How to Make a Clay Planter - Hand making a clay slab
Tip: Highlight text to annotate itX
So, the first step in making a slab if you're doing it by hand is to throw this clay and
stretch it on the table. I'm going to hold it from one end and then I'm going to pull
it towards me as I drop it down. And, what this is going to do is allow the clay to flatten
out and stretch in one direction. Always hit the end, because that keeps it from squeezing
out and not being flat and not being even. It's kind of like pizza dough, only a little
bit more stubborn. And, once you've got it a little bit long you're going to want to
get it stretched out the other direction. And, the more smoothly you do this motion
the more even your slab's going to be.
And, once you've got your slab a little bit thicker then what you're eventually going
for you can take a really large rolling pin. The bigger the better, it allows for more
consistency. And, then just roll it out going from all directions. That helps keep it consistent
and also compresses the clay really nicely. And, once you've got your slab rolled out
the way you want it you can take a drywall knife with a clean edge which that didn't
have and smooth the surface of the clay.
