Pottery Foot Ring Tool Set – 3 Sizes

Originally developed as handmade bisque tools in my own studio, this new generation of foot ring tools has been evolved for enhanced precision and for greater availability.

Each tool is CNC-machined and hand finished from my original, field tested designs, ensuring the same soulful geometry of my handmade batches with the added durability and precision of modern engineering.

Professional grade materials – Crafted from Tricoya, an incredibly dense and hard-wearing form of MDF, these tools are naturally water resistant and durable for constant use with clay. While they are built for the rigors of the pottery studio, please do not keep them submerged in water.

SHIPPING INFORMATION:

Please allow up to 1-2 weeks for the product to ship and up to 4 weeks to receive your order. All efforts will be made for the quickest possible turnaround! These tools will ship from London through a Fulfillment Agent on my behalf and will not be effected by the ongoing war in my region. For this reason, this listing cannot be purchased at the same time as other listings on my site other than my hand made texture stamp sets.

QUICK START GUIDE

1. Drape a slab of clay over a firm, rounded mould (wood, plaster, bisque, metal or glass etc). Use a resist like cellophane or tights where necessary over the mould. Avoid soft moulds like Styrofoam as they don’t provide enough counter resistance. I recommend starting off with a 1/4 inch thick slab, once you’ve had practice and know how much force to exert on the tools, thinner slabs can be used.
2. Centre the outer ring on the clay, then centre the disc inside the ring.
3.  Press Ring: Apply even pressure until the ring sinks a few millimetres (do not fully submerge).
4. Press Disc: Apply pressure to the centre disc. (Pro Tip: Use light pressure for the smallest size. The larger the foot ring tool, the more force needed).
5. Remove both parts by pulling directly upwards. If working with very wet/sticky clay, either wait for the clay to firm up a bit on the mould before creating the foot, or apply a dusting of cornstarch on the clay under the tools. I recommend always applying cornstarch to the clay when using the smallest size, as the foot it produces is delicate and the cornstarch assists in the removal of the tools without distorting the foot.
6. Remove the piece from the mould once it’s firmed up enough to hold its shape. Place the piece on its rim and only flip it onto its foot once its leather hard and the foot is capable of holding the weight of the piece.

SIZING GUIDE & PRO-TIPS

• Small: Best for espresso cups, narrow cups, egg cups, and other narrow vessels. Exert light pressure on tools, use cornstarch (as mentioned above).
• Medium: Best for tumblers, mugs, small planters, small bowls, narrow – medium vases and pitchers etc. Use medium, even pressure, placing 4 fingers on the ring. If necessary, the disc can be returned to the indentation and pressed again (this applies to all sizes).
• Large: Best for medium – large bowls, planters, teapots and other wider based forms. This size requires more force. If you have difficulty pressing the large disc into the clay, place a fist over the disc and cup your hand over it, pressing down with your body weight.
• Easy Fixes: If you find you pressed too hard and the clay around the foot thins too much, make a moist coil and smooth it with your fingers around the base. This method can also be applied to the interior of the base if its been distorted.
• Design Note: These tools are designed for curved forms only, as the angle of the piece naturally tapers away from the foot. Not recommended for forming plates or platters.

The process photos in this listing are demonstrating using the hand made version of these tools. The steps and results are the same with this Tricoya batch pictured in the first 2 photographs.

To see process videos of me using the foot ring tools, please visit my facebook or instagram page @naomitatemaghen (Link on homepage).