Common Mistakes in Handbuilding and How to Avoid Them
Handbuilding is one of the oldest and most versatile techniques in ceramics, allowing potters to create anything from functional dinnerware to intricate sculptures using just their hands and a few simple tools. Unlike wheel throwing, which relies on symmetry and centrifugal force, handbuilding techniques—such as coil building, slab construction, and pinch pottery—give artists more freedom to explore shapes, textures, and forms.
However, just like any other art form, handbuilding comes with its own set of challenges. Whether you’re a beginner taking adult pottery classes or an experienced ceramicist refining your technique, understanding the most common mistakes in handbuilding—and how to avoid them—will help you create stronger, more refined pieces.
At The Pottery Hut, a family-owned pottery studio in Mississauga, Ontario, we help students overcome these challenges every day. Below, we’ll explore some of the most frequent handbuilding mistakes and practical tips to prevent them.
1. Uneven Thickness in Clay Walls
The Problem:
One of the most common mistakes beginners make in handbuilding is creating walls that are too thick or too thin. If the walls of your piece are too thin, they may collapse during construction or become brittle and crack during firing. If they are too thick, they may dry unevenly or even explode in the kiln due to trapped moisture.
How to Avoid It:
• Aim for a consistent wall thickness of about ¼ inch (6 mm) for most handbuilt pottery.
• Use a wooden slat or rolling guides when rolling out slabs to ensure uniform thickness.
• Regularly check your walls with your fingers as you build.
• If making a pinch pot, gradually and evenly thin out the clay instead of stretching one area too much.
At The Pottery Hut, we teach proper thickness control techniques in our adult pottery classes, ensuring students develop good habits early in their pottery journey.
2. Poorly Attached Seams
The Problem:
Whether you’re joining slabs, coils, or handles, improper attachment is one of the biggest reasons why handbuilt pieces fall apart. If seams are not secured correctly, they may separate during drying or firing.
How to Avoid It:
• Always score and slip before attaching pieces. This means scratching the surface of both pieces with a serrated tool and applying slip (liquid clay) to create a strong bond.
• Press the pieces together firmly but gently to avoid trapping air pockets.
• Blend and reinforce the seam by smoothing it with your fingers or a wooden tool.
• Let the piece dry slowly and evenly to prevent stress cracks along the seams.
By practicing proper joining techniques in our Mississauga pottery classes, students at The Pottery Hut gain confidence in handbuilding and create more durable ceramic pieces.
3. Trapped Air Pockets
The Problem:
Air pockets in clay can cause cracks, warping, or even explosions in the kiln. This often happens when clay is improperly wedged or when slabs or coils are joined without compressing the clay properly.
How to Avoid It:
• Always wedge your clay thoroughly before starting. Wedging removes air pockets and ensures an even consistency.
• When joining pieces, press and blend the clay firmly to eliminate hidden air bubbles.
• Avoid trapping air inside hollow forms (e.g., a closed sculpture). If making a hollow form, poke a tiny hole in an inconspicuous place to allow air to escape.
In our adult pottery classes, we teach proper clay preparation and construction techniques to help students avoid these issues from the start.
4. Rushing the Drying Process
The Problem:
Clay contains moisture, and if it dries too fast, it can warp, crack, or break. Many beginners make the mistake of placing their pieces in direct sunlight or near a heat source to speed up drying, which leads to uneven shrinkage.
How to Avoid It:
• Let your piece dry slowly and evenly in a controlled environment.
• Cover it loosely with plastic to allow gradual evaporation, especially for large or complex pieces.
• Flip slabs and rotate pieces periodically to prevent uneven drying.
At The Pottery Hut, we emphasize the importance of patience in pottery, encouraging students to respect the natural drying process to achieve the best results.
5. Improper Glazing Techniques
The Problem:
Glazing can make or break a ceramic piece. Common glazing mistakes include:
• Applying glaze too thickly or too thinly
• Not cleaning bisqueware properly before glazing
• Glaze drips pooling at the base
• Uneven glaze coverage
How to Avoid It:
• Clean your bisqueware before glazing to remove dust and debris.
• Apply 2–3 even coats of glaze rather than a single thick layer.
• Wipe the bottom of your piece clean to prevent it from sticking to the kiln shelf.
• Experiment with test tiles before applying a new glaze to an important piece.
In our Mississauga pottery classes, students learn proper glazing techniques, ensuring their final pieces turn out beautifully.
6. Not Compressing Clay Enough
The Problem:
If you don’t compress your clay properly, it can lead to cracking, weak structures, and surface issues. This is especially common when rolling out slabs or making coil pots.
How to Avoid It:
• When rolling out slabs, use a rib tool to compress both sides of the clay.
• When making coil pots, smooth and blend each coil into the one below it instead of stacking them loosely.
• Compress clay at every stage to create a strong, stable form.
At The Pottery Hut, we teach students how to properly handle clay to prevent these issues before they arise.
7. Overworking the Clay
The Problem:
Beginners sometimes overwork the clay, which makes it too dry and stiff or too weak and soft. Overworking can also cause fatigue in the clay, making it prone to cracking.
How to Avoid It:
• Take breaks while working to prevent overhandling the clay.
• If the clay becomes too dry, use a damp sponge to restore moisture—but avoid oversaturating it.
• If the clay is too soft, let it rest uncovered for a short period to firm up.
By learning how to work with clay efficiently in our Mississauga pottery classes, students develop a better feel for the material and avoid these common pitfalls.
8. Neglecting Structural Support
The Problem:
Large or intricate handbuilt pieces can sag or collapse if they lack proper support during construction.
How to Avoid It:
• Use temporary supports like crumpled paper, foam, or wooden dowels when creating arches or complex shapes.
• Let sections firm up to a leather-hard stage before assembling them.
• Ensure that handles and attachments are properly reinforced before drying.
Our instructors at The Pottery Hut guide students in structural planning, helping them create strong and stable ceramic forms.
Conclusion: Learning from Mistakes in Handbuilding
Mistakes are a natural part of the pottery learning process. Every potter—whether a beginner or an expert—has encountered cracks, collapses, and glazing mishaps. The key to success is understanding these mistakes, learning from them, and applying better techniques in future projects.
If you’re looking to improve your handbuilding skills, consider joining The Pottery Hut’s adult pottery classes in Mississauga. Our experienced instructors, welcoming community, and hands-on guidance will help you gain confidence and avoid common mistakes as you develop your ceramic artistry.
Book a class today and start your journey toward becoming a skilled handbuilder!
