Mudtools Polymer Rib

 

Compression is a key factor to successful pottery. The polymer ribs made by Mudtools are a great way to create compression without marking up a piece. I use this beauty when I am attaching handles to ensure a nice seamless fit and to really wedge my slip into tight places. It does a great job smoothing out the grainy texture sponges often create when the water wipes away the actual clay particles and leaves the sand (aka grog). It also works well to almost buff the bottoms of pots while trimming on the wheel. 

I still prefer my metal rib for scraping the slip off pieces before removing them from the wheel, but this little gadget does that job just as nicely. One thing this softer edge does better than my metal rib is smoothing out flat bottom pieces such as larger vessels or plates. There is also significantly less danger of cutting yourself reaching into a bucket of water or reclaim and finding it somewhere on your journey to the bottom. 

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