can “gum up” if left sitting places and 2) while I do oil moving parts and hinges on extruders, there’s no need to mix any sort of oil with clay. Keep the barrel clean and use clay that is the right consistency, and it should be easy to extrude.

  5. Let forms “hang” for a bit before cutting off. This will allow them to stiffen up and stay true to form, which is especially important as you move into hollow shapes that are 4 inches in diameter or more.

  6. Protect your dies from being bent. Don’t over-push the lever or wheel as you can bend or ruin dies. If the machine won’t go any further, don’t push it.

  7. For project ideas, check out the books Extruded Ceramics or The Extruder Book.

Wall Mounted Clay Extruder Comparison Chart

This chart is organized first by barrel size and then alphabetically by manufacturer.

Model Typical Price Barrel
Shape		 Barrel
Diameter		 Barrel
Material		 Capacity Lever Detachable
Barrel		 Warranty
Bailey Standard 4 $309-$387 Square 4" Mild Steel 11 lbs Slide No 2 Years
Bailey Stainless 4 $346-$433 Square 4" Stainelss 11 lbs Slide No 2 Years
Brent STD $574-$675 Round 4" Mild Steel 10 lbs Slide No 1 Year
Brent HD $548-$685 Round 4" Mild Steel 10 lbs Slide Yes 1 Year
Clay Master $350-$420 Square 4" Stainless 8 lbs Fixed No ?
Crackpots $199 Round 4" Mild Steel 7 lbs Fixed No ?
EX-115 $350-$400 Round 4.5" Stainless 7 lbs Fixed No ?
North Star 4" Standard $370 Square 4" Mild Steel 8-9 lbs Fixed No Lifetime
North Star 4" Stainless $440 Square 4" Stainless 8-9 lbs Fixed No Lifetime
Scott Creek 4" $399 Round 4" Aluminum 8-9 lbs Stepped Yes 2 Years
Scott Creek 5" $460 Square 5" Aluminum 12 lbs Stepped Yes 2 Years
Bailey Standard 5" $340-$426 Square 5" Mild Steel 17 lbs Slide No 2 Years
North Star Big Blue $950-$1090 Square 6" Mild Steel 25 lbs Wagon Wheel Yes 2 Years
Bailey Standard 9 $517-$647 Square 9" Mild Steel 29 lbs Slide No 2 Years

Summary

Wall mounted clay extruders are a great tool in the studio. The are the best way to make hollow forms, such as tubes, squares, hexagonal or custom shapes. Most models also include a test tile form, which can speed up that process. Overall, all the extruders above will be long-lasting and durable. They differ on size, die options, lever options, and material. Overall, my favorite is the North Star Big Blue Extruder as I find it the easiest and most practical to use. But a simple lever option, such as the Scott Creek, North Star, or Bailey, are also affordable and durable.

What is your favorite extruder? Let us know in the comments.

Handheld Clay Extruder Buyer's Guide

The Shimpo Nidec Handheld Extruder comes with 5 aluminum dies and one blank.

The Shimpo Nidec Handheld Extruder comes with 5 aluminum dies and one blank.

Handheld extruders or “clay guns” are useful tools for making small runs of handles, coils, and small hollow forms. If you are looking to make a repeatable shape in a quick, efficient way, then a handheld extruder is what you need.

These extruders work like a caulk gun: you fill the barrel with clay, screw the cap over the die form, and repeatedly squeeze the trigger to push clay through the die. It can be a bit of a wrist workout, so definitely use soft clay with these.

There are four options when choosing a handheld extruder: 2 sizes from Scott Creek, and one each from Shimpo and Kemper. There are also two miniature clay extruders such as the Kemper Klay Gun, for making extremely small shapes, which I’ll cover at the end of the post.

It’s really a coin toss as all four handheld extruders are well made, but for most studios and hand sizes, I would recommend the Shimpo Handheld Extruder. For about the same price, the Shimpo Handheld Extruder comes with a few more dies than the Scott Creek, and I prefer the circular handle at the back as opposed to the bar handle on the Scott Creek models. And as this is a handheld extruder, I prefer the shorter and wider barrel of the Shimpo because it is easier to squeeze out the clay.

A full review of handheld extruders follows, including the three options from Shimpo or Scott Creek, and two options for smaller decorative clay extruders. For larger extruders, check out our guide to wall-mounted extruders here.

Table of Contents

  1. Shimpo Handheld Extruder

  2. Scott Creek Super Duper Clay Gun and Clay Gun XL

  3. Kemper IKEG Klay Extruder

  4. Small Extruders: Kemper Klay Gun and Bailey Clay Gun

  5. Summary

Top Pick: Shimpo Handheld Extruder

The Shimpo Handheld Extruder comes with 5 dies and one blank die.

The Shimpo Handheld Extruder comes with 5 dies and one blank die.

The Shimpo Hollow Die Kit has 8 shapes. The middle of each shape is screwed on to the larger piece at the bottom.

The Shimpo Hollow Die Kit has 8 shapes. The middle of each shape is screwed on to the larger piece at the bottom.

The Shimpo Handheld Extruder is a quality tool that lets you easily make shaped coils, small hollow forms, or handles. It’s basically a caulk gun with an aluminum barrel and dies. The threaded barrel is 2 1/4” wide and about 10 inches long. The entire model measures about 13 x 9 x 3 inches, weighs just a few pounds, and can easily be stored in a drawer. It can be entirely submerged in water for cleanup, but you may want to oil the hinges and moving metal parts as needed.

Shimpo 4-in-1 Die Kit has 8 shapes of varying sizes and an isolator die.

Shimpo 4-in-1 Die Kit has 8 shapes of varying sizes and an isolator die.

The Shimpo Extruder is the top pick because the kit comes with five dies and one blank, and I prefer the circular handle. I also find the the shorter barrel makes it easier to squeeze out the clay, even though that means more frequent refilling. But it’s really a coin toss if this is better than the Scott Creek Clay Gun and the choice really comes down to personal preference. In my studio, I use a Shimpo Handheld Extruder along with a mixture of dies from Shimpo and Scott Creek.

Shimpo has two die kits: one with a selection of eight hollow forms and another with eight “4-in-1” shapes of varying sizes. You can extrude all four sizes at once, or use the isolation die to select just one. The hollow forms are what most people go for, as those shapes would be extremely hard to make without a die, but both kits would really expand the options in your studio.

The Shimpo Handheld Extruder generally retails for around $60 and the die kits are about $40 each. You can find this tool at ceramic supply stores or online at Blick.

Scott Creek Super Duper Clay Extruder and Clay Extruder XL

The Scott Creek Super Duper Clay Gun.

The Scott Creek Super Duper Clay Gun.

The Scott Creek XL Clay Gun has a 15” barrel.

The Scott Creek XL Clay Gun has a 15” barrel.

Scott Creek makes two handheld extruders and five die kits. The Super Duper Clay Gun has a 10 inch barrel while the XL has a 15 inch barrel. Both feature a bar handle at the rear as opposed to the circular handle on the Shimpo. The barrel is 2 inches wide, which is 1/4” smaller than the Shimpo. Note that the Scott Creek die kits will definitely fit the Shimpo Extruder, but the Shimpo dies may not work with the Scott Creek guns. Both Scott Creek extruders come with one coil die and two blank aluminum dies.

The Scott Creek Handle Die Kit features 8 shapes cut out of clear acrylic. The Scott Creek Dies are compatible with the Shimpo Extruder.

The Scott Creek Handle Die Kit features 8 shapes cut out of clear acrylic. The Scott Creek Dies are compatible with the Shimpo Extruder.

Scott Creek extruders are rugged, well built, and will get the job done. They are a bit harder to find in stores, but are readily available direct from the manufacturer. Scott Creek also makes a hollow aluminum die kit with the same shapes as Shimpo, along with an aluminum die kit of small forms. There are also three die sets made out of clear acrylic including a “shape and coil” kit, tile trim kit, and handle kit. The handle kit is my most used die kit and I would recommend that kit regardless of which extruder you purchase.

Although it might seem attractive to use the larger XL Extruder, keep in mind that the longer barrel may be harder to clean and store, and it is that much harder to squeeze clay out. (Any handheld extruder really relies on wrist strength.)

The Scott Creek Super Duper Clay Extruder usually retails for around $55-60, and the XL goes for around $70, and the die kits generally cost about $40 each.

Kemper IKEG Klay Extruder

The Kemper IKEG Klay Extruder

The Kemper IKEG Klay Extruder

The Kemper IKEG Klay Extruder is an interesting offering from the venerable clay tool manufacturer. It’s even longer than the Scott Creek XL, with a barrel measuring 20 inches in length by 2 inches wide. It comes with 3 aluminum coil dies, 1 blank die, and 2 plastic spouts.

As stated above, I feel that a shorter barrel is easier to use but if you decide to go with this option, you can always just fill the barrel with less clay to make it easier to use. Aside from that, the trigger of this gun is virtually identical to the Shimpo with a circular handle. Kemper has a limited offering of dies, but Scott Creek dies will work with this extruder.

The Kemper IKEG Klay Extruder typically retails for around $60 and can be found at ceramic suppliers such as Bailey.

Mini Extruders: Kemper K45 Klay Gun and Bailey Clay Gun

These miniature clay extruders are useful for making texture or super small coils, such as for hair. They also work with polymer clay, so if you are working in miniatures, this is the clay extruder for you. For typical clay studios, these mini guns often sit unused in studio drawers but if you need a really specific shape, they may work for you. They are virtually identical but the Bailey set also comes with a handy plastic carrying case.

The Bailey Clay Gun is a miniature extruder.

The Bailey Clay Gun is a miniature extruder.

Bailey Clay Gun

The Bailey Clay Gun has 19 dies and a carrying case. It typically costs around $13. Make sure that whatever you put in the barrel is very soft.

Shop at Bailey

 
kemper-k45-klay-gun.jpg

Kemper Klay Gun

The Kemper Klay Gun also has 19 dies and typically costs around $13. It may be exactly the same thing as the Bailey Clay Gun, but it doesn’t have a case.

Shop at Blick

Summary

Handheld extruders are a great way to make small batches of similar shapes, such as handles or hollow shapes. For a long time, I thought of them as an extraneous tool but once I started using them, I found that I really liked the look of extruded handles. Definitely don’t get one of these if it will simply sit unused in a drawer.

With only four models on the market, all are basically the same with just a few minor differences, so you can’t go wrong. For me, I prefer the slightly wider and shorter Shimpo barrel but my favorite dies are the handle kit from Scott Creek. You will find your own combination that works for you.

The Best Black Acrylic Gesso for Preparing Canvas

Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso is our top pick for its ultra-matte quality and affordable price.

Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso is our top pick for its ultra-matte quality and affordable price.

The four black gessos tested: Blick, Golden, Liquitex, and Utrecht.

The four black gessos tested: Blick, Golden, Liquitex, and Utrecht.

Black acrylic gesso provides a stable, flexible painting surface that is a complete contrast to a white gesso ground. Black gesso is also very opaque, allowing you to use it as a primer to cover up just about anything, and it will stick to a variety of surfaces including canvas, paper, wood, and more. Certain colors will change when painted on top of black gesso, especially transparent colors, but it also makes other colors really pop.

For this post, four black gessoes were tested and analyzed for ease of application, the matte or satin quality, and cost. All the gessoes were quite black, no questions there, but based on its ultra-matte quality and affordable price point, Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso was the top pick. This gesso was the most matte of the gessoes tested, which is a real plus.

The only drawback for the Utrecht Gesso was its gel-like nature (which can be fixed with a bit of water) but other gessoes each had their own features and attributes. A complete analysis and sample pictures follows, to help you choose the right black gesso for your studio.

Table of Contents

  • Top Pick: Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso

  • Golden Black Gesso

  • Liquitex Black Acylic Gesso

  • Blick Artists’ Acrylic Gesso

  • Testing Methodology and Images

  • Tips for Applying and Working With Black Gesso

  • Summary

Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso

Utrecht Black Gesso is available in 16 and 32 oz sizes.

Utrecht Black Gesso is available in 16 and 32 oz sizes.

Utrecht Black Gesso is our top pick for a black acrylic gesso because of its ultra-matte quality and affordable price point. Of the gessoes tested, it was the most matte with a deep, flat-black surface that stayed completely matte even with 5 or 6 coats of gesso. And though this test did not include sanding in between coats, the gesso developed a relatively flat surface as layers built up.

Available in 16 or 32 oz jars, the gesso usually costs between $0.70 to $0.85 per ounce, making this the second cheapest black gesso tested. It’s a great deal for a top quality product.

There are two tradeoffs with this gesso: it’s gel-like quality and the limited availability of jar sizes. In multiple jars of this, I’ve always found it to have a gel-like quality right out of the jar that is a bit harder to use. Simply mix in a bit of water and you should be fine though. Regarding the jar size, the tall 32 oz jar is easy to store but it can be hard to get all the gesso out of the bottom. It would also be nice if it came in gallon buckets. But in reality, these are minor complaints because the ultra-matte results are what I’m looking for in a black gesso, and this is my go-to favorite.

About Utrecht: Founded in 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, Utrecht was one of the first manufacturers to develop acrylic gesso. Acquired by Blick in 2013, the products are still made in Brooklyn and are available online and at Blick stores in the U.S. They are not marketed this way, but I think of Utrecht as the premium “house brand” at Blick stores.

Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

  • 16 oz, $13.34, $0.83 per ounce

  • 32 oz, $22.06, $0.69 per ounce

Test images for Utrecht Black Acrylic Gesso:

In a simple test, Utrecht Black Gesso gave a ultra-matte, flat surface.

In a simple test, Utrecht Black Gesso gave a ultra-matte, flat surface.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats. Utrecht Black Gesso stayed matte.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats. Utrecht Black Gesso stayed matte.

Angle view of the flat test.

Angle view of the flat test.

Various acrylic paints on top of Utrecht Black Gesso.

Various acrylic paints on top of Utrecht Black Gesso.

Golden Black Gesso

Golden Black Gesso is available in jars ranging from 8 to 128 ounces.

Golden Black Gesso is available in jars ranging from 8 to 128 ounces.

Golden Black Gesso was the second favorite gesso in the test. Available in jars ranging from 8 oz to 1 gallon, it’s a premium gesso that is easy to apply directly out of the jar and creates a slightly satin, deep-black surface. Although it is the most expensive option tested, Golden Black Gesso can be ordered in 1 gallon (128 oz) buckets that make it essentially the same price per ounce as the top pick.

The tradeoff with this gesso is that it is slightly satin. In testing, I found that both the Liquitex and Utrecht gessos were more matte than this gesso, especially the Utrecht. Some may find the slightly satin quality to be a drawback, but if you are planning to cover most or all of the gesso with paint, it won’t really matter much.

Available in 8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, and 128 oz (1 gallon), Golden Black Gesso ranges from $0.70 to $1.55 per ounce. The wide mouth jars are easy to use directly from the jar, or it can be poured out.

About Golden: Founded in 1980 but with a paint-making history that stretches back many more decades, Golden is known as one of the premier manufacturers of acrylic paint in the United States. Manufactured in upstate New York, the paints are widely available but for larger sizes you may need to order online.

Golden Black Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

  • 8 oz, $12.38, $1.55 per ounce

  • 16 oz, $20.85, $1.30 per ounce

  • 32 oz, $31.98, $1.00 per ounce

  • 128 oz (1 Gallon), $90.01, $0.70 per ounce

Shop Golden Black Gesso at Amazon

Test images for Golden Black Gesso

In a simple test, Golden Black Gesso resulted in a slightly satin surface.

In a simple test, Golden Black Gesso resulted in a slightly satin surface.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats of gesso.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats of gesso.

Angle view of stripe test

Angle view of stripe test

Various acrylic paints over Golden Black Gesso.

Various acrylic paints over Golden Black Gesso.

Liquitex Black Gesso

Liquitex Black Gesso in an 8 oz bottle.

Liquitex Black Gesso in an 8 oz bottle.

Liquitex Black Gesso is a smooth flowing, easy-to-apply gesso that in testing came out the second most matte. Of the gessoes tested, it was also the most likely to build up some texture. Be sure to apply it evenly or sand between coats. For a black gesso, I’m looking for a matte surface so this was almost the second pick after the Utrecht, but the lack of sizes available and relatively high price are drawbacks for using this product.

This gesso is only available in 8 oz bottles with a squeeze dispenser. It’s not designed for using straight out of the jar but the squeeze function makes it easy to dispense, which may be helpful if you apply gesso with a foam roller. If you squeeze out too much, unscrew the top and use a palette knife to add it back to the jar.

About Liquitex: Founded in the U.S. in 1955, Liquitex was one of the earliest manufacturers of acrylic paints and continues to be an industry leader. Now owned by London, UK-based art supplier conglomerate Colart, Liquitex is manufactured in the UK, France and China. The bottle of black gesso I used indicated it was made in France. Liquitex also makes clear and neutral gray gesso.

Liquitex Black Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

  • 8 oz, $11.57, $1.45 per ounce

Shop Liquitex Black Gesso at Amazon

Test images for Liquitex Black Gesso

In a simple test, Liquitex Black Gesso resulted in a matte black surface.

In a simple test, Liquitex Black Gesso resulted in a matte black surface.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats

Stripe test angle view

Stripe test angle view

Various acrylic paints over Liquitex black gesso.

Various acrylic paints over Liquitex black gesso.

Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

Blick Artists’ Black Gesso is available in 32oz widemouth jars.

Blick Artists’ Black Gesso is available in 32oz widemouth jars.

Blick Artists’ Black Gesso is a solid, dependable black gesso that is very economical and resulted in a satin surface. Although I prefer the ultra-matte surface of the Utrecht Black Gesso, especially where the gesso will be exposed, the Blick gesso is a good option too.

As can be expected from a house brand, it has a few tradeoffs: It is not as smooth and flowing as the Golden or Liquitex Gessos. You may find that you’ll need to add water to get this to brush or roll on. And as mentioned, it is more satin than the matte Utrecht gesso. This gesso is also available in just one size, an economical 32 oz wide-mouth jar that typically costs about $0.60 per ounce, making this the most affordable gesso tested.

I’ve used this gesso and to be honest, I don’t mind the satin quality for certain paintings but my taste is usually to go with the most matte gesso I can find. It’s hard to see in the pictures below and I hope this makes sense: but it’s on the less satin side of things. It’s still completely opaque and one coat will usually cover up anything below it.

About Blick: Founded in 1911, Blick is one of the largest art suppliers in the country. The house brand paints and materials are often of a high quality, although they have a bit of a confusing array of different levels of house brands. This is the only black gesso they make, however, and it is manufactured in the U.S.

Blick Artists’ Acrylic Black Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

  • 32 oz, $19.14, $0.60 per ounce

Test Images for Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

In a simple test, the Blick Artists’ Black Gesso resulted in the most satin surface of gesso tested.

In a simple test, the Blick Artists’ Black Gesso resulted in the most satin surface of gesso tested.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats

Angle view of stripe test

Angle view of stripe test

Various acrylic colors painted over the Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

Various acrylic colors painted over the Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

Testing Methodology and Images

1. Stripe / Coat Test

The first test involved painting one, two, and three coats of gesso on to stretched, unprimed, 12 oz cotton duck canvas. The gesso was used directly from the jar without mixing with water, and the coats were allowed to dry completely before another coat was applied. It may be more easy to see in the angled images, but Utrecht was the most matte, the Blick was the most satin, and Golden and Liquitex were in the middle of that range.

Click any image below to see larger images. The top line is a single coat of gesso, middle is two coats, and the bottom has three coats. Images are in alphabetical order by manufacturer

Stripe / coat test angle view. This may better show the differences in satin or matte qualities of the various gessos. Click to enlarge.

2. Flat Square Test

After the coat test, an additional three coats of gesso were applied to the same area of canvas. In between the previous stripes you will see areas of 3 coats, while the other areas now had 4, 5 or 6 coats of gesso. This is probably an extreme amount of gesso, but it was a further indicator of how the satin or matte qualities of the gesso would develop with more coats.

The most notable thing in this test was that the Liquitex stripes had built up a bit of texture where a bead built up from painting and it dried upraised, which was only exacerbated by more coats. While no sanding was used in this testing, a simple light sanding can fix any problems with texture, especially if you want an ultra-smooth surface. (My preference is for a flat surface with a bit of tooth, so I usually try to avoid having to sand.)

Click to enlarge:

3. Color Test

Finally, various acrylic paints were tested on top of each black gesso. There was not a big variation in the results here, although the Golden and Utrecht gessoes seemed to provide a more smooth surface for painting. But it was just a very slight difference.

From top to bottom, the tested paints included: NovaColor Hot Pink; Liquitex Neon Pink Acrylic Gouache, Utrecht Studio Series Medium Yellow, Blickrylic Neon Yellow, and Blick Matte Acrylic Dark Blue Light.

Click to enlarge.

Tips for Applying and Working with Black Gesso

Gesso is a primer or ground that both protects your painting substrate and creates a suitable painting surface. It must be used if you are working with oil paints, as those will eventually eat through and destroy unprimed canvas. If you are working with acrylics, you can paint directly on to canvas or other surfaces, but you may find that a gesso provides a matte, even surface that makes it easier to apply other layers. Here’s a few tips:

Water down your gesso

Although the test above did not employ this, it’s often a good idea to thin your first layer of gesso with water. This helps the gesso get into every nook and cranny of canvas and really begin to get a good seal. The second and third layers of gesso (and fourth if desired) will result in an even surface.

Brush or Roll — your choice

Some apply gesso with a foam roller, while other brush. It’s really up to you. Either way has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are worried about any texture building up, use a sanding block and medium grit sandpaper (around 150 or so) to sand each layer after it dries. If you want a really smooth surface, you can keep sanding and applying layers, and move towards using finer and finer sandpapers.

Cover up other paintings

Black gesso is especially effective at covering up anything below it, often with just one coat. Use it to cover other acrylic paintings so you can start fresh. But keep in mind, acrylic should not be used on top of oil paint as that will cause problems and degradation down the road.

Make colors pop

Certain paints, such as neons, yellows, and bright blues, can really pop when you put them on a black ground. Other colors, such as transparent colors, can really sink in and be hard to see. It’s best to test things out and see how your favorite colors change or not.

Summary

This post included a test of four different black gessoes, including Blick, Golden, Liquitex, and Utrecht. All the gessoes resulted in a deep black ground, and they are very opaque. The Golden and Liquitex gessoes were the most fluid and easy to apply; the Blick was the most economical and also the most satin; and the Utrecht was the top pick because of its ultra-matte, even surface and relatively affordable price.

Black gesso is an interesting option that can really mix things up in your studio. Do you have a favorite black gesso? Let us know in the comments.

The Best Sandpaper, Grinding Blocks, and Abrasives for Pottery and Ceramics

3M Pro Grade Sandpaper is a plastic-backed, long-lasting sandpaper that can be used wet for safe sanding.

3M Pro Grade Sandpaper is a plastic-backed, long-lasting sandpaper that can be used wet for safe sanding.

In ceramics, there’s always a need to sand something. Whether it is cleaning the foot of a pot or dealing with a massive glaze run on a kiln shelf, there are a few different tools that will really take care of these problems in effective, safe, and economical ways. This post will cover the best abrasives, sandpaper, and grinding blocks, as well as how to use them. You probably won’t need every single one of these tools, but they’re covered here so that you can find what will work best in your studio.

Safety note: Keep in mind that any sort of sanding or grinding can produce dust. Wear a dust mask or respirator, or when possible, sand wet.

Most Used / Top Pick: The thing I reach for the most is the plastic-backed, purple, pro-grade sandpaper made by 3M. (Pictured at top) It is economical, long lasting, and can be used wet. It’s a simple, versatile tool that has a place in any studio.

Table of Contents

  • Sandpaper

  • Grinding Blocks and Whetstones

  • Diamond Hand Pads

  • Silicon Carbide Stones for Power Tools

  • Wet Grinders

  • Sanding Tips and Tricks

  • Summary

Sandpaper

There are two sandpapers that I use in the studio: 3M Pro Grade Sandpaper and Emory Cloth. Other sandpapers, such as those designed for wood, don’t hold up under the heavy use needed with ceramics and clay. One advantage of sandpaper, as opposed to solid blocks, is that it is flexible and can be bent, creased, or cut into a variety of shapes if you need to sand hard-to-reach spots.

Detail shot of the front and back of the 3M Pro Grade No Slip Sandpaper.

Detail shot of the front and back of the 3M Pro Grade No Slip Sandpaper.

3M Pro Grade Sandpaper

The purple, plastic-backed 3M Pro Grade Sandpaper is the main tool in my sanding arsenal. It lasts longer than other sandpapers and can be used wet or dry. The plastic backing is advertised as “no-slip grip” and it is easy to hold and control, even when wet.

The paper measures 9 x 11 inches and is available in a variety of grits. I generally stock 80 and 150 grit, but a range of 4 grits from 60 to 220 would probably cover most needs.

The sandpaper can be found in smaller packs ranging from 3 to 6 sheets, or bulk packs with 20 or 100 sheets. 20 sheets will last a long time for individual use, or around 6 months for a busy academic or community studio.

A roll of Emory Cloth Sandpaper can be economical and functional.

A roll of Emory Cloth Sandpaper can be economical and functional.

Emory Cloth Sandpaper

Emory Cloth is a cloth-backed sandpaper that can also be used wet or dry, and the cloth backing makes it long-lasting and economical. Emory cloth can be found in sheets or in rolls. It is especially ideal for sanding the bottom of pots when they come out of the glaze firing, to clean up any small burrs or imperfections, or to remove kiln wash.

For emory cloth, I like to buy rolls so that I can cut or rip off just what is needed.

Grinding Blocks

There are a variety of grinding blocks that are useful in the ceramic studio. A block might be used in place of sandpaper, but I usually stock both sandpaper and blocks. The bigger blocks are especially useful for dealing with glaze drips and cleaning kiln shelves while a whetstone can be used to sharpen tools and clean up pots.

A silicon carbide rubbing block with a handle.

A silicon carbide rubbing block with a handle.

Silicon Carbide Rubbing Block

A silicon carbide rubbing block (or grinding block or brick) is one of the most effective ways to deal with glaze drips and to clean up kiln shelves and kiln posts. The blocks come in a variety of sizes, with or without handles, and some have fluting. The fluting is especially useful for grinding rough kiln shelves flat again. A flat-sided block is better for cleaning up the foot of pots or the bottoms of sculptures.

Detail of the fluted bottom of a typical silicon carbide rubbing block.

Detail of the fluted bottom of a typical silicon carbide rubbing block.

A longer, thinner, fluted silicon carbide rubbing block without a handle.

A longer, thinner, fluted silicon carbide rubbing block without a handle.

Silicon carbide blocks can be used wet, which is a plus for me because I’m always looking for ways to minimize dust in a studio.

A downside of these rubbing blocks is they are prone to cracking if dropped. This is especially a problem if you crack one with a handle. But don’t despair, the pieces are good until they are ground down to the last bit.

Another downside is they are typically on the rough side, around 20 to 60 grit. This is fine for kiln shelves, but you’ll want to follow up with something a bit finer, such as sandpaper or emory cloth, if you’re sanding the bottom of a pot.

The block with handles are typically 6” x 3” x 1”, but these sizes vary by manufacturer.

Aloxite Blocks and Whetstones

An aloxite sanding block.

An aloxite sanding block.

Available at ceramic suppliers, aloxite (aluminum oxide) blocks are smooth, hard, and extremely durable blocks. They are very long lasting, they don’t “shed” a lot of material when used, and they are especially great for sanding the bottom of pots.

Silicon carbide whetstone, with two grits — 120 and 240.

Silicon carbide whetstone, with two grits — 120 and 240.

Alternately, and easier to find, you can use whetstones designed for sharpening knives. Generally not as hard as aloxite, whetstones are another great option for cleaning small glaze runs, burrs, or rough patches on fired ceramic. They can also be used to sharpen studio tools, such as scissors or fettling knives.

Neither of these smaller blocks are particularly good for cleaning large areas of kiln shelves, but they’re great to use on pots.

Both aloxite stones and whetstones can be used wet, which keeps dust out of the air.

Diamond Hand Pads

Semi-hard foam-backed diamond hand pads from Stadea.

Semi-hard foam-backed diamond hand pads from Stadea.

Diamond hand pads are the perfect way to sand away burrs, small glaze drips, and rough patches on pots, sculptures, or kiln shelves and posts. Made of industrial-grade diamonds embedded in plastic, these are available from a variety of manufacturers as either soft, flexible pads or semi-hard, foam-backed pads. The foam-backed pads are my favorite because they provide structure and support your hand, but the flexible pads are useful for sanding more complicated shapes. Available as sets or individual pads, my recommendation is to get four individual pads in the range of 50 grit, 100 grit, 200 grit, and maybe 400 grit.

Semi-flexible diamond pads from Diamond Core Tools.

Semi-flexible diamond pads from Diamond Core Tools.

The soft pads are available from Diamond Core Tools, while foam backed pads are available from Diamond Core and other manufacturers such as Stadea or various generic names on Amazon. Expect to spend $15 to $30 per pad, but if used just when needed (use sandpaper for more everyday tasks), they should last for some time, maybe even years.

Like many other tools listed here, these can be used wet, which keeps sanding dust out of the air.

Shop semi-flexible pads at Diamond Core.

Silicon Carbide Grinding Wheels and Cups for Power Tools

A green silicon carbide bench grinder wheel.

A green silicon carbide bench grinder wheel.

If you have a bench grinder or angle grinder, you should get silicon carbide stones that fit these tools. Silicon carbide will grind through material such as glaze and ceramic without producing excess heat, and it’s the appropriate material to use with non-metallic materials including ceramic, stone, and concrete.

This especially comes in to play with using a bench grinder to clean up glaze drips. If it are not using silicon carbide, the wheel and glaze may get too hot, resulting in potentially dangerous melted bits of glaze. Stick with silicon carbide wheels that are properly dressed and kept in shape. (If you don’t have a dressing tool to keep your wheel even, definitely get one of those too.)

Silicon carbide grinding cups for use with angle grinders.

Silicon carbide grinding cups for use with angle grinders.

For angle grinders, there are also silicon carbide cups that can quickly clean kiln shelves. These are especially useful if you need to take off all the kiln wash and start with a fresh coat. Keep in mind that angle grinders produce a lot of dust, so do use this tool with caution. Or see the recommendation below about switching to a wet grinder for these types of uses.

Shop Silicon Carbide Grinding Cups at Amazon

Wet Grinders

Makita variable speed wet grinder.

Makita variable speed wet grinder.

Rather than an angle grinder, which definitely make a lot of dust, consider a wet grinder for quickly dealing with bad glaze runs or cleaning kiln shelves. A wet grinder has a water feed that keeps a stream of water flowing out of the center arbor hole on the grinder. They can spray water and sanded bits all over,, but if you have a tub or large sink to catch the water, it is not that bad.

It’s best to go with a quality wet grinder, such as a Makita or Flex. (I’ve personally been using a Flex brand grinder for about 7 years). If you carefully read reviews, the cheaper wet grinders can give small electric shocks or stop working after some use. For an electric tool that uses water, you definitely want a quality machine that won’t shock you! And while using, be sure to follow every safety protocol. Personally, in my years of using a Flex variable speed grinder, I’ve never felt one tiny shock.

A variable speed wet grinder is the way to go, as that allows you to control the speed. Slower speeds don’t whip as much water around. Wet grinders are generally used with diamond pads. As with hand pads, in my experience a range of grits from 40 or 60 to around 400 get the job done. I’ve had good luck with Stadea pads (shop at Amazon), both the 4 and 5 inch sizes. The lower grits can wear out quickly, depending on use, so you may want to order a few of those. I originally purchased an entire set that goes all the way up to 3000 and buff, but for cleaning up glaze drips, 400 suits me, so I prefer to purchase individual pads to use with the wet grinder.

One drawback with wet grinders is figuring out the right hose connection. Expect to make a few trips to the hardware store to find the right fittings to connect your wet grinder to a hose or faucet.

Sanding Tips and Tricks

A few ideas to put into practice in your studio:

  • Broken pieces of kiln shelves, especially silicon carbide shelves, make excellent sanding blocks and stones.

  • Rub the bottom of two pots together for a quick post-firing sanding / cleanup. This can be done wet under running water or dip quickly into a bowl of water.

  • A set of sharp chisels and a rubber mallet can help in removing glaze drips from kiln shelves, then follow up with sanding tools.

  • Check out our tutorial for a DIY Interchangeable Grinding Disc

  • Whenever possible, sand wet! It’s the safest way to keep dust out of the air.

Safety Note

Any type of sanding, grinding, or rubbing will create dust. Take appropriate precautions with wearing dust masks or respirators, and eye protection too, when sanding or using power tools.

Summary

This post has covered and reviewed a variety of sanding and grinding tools and abrasives for use with ceramics and pottery.

My most-used tools are sandpaper and a silicon carbide rubbing block, but I also have a wet grinder with diamond pads and hand pads. I also keep broken pieces of kiln shelves to use as grinding tools. All of this is done wet, when possible, or I use proper safety protection such as a dust mask and safety glasses when sanding. Sanding, grinding, and cleanup are an inevitable part of working with fired ceramic and the best tools will get the job done for you in a safe, effective, and long-lasting way.

What sanding or grinding tools do you use in the studio? Let us know in the comments.

Best Wheelthrowing and Pottery Sponges

Tack Sponges are economical, long-lasting synthetic sponges that are great for wheelthrowing and ceramic studios.

Tack Sponges are economical, long-lasting synthetic sponges that are great for wheelthrowing and ceramic studios.

For pottery and wheelthrowing, it is important to have a long-lasting sponge that doesn’t shred and fall apart after a few sessions. There are quite a few high-quality options these days, and also a lot of cheap generics that fall apart almost right away.

My favorite pottery sponge is a basic synthetic round yellow tack sponge. Designed for cleaning horses or polishing leather, these are also great for use in a ceramic studio. Tack sponges are more dense and long-lasting than other synthetic sponges, are comfortable, and get the job done.

There are a variety of tack sponges available for sale online, typically in 12 packs. Look for a a quality brand, such as Decker (and avoid Creative Hobbies “tack” sponges, which I believe are mis-labeled).

In addition to tack sponges, natural sponges and speciality pottery sponges are good options. You can also cut your own sponges from larger yellow sponges or upholstery foam. Our full review of pottery sponges is below, along with some ideas of the best ways to utilize sponges when throwing.

For a full review of heavy duty, rectangular yellow clean up sponges, click here.

Table of Contents

  1. Best Pottery Sponge: Tack Sponges

  2. MudTools Sponges

  3. Xiem Sponges

  4. Natural Sponges

  5. Other Sponge Options and Sponge Holders

  6. How to Cut Your Own Sponges

  7. Ways to Utilize Sponges in Wheelthrowing

  8. Summary

Best Pottery and Wheelthrowing Sponge: Tack Sponges

Decker Tack Sponges.jpg

Tack sponges are the best option for a pottery and wheelthrowing sponge. Soft but long-lasting, these synthetic sponges are also economical. Designed for cleaning horses, tack sponges have a fine-celled structure that is perfect for wheelthrowing and other uses in a ceramic studio.

To be honest, it can be hard to distinguish between synthetic yellow sponges, especially when shopping online. But through experience, I’ve learned to avoid sponges such as the “Creative Hobbies 25 pack” and other generics. These generics lose their loft and fall apart within a few weeks and while they may be fine for sponge painting or light-duty uses, they are generally not suited for intensive tasks such as wheelthrowing. That’s why it’s best to pay a bit extra and get tack sponges.

On Amazon, Decker is a brand you can trust (click the button below to shop). And if you have the chance to visit a ceramics store in person, you may find Kemper yellow sponges or other high-quality, round, yellow synthetic sponges.

Decker Tack Sponges are 3 inches in diameter by 1 inch high, and are available in a 12 pack that typically works out to a cost of about $1 per sponge.

MudTools MudSponge

The MudTools blue, orange, and white sponge.

The MudTools blue, orange, and white sponge.

The MudTools sponges are rib-shaped, and measure 2.63 x 3.75 inches.

The MudTools sponges are rib-shaped, and measure 2.63 x 3.75 inches.

MudTools makes three speciality sponges designed for use in ceramics. Shaped like a traditional pottery rib, they are available individually or in a 3 pack. The sponges range from a typical open-cell sponge structure to a fine-pored, denser sponge. MudTools calls these:

  • Workhorse, blue, (corse porosity)

  • Absorbant, orange, (medium porosity

  • Finishing sponge, white (fine porosity)

The blue “workhorse” sponge is the most similar to a typical yellow round tack sponge, so if you want something fine, go with the orange or white. Many prefer the densest white sponge for use as a wheelthrowing sponge, but all three will work on the wheel or for handbuilding.

The MudSponges do cost more, usually around $5 to $8 each, but are long lasting and the range of sponge density does give you options.

Xiem Studio Pro Sponges

Xiem Studio Pro Sponges

Xiem Studio Pro Sponges

Xiem Tools makes two Pro Sponges which are circular and have tapered edges. Available in corse, medium, and fine porosity, these are great sponges to add into the mix with a yellow tack sponge. They are modestly priced, typically around $4 each, are long-lasting, and do the job.

They are great sponges but there seems to be some supply chain difficulties, as they appear to be sold out everywhere online. You may see them in stores, and if so, they’re worth considering for your next throwing sponge.

Natural Sponges

Natural Sponges are a great option for pottery, and many potters use these exclusively.

Elephant Ear Sponges

Elephant Ear Sponges

Elephant ear sponges are dense, tough, thin, and are great for wheelthrowing. They are long lasting and do hold up to intensive use. While they are a favorite for many potters, I find them a bit too thin to hold comfortably while throwing, but I do use them for finishing and smoothing. It really comes down to how you hold a sponge and what you need them for. The sponges are available in different sizes, look for something around 3” wide or bigger. You can always cut sponges smaller if needed.

Value Sponge set wt wool, silk, and yellow sponges.

Value Sponge set wt wool, silk, and yellow sponges.

Other types of natural sponges, such as Wool, Silk, or Yellow sponges are great for decorative effects, such as sponge painting with underglaze, but I find them to be either too open or too prone to falling apart to be used for wheelthrowing. Your experience may differ.

Other Sponge Options and Sponge Holders

Creative Hobbies has a 25 pack of 2 1/2” round sponges

Creative Hobbies has a 25 pack of 2 1/2” round sponges

Generic round yellow sponges are available in bulk under a variety of names (sometimes mislabeled as tack sponges) such as Creative Hobbies. These may seem like a great deal, and they are good for sponge painting or other light-duty uses. But these sponges will not stand up to the intense use needed for wheelthrowing. Expect them to lose their loft and fall apart within a few weeks. I’ve order packs from Creative Hobbies a few times, but never again! Learn from my mistakes and stick to tack sponges, as detailed above.

Round Sponge Set.jpg

Round Sponges or Stipplers (sometimes labeled “Spouncers”) are one of my favorite sponge tools to use for glazing and other decorative effects, such as adding polka dots with glaze or underglaze. Available in sizes ranges from about 1/4” to 1” in diameter, these are a great addition to your decorative arsenal. There are not really any brand names, so go for a set that looks good to you. I’ve used both the blue foam and yellow foam; my instinct is that the blue foam is a bit finer and more long lasting, but both will work ok. They do break down over time.

Sponge Holders are a helpful tool for wheelthrowing and are most handy when you need to get water or slip out of the inside of a vessel. (If you leave water inside a pot you’ve just thrown it can cause cracking, uneven drying, and other problems). There are two main options for this: The Kemper Sponge Holder and the Xiem Tools X-Sponge Telescoping Sponge Holder. Is a tool like this really necessary? It may be, if you throw a lot of jars or vases with a narrow mouth. They can really help collect extra water or be used to smooth the inside of a vessel.

DIY TIP: If you don’t want to buy one of these speciality tools, you can take almost any stick (such as a drumstick) and attach a sponge to the end with a rubber band.

The Kemper Sponge Holder.

The Kemper Sponge Holder.

The Kemper Sponge Holder is a 13 inch long hardwood handle with a screw and small cup washer at one end. It comes with a sponge, and if that wears out, you can easily replace it with another sponge. Simple, effective, and durable, this is a great addition to your tool kit.

Xiem Telescoping sponge.jpg

The Xiem Studio X-Sponge 2 is a telescoping sponge holder that can extend from 8.5 to 26 inches, so it can really be deployed on some large pots if necessary. The sponge is a dense, long lasting, white foam sponge and there are proprietary replacement sponge heads available too. The sponge is very fine porosity, similar to the finest Xiem round sponge or the MudTools white MudSponge. The telescoping sponge holder is a real innovation and like all Xiem Studio Tools, is thoughtfully designed and well made. The dense, rounded sponge does give you more control than the yellow sponge attached to the Kemper stick.

How to Cut Your Own Sponges

ProPlus Grouting.jpg

One of the most economical sponge options is to take a large yellow clean-up sponge, and cut it into 8 or 12 pieces. My favorite sponge is the Armaly ProPlus Grouting and Concrete sponge, which is the best heavy duty clean up sponge I’ve found. (See a full review here).

To do this, you can draw lines on the sponge with a sharpie and then using a sharp chef’s knife or scissors, cut into pieces. The best way is to plan for 12 sponges—which is a pretty good value when you start with one large sponge.

It’s also great to cut big yellow sponges into pieces as they start to fall apart. These can be repurposed for clean-up sponges or use a rubber band to attach them to a stick for a DIY sponge holder.

How to Utilize a Sponge for Wheelthrowing

I prefer to throw with one sponge in my right hand. The sponge doesn’t necessarily touch the clay, but it is helpful for organizing my hand in a comfortable way, and as a small water reservoir. But there are as many ways to use a sponge as there are potters.

A few quick tips on sponges and throwing:

> When throwing, try holding no sponge, 1 sponge in your throwing hand, or 2 sponges (one in each hand). You will quickly find the method that works for you. Two sponges may be a great way for beginners to get the feel of clay and help focus the pressure.

> Keep in mind that you should have one point of pressure on the inside, and one on the outside. This could be a fingertip, a knuckle, or use a sponge to make that single point of contact.

> The best sponge is the one that is most comfortable for you. Check out the advice above, and try out a few sponges. Experience is the only way to figure out what works for you.

> Set up a large yellow sponge for easy clean up of your wheelhead or any spills / splashes. They are also great for wiping your hands. I wipe and clean my hands often when throwing, especially if I am going to touch a switch on the wheel, or switch to a shaping tool such as a rib. Large yellow sponges are the best way to quickly clean your hands.

Summary

This post has reviewed small sponges for use while throwing on the wheel, and given advice on other sponge tools along with a few DIY tips and ideas of how to use a sponge. The top recommended sponge is a synthetic round yellow tack sponge, but there are a lot of options.

What sponges do you use? Any tips for sponges and wheel throwing? Let us know in the comments.

Plato on the Role of Potters

Plato%27s+Republic.jpg

In Chapter 5 of Plato’s Republic, ‘The Guardians’ Life and Duties,’ the philosopher outlines the roles of three classes in society: guardians, auxiliaries, and workers. The workers are divided into castes and Plato believes there is little room for change in the castes. The goal, as Plato puts it, was to form “a community which is happy as a whole” without making just a few members of the community happy. Thus, everyone had a role to play but they had to stay in their role and place in society.

Here’s what he had to say about potters, from Robin Waterfield’s 1993 translation (419d-e, 421a). Bold text my own:


‘Suppose we were painting a statue and someone came up and criticized us for not using the most beautiful paint for the creature’s most beautiful features, because the eyes are the most beautiful part and they hadn’t been painted purple but black. It would be perfectly reasonable, in our opinion, for us to reply to this critic by saying, “My dear chap, you can’t expect us to paint beautiful eyes in a way which stops them looking like eyes, or to do that to the other parts of the body either. Don’t you think that if we treat every single part in an appropriate fashion we’re making the creature as a whole beautiful?

Likewise, in the present case, please don’t force us to graft the sort of happiness on to the guardians which will make them anything but guardians. You see, we know we could dress our farmers in soft clothes and golden jewelry and tell them to work the land only when they have a mind to, and we know we could have our potters lie basking in their kiln-fire’s warmth on a formal arrangement of couches, drinking and feasting with their wheel beside them as a table, and doing pottery only as much as they feel like, and we know we could make everyone else happy in this sort of way, and so have a community which was happy overall; but please don’t advise us to do so, because if we follow your recommendation, then our farmers won’t be farmers and our potters won’t be potters and no one else will retain that aspect of himself which is a constituent of a community.

Now, this isn’t so important where the rest of the community is concerned. I mean, if cobblers go to the bad and degenerate and pretend to be other than what they are, it’s not catastrophic for a community; but if the people who guard a community and its laws ignore their essence and start to pose, then obviously they’re utterly destroying the community, despite the fact that its good management and happiness are crucially in their hands and their hands alone.”

‘Now, if we’re creating genuine guardians, who can hardly harm their community, and the originator of that other idea is talking about a certain kind of farmer and people who are, as it were, happy to fill their stomachs on holiday, but aren’t members of a community, then he’s not talking about a community, but something else. What we have to consider is whether our intention in putting the guardians in place is to maximize their happiness, or whether we ought to make the happiness of the community as a whole our goal and should, by fair means and foul, convince these auxiliaries and guardians that their task is to ensure that they, and everyone else as well, are the best at their own jobs. Then, when the community as a whole is flourishing and rests on a fine foundation, we can take it for granted that every group within it will find happiness according to its nature.”

Hmmm, I would have to say that lounging on couches by the warmth of the kiln sounds pretty nice! But it doesn’t exactly match up with the role that Plato envisions for potters and other workers.

What do you think?

Republic by Plato, translation by Robin Waterfield, 1993

Click here to read more about books, podcasts, videos and other sources of inspiration in the studio.

Vintage films from the Mingei Film Archive

I love vintage pottery films so it was a pleasure to discover some newly digitized films that have been put online recently. These show famous Mingei potters Shoji Hamada and Bernard Leach at work.

The Art of the Potter is a 51 minute film from 1970. It was filmed by Sydney Reichman, produced by David Outerbridge, and was posted by Marty Gross on Vimeo.

A Visit to the Leach Pottery, 1973 is a recently digitized film that was shot by Kim Schuefftan and Toshio Sekiji, and includes John Bedding in Conversation with Marty Gross. It was posted by Marty Gross on Vimeo.

View more videos like this by clicking on Marty Gross’s Vimeo page here. Learn more about the Mingei Film Archive Project by clicking here.

If you’d like to learn more about the Japanese folk art movement known as Mingei , there are quite a few museum and exhibition catalogs, but a great place to start is with The Unknown Craftsman by Soetsu Yanagi with a forward by Bernard Leach. First translated into English in 1972, it is an enduring text on the handmade, the meaning of craft arts, and the power of beauty.

Shop The Unknown Craftsman at Amazon

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