Hello, budding potters! Embarking on your pottery journey is like opening a door to a world where clay becomes your canvas and your hands, the brushes. But, let’s face it, setting up a home studio can sound a tad daunting—especially on the wallet. Fear not! We’re here to guide you through creating your cozy clay corner without breaking the bank.
How to Keep Costs Low
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of pottery, let’s talk about keeping those costs down. Firstly, recycling clay is your new best friend. Not every piece comes out perfect, and that’s okay! Reclaim that clay and give it another chance at life. Secondly, consider investing in a starter tool pack. These packs come with the essentials and are often priced more affordably than buying items separately. Keep an eye out for discounted items too—sometimes, stores will offer sales on supplies that are too good to pass up. Lastly, get creative with repurposing low-cost household items for clay purposes. Who knew that old credit cards and gift cards could become the perfect clay scrapers?
Decide Where You Want to Start
Pottery offers a buffet of techniques, and it’s up to you to decide what to pile on your plate first. Wheel throwing is mesmerizing and offers a certain thrill, but it requires a pottery wheel and a bit more space. On the other hand, hand building is accessible and versatile, allowing you to create with just a few simple tools. Your choice here will shape (pun intended) the supplies you’ll need.
TIP: If you’re interested in wheel-free techniques, you may want to check out our guide on Making Pottery Without a Wheel.
Items You’ll Need for Your First Pot from Start to Finish
This section will be your checklist. From sponges to trimming tools, we’ll ensure you have everything you need to make that first pot and many more thereafter.
Recommended Tools
Starter Tool Pack
Save time and money with a tool kit, these offer a balanced selection of tools to get you started. The one you choose might not include everything you need/want but it’s a great place to start!
- PK08 Basic Starter Tool Kit (Lowest Cost)
- Xiem Starter Kit (Best Value)
- Mudtools Essentials Kit (Best Quality)
Sponges
(we recommend having a variety of sponges for different purposes.)
- For General Use: Basic Potter’s Sponge
- For Finishing: Mudtools Mudsponge White
- For Cleanup: Basic Oval or Rectangle Sponge
Bucket
Get a good size bucket to have at your workspace, you’ll thank us later.
Wire Clay Cutter
Definitely an essential tool. Clay cutters are fundamentally the same but you’ll use it every day so it may be worth it to spend a little extra for a more comfortable grip or durable wire.
- CC01 Steel Wire Clay Cutter (Cheapest)
- Xiem PCW11 Perfect Pro Cutting Wire- 11″ (Good value for money)
- Ergo Thin Wire Tool (Best)
Needle Tool
You could use any sharp needle-like object for most purposes, however it’s nice to have one with a comfortable grip. We love the Mudshark by Mudtools because it folds away when you’re not using it.
- PRT01 Needle Tool (Cheapest)
- Xiem Needle Tool XST15 (Best Value)
- Mudshark (Folds Away)
Trimming Tool
We LOVE a sharp trimming tool. A good one will glide through leather-hard clay like butter. The few listed below are all different styles of trimming tools, each offering a good value in their category.
Spray Bottle
Optional Tools
Metal Rib (Optional)
Metal ribs are pretty helpful for scraping, here’s what we recommend:
Silicone Rib (Optional)
These flexy ribs are awesome tools to help shape, smooth, and compress your pieces on the wheel.
- Mudtools R1 (Most Flexible)
- Mudtools G4 (Medium Flexibility)
- Xiem SCR5-O (Flexible, Good Value)
Scoring Tool (Optional)
You can use a needle tool for scoring, this just saves you a couple seconds.
Sponge Holders (Optional)
Helpful for reaching into large pots or pots with small openings to remove excess water and smooth the inside.
Apron (Optional)
Keeps you clean and gives you extra pockets.
- Basic Potter’s Apron (Cheapest)
- Claypron Split Leg Apron (Best Value)
- Sanbao Split Leg Apron (Cutest)
Calipers (Optional)
If you’re making any sort of pot that has a lid, a caliper is a must for finding just the right size.
- LidMaster by Giffin Tech (Best)
- Artisan Stainless Steel Calipers (Good Value)
Potter’s Knife (Optional)
Giffin Grip Mini
(Optional but Helpful)
Attaches right to your wheel-head like a bat and holds your leather-hard piece in place for easy trimming or decorating.
Glazes
With thousands of options on the market, what glazes you use is entirely up to you. The most important things to keep in mind when choosing your glazes is what temperature you’ll be firing to and whether or not your project needs to be food safe or dinnerware safe.
Some other things to consider.
Intermixing: With some glazes, you can actually mix with other glazes of the same series to make your own colors. Some popular intermixable glazes include Mayco Stroke and Coat, Amaco Teacher’s Choice.
Does it need a clear coat: Most glazes you come across will fire to a gloss finish, others like most underglazes may need a clear glaze over it to have the same glossy surface, otherwise it will fire to matte.
Some Recommendations to Get You Started
Most Versatile
Mayco Stroke and Coat | Cone 06-10
Possibly the most versatile glaze currently available, Mayco Stroke and Coat is non-toxic and dinnerware safe. Stroke and Coat can also be intermixed to make your own custom shades. Apply 1 coat for transparent coverage, 2 coats for semi-opaque, and 3 for solid coverage. You don’t need clear glaze over Stroke and Coat if you use at least 3 coats. Save more with Stroke and Coats kits!
Underglazes
Speedball Underglazes | Cone 06/05-6
These underglazes appeal to many potters due to the affordability. Speedball Underglazes offer a high-value for a low cost and their new reformulation is the secret weapon. The new formulation is claimed to offer brighter colors, better brushing consistency, and more opaque coverage for the same price. In our opinion, these features them a strong competitor to Amaco’s Velvet Underglazes.
Amaco Velvet Underglazes | Cone 06/05-6
If you want underglazes that provide rich and vibrant colors, easy application, and opaque coverage then Amaco’s Velvet Series Underglazes are made for you. These underglazes are often regarded as the best available and while that reputation is well earned, it’s attached to a higher price tag.
Stoneware & Mid-Fire Glazes
Mayco Stoneware | Cone 6
A beginner friendly stoneware line with many colors to choose from. Mayco Stoneware Glazes will move to create interest and visual appeal without running off your piece. They work well with each other and provide endless opportunities to combine and layer to create intriguing visual effects.
Amaco Potter’s Choice | Cone 5-6
This is one of the most popular mid-range glaze lines. What people love about Amaco Potter’s Choice is the variety of beautiful colors and effects. Not only do they work well on their own but layering is their strong suit. Using Amaco’s layering guide you can discover hundreds of glaze combinations, effectively expanding your color pallet without needing to spend a kiln-full of cash.
Spectrum Floating Series | Cone 4-6
With just 12 colors you might wonder how Spectrum’s Floating Series compares to the selection of the previously mentioned lines. Rest assured, once you try these floating glazes you’ll be hooked too. This glaze gets it’s name from the effect of having one color “float” on top of another color where it breaks.
Clear Glazes
Amaco HF-9 Zinc Free Clear | Cone 06/05-6
Zinc-free clear glazes like Amaco’s Best Selling HF-9 help to show the best color of the underglazes, stains, and oxides under them. If you experience color shift or cloudy with other clears, you may want to give zinc-free a shot.
Mayco Pure Brilliance | Cone 06/05-6
Pure Brilliance was previously a staple of Duncan’s collection of glazes and now Mayco has continued to offer the same sparkling clear glaze at a great price.
Specialty Glaze
Ritual Glazes
While these special effects might not be for everybody, they offer a unique way to explore texture. These glazes make for a fun experience for some.
Equipment That Offers High Value for Low Cost
Here, we’ll highlight equipment that won’t have you eating instant noodles for months (unless that’s your thing, no judgment!). Whether it’s a budget-friendly kiln or the potter’s wheel that’ll get you the most bang for your buck, we’ve got the scoop.
Pottery Wheel: Top Pick
Speedball Clay Boss
This is one of the most popular pottery wheels for a good reason. Featuring a two-piece large removable splash pan, mid-size work-surface, and a 1/2 horsepower motor that’s hard to outgrow.
- 1/2HP Motor
- 2 Bats Includes
- $50 Glaze Rebate
- 10 Year Warranty
Best Pottery Wheel for Limited Space
Shimpo Aspire
We’re not trying to convince you that tabletop pottery wheels have the same capabilities of their larger counterparts but these little guys do have their advantages. Aside from costing almost half as much as a full sized wheel, tabletop models like the Shimpo Aspire are portable and lightweight, meaning they can be easily stored when you’re not using it. This fact can make owning a wheel possible even for those that wouldn’t otherwise have the space.
- Includes 2 Plastic Bats
- Weighs Just 25 Pounds
- 5 Year Warranty
Best Compact Kiln
Olympic Medallion MAS129E
After you’ve made your masterpiece you’ll need to fire it. We understand you may not be ready to invest thousands in a large piece of equipment so we recommend the Olympic MAS129E kiln as a lower budget, compact option. It’s a reliable cone 8 kiln that’s compatible with most home voltages, meaning it’s ready to go right out of the box.
- 120-Volt Electrical
- Kilnstar Digital Controller
- Included Tall Stand & Furniture Kit
- Fires to Cone 8
Best Tabletop Slab Roller
Shimpo SRM-1624 Mini Slab Roller
If you’re looking for a slab roller for your new home studio, look no further. Shimpo’s Mini Slab Roller packs in a lot of the features of a full-size slab roller at a lower cost and smaller size.
- 31 Pound Portable Design
- 16″ x 24″ Slab Size
- Adjustable Slab Thickness
- Canvas Set Included
- 2 Year Warranty
Want to Make Your Own Shopping List?
Simply fill out our printable PDF shopping list while you’re browsing so you know exactly what to get when it’s time to purchase.
Conclusion
Diving into pottery doesn’t have to mean diving into debt. With a bit of savvy shopping, recycling, and creativity, you can set up a home studio that’s both affordable and functional. Pottery remains an accessible artform for everyone, offering a fulfilling creative outlet that doesn’t require a fortune to start. Remember, the value comes not from how much you spend, but from the love and creativity you pour into each piece.
