How to use: Clay ribs
A rib is a tool for smoothing, pulling off excess clay and shaping wall profiles — on the wheel and in hand building. Its working edges have different radii, so one tool lets you pull a wall, profile the foot transition and polish the surface.
- 01
Get to know the edges
Each edge has a different profile: straight for scraping and levelling, convex for the inside of a vessel, concave for the outer wall and transitions. Before you start, hold them in your hand and find the one that sits most comfortably.
- 02
Set the working angle
Hold the rib at roughly 45 degrees to the surface. Too flat and the tool slides over the clay, too steep and it cuts instead of smoothing.
- 03
Always work wet
Wet the tool and the clay surface before every pass. A dry rib grabs the clay and leaves burrs.
- 04
Pulling a wall on the wheel
Hold the rib in your right hand and support the wall from the inside with your left. Move slowly and evenly from the base upwards — one confident pass beats five nervous ones.
- 05
Removing excess water and clay
Use the straight edge to scrape excess wet clay off the wall and water out of the base. Deposit the excess away from the wheel so it does not fall back onto the piece.
- 06
Profiling and finishing
Shape the foot-to-wall transition with the concave edge and polish the inside with the convex one. Finish with a single pass over the full height to even out finger marks.
- 07
Hand building
When building with slabs and coils, the rib compresses and smooths the joins and evens out curves without stretching the clay.
- 08
Cleaning
Wash the tool in lukewarm water after use and dry it. Do not leave it in a bucket of water — long soaking weakens the print.
Frequently asked questions
- The rib leaves marks and burrs
- The tool or the clay is too dry. Wet the rib before every pass and work smoothly, without stopping halfway up the wall.
- The wall ripples after a pass
- Too fast a movement or too much pressure. Slow down, ease off and support the wall from the inside with your other hand.
- Which edge should I use?
- Straight for scraping and levelling, convex for the inside of the vessel, concave for the outer wall and the foot transition.
- Can I use it at high wheel speed?
- Better to work at medium speed. At high speed the tool easily chatters and cuts into the wall.
- How do I wash the tool?
- Lukewarm water with a soft brush. No dishwasher and no hot water, which deform the print.
- Will the print survive work on the wheel?
- Yes. The tool is printed solid and behaves like a plastic rib — just do not leave it soaking in water for hours.