The equipment, tools, materials, and supplies used in the art and craft of ceramics made with clay are the focus of this section of our web guide.
The resulting products are typically known collectively as pottery, and include earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, and bone china.
In this context, ceramics is a hands-on craft that transforms earth into lasting art. From shaping clay to firing finished pieces, a variety of equipment, tools, materials, and supplies support each stage of the process. Whether crafting a whimsical sculpture or centering a bowl on the wheel, understanding these essentials helps you work more efficiently and creatively.
Ceramacists, or potters, choose clay bodies on the basis of the desired firing temperature, strength, texture, and final appearance.
Earthenware has a firing range of 1,000-1,150°C, its characteristics are porous, warm tones, and bright glazes, and its common uses are for planters, tiles, and decorative ware.
Stoneware has a firing range of 1,200-1,300°C, its characteristics are dense, durable, and slightly textured, and its common uses are as functional tableware and mugs.
Porcelain has a firing range of 1,200-1,400°C, its characteristics are a translucent, smooth white surface, and its common uses are as fine dinnerware and vases.
Bone China has a firing range of 1,200-1,250°C, its characteristics are very white, strong, and slightly translucent, and its common uses are for teacups and ornamental figurines.
Its core equipment includes a pottery wheel, with electric or kick-wheel styles available, bats (removable throwing surfaces), a splash pan, and water delivery system. Kilns can be operated with electricity, gas, or wood. Programmable controllers can be used for precise ramps and holds, and shelves, posts, and kiln furniture are typically used. A wedging table provides a sturdy work surface, often covered in canvas, that helps de-air clay and achieve uniform consistency. A slab roller creates even clay sheets for handbuilding, while an extruder is used to push clay through shaped dies, producing consistent coils or profiles.
Shaping and handbuilding tools may include ribs and scrapers (wooden, metal, or rubber for smoothing surfaces), fettling knives and wire cutters (cutting, slicing slabs, or trimming pottery of bats), loop and ribbon tools (trimming foot rings, carving textures), and modeling tools (wooden or nylon tools for fine detail).
Surface decoration and finishing tools and supplies often include sponges (cellulose or natural for smoothing and cleaning), brushes (soft brushes for applying slips, underglazes, or glazes), stamps and rollers (impression tools for repeating patterns), slip trailers and squeeze bottles (precision slip or underglaze decoration), and carving knives and lathes (for sgraffito and surface carving).
Sgraffito is an artistic technique that involves scratching through a surface area to reveal a contrasting color underneath.
Materials and supplies used in pottery includes clay, slips, and engobes (refined slips composed primarily of clay and water, but formulated with electrolyte-sourcing liquids or powers known as deflocculants) to maintain suspension and fluxing agents to lower the melting point of the ingredients. A slip is a liquid clay used for joining, casting, or decoration, and colored engobes might be used for painted surfaces.
Others embrace powdered or ready-to-use liquid glazes, underglazes in solid or pen form for detailed motifs, and either oxides or stains to adjust color and texture. Grog or sand may be used to reduce shrinkage and to add texture. Stilts, kiln wash, and refractory cement are used to protect kiln shelves. Fiber blankets or boards may be used to line fiber kilns.
Equipment and supplies used for safety or studio maintenance include personal protective equipment (dust masks, respirators, gloves, aprons, goggles), ventilation (proper exhause when spraying glazes or firing gas kilns), clean-up supplies (HEPA vacuums, wet-mopping tools to control dust), and kiln care, such as regular shelf washing and post-firing cool-down protocols to extend the life of the kiln.
Manufacturers and retailers offering ceramics (pottery) equipment, tools, materials, and supplies are the focus of this category.
Recommended Resources
Offered by Big Ceramic Store, which has been in business since 1999, the online store offers a large selection of ceramic glazes, underglazes, cone and glazes, raku glazes, cone 10 glazes, low fire glazes, and others, including such brands as Amoco, Coyote, Liquitex, Laguna, and Mason. Customers can choose from low-fire, mid-fire, or high-fire finishes, and special blends can be used to give pottery a unique look. Photographs, materials, dimensions, and shipping options are included.
https://bigceramicstore.com/collections/glazes
Opened by Mark Lueders, a Philadelphia ceramic artist and educator at the University of Pennsylvania, who invented the Hydro-Bat, a fast-drying, durable bat used to make removing work from the wheel more efficient, The Ceramic Shop was a venue for distributing his product, as well as a ceramic supply store. Currently located in a much larger facility in Norristown, the store carries top-name brands in ceramics. Its location, hours, and an online product catalog are featured.
https://www.theceramicshop.com/
The US-based supplier specializes in ceramic pottery materials, studio equipment, and kilns, catering to artists and educational institutions with a comprehensive catalog that spans from raw clay bodies to finishing accessories. Included are a selection of clay bodies, raw materials, glazes, underglazes, stains and colorants, pottery wheels, tools, and accessories. Its products, customer service, and support services are highlighted, along with contact information.
https://www.continentalclay.com/
In business since 1958, and based in Oakville, Ontario, Euclid's Pottery Store is a complete source for pottery supplies and equipment. They produce their own clay bodies and glazes, manufacture Euclid Kilns and Euclid's Elements, and carry a comprehensive range of tools, raw materials, books, and studio equipment. Product categories include Clay and Glazes, Pottery Wheels and Equipment, Pottery Tools, Kilns and Parts, and Accessories and Books. Shoppers may also shop by keyword search.
https://euclids.com/
Sculpey is the brand name for a type of polymer clay that can be modeled and hardened in a conventional oven, unlike typical modeling clays, which require a much hotter oven, such as a kiln. Until baked, Sculpey has a consistency similar to Plasticine and is sold in many colors, although it can also be painted after baking. Shoppers can browse its catalog by product category, best sellers, or featured products. The site also offers guides for various projects and an informational blog.
https://www.sculpey.com/
Heralded as America's premier ceramics supplier, Sheffield Pottery offers a one-stop source for clay bodies, glazes, kilns, wheels, tools, furniture, and studio safety equipment. The company serves hobbyists, professionals, schools, and industrial clients with expert guidance and nationwide shipping. Located in Sheffield, Massachusetts, its showroom is not open to the public; however, orders can be placed online for shipping or local pickup. Its online product catalog is categorized.
https://www.sheffield-pottery.com/
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Skutt Ceramic Products produces electric kilns, including ceramic and glass kilns renowned for their precision, durability, and ease of use, as well as pottery wheels and related accessories. The company was founded in 1953 by a father-and-son team, Ralph and Neil Skutt, initially located in Olympia, Washington. The company's products are highlighted, including specifications and other details, although purchases must be made through a Skutt distributor.
https://skutt.com/
