SIMON LEACH - 7 steps to making a cylinder ! 

I'm 82 years young and you have been my inspiration from the first time I picked up a handful of clay 12 years ago. Thanks, to a wonderful teacher..

I have neither the patience nor the artistic ability to be a potter or an artist - BUT I'm utterly in awe of the way you manage to bring form and beauty to a lump of clay. Furthermore, I'm humbled by your extraordinary generosity in passing on your knowledge and expertise to others. You're an inspiration to us all Mr Leach. Best Wishes from a humbled IT Consultant.

I just started taking pottery class. My second class was today and I attempted a mug. I wish I would of watched this video before my class! I ended up with more of a bowl, because I did not understand the coning. This Video is explained it perfectly! Thank you for going step by step with the different pieces. It REALLY helped!

Thank you for sharing! Very easy to understand how to throw a cylinder for beginner 🙏🏽

This shows me two things I need to be doing. When opening I don't keep my hand on the side and after opening I don't collar in. I get the godawful flaring out at the top and have been trying to figure out how to get rid of it. I'm going to try these two things out tomorrow and hopefully make some beautiful, straight cylinders! Thanks!

Thank you so much! I was not doing number 5 and that was not taught to me. The explanation of the cylinder wanting to open outwards at the top is exactly what has been happening to me.

Fabulous teaching method...thank you!!!!

Thank you Simon, easy to understand, easy to follow, really appreciate your clips.

Thank you this is so helpful for aspiring potters!

This was a very helpful video. Thank you for taking the time to post, it's still helping folks seven years later!

My ceramics teacher recommended watching this to help me understand making a greek vase on the wheel. It did clear up some confusion. Thank you!

Thanks for these wonderful videos, Simon. And double thanks for those of us who are just beginning and need good basic instruction.

Very great video. I've been having trouble in class with pulling the walls and I appreciate your repeating of steps.

been watching many vids. this made the most sense.

Such a good video!! Seeing the basics over and over helps tremendously!!!

thanks so much Simon, this is by far the best instruction I have discovered! very well done. I can't thank you enough this is going to help me so much. take care

This was such a great demonstration and has taught me so much! Thank you for taking the time to make this video, I am a terrified beginer and you have really clarified so many things for me!

I want to thank you for this video. I've been having such a hard time with cylinders. This has helped me figure out what i was doing wrong.

Thank you very much for this video. I have been following this process with a lot more success than my previous attempts at cylinders. Very grateful to you!

Thank you so much for sharing all the different stages with us. Going to try out your technique tomorrow!

I have watched many of your videos, but find this one my favorite. Basic are important and this video is well crafted and well, basic! Well done, well planed, Hope you continue this way, thanks.

I have admired your work for a very long time, after watching your videos I am sorry I never had the opportunity to study under your tutelage. you are a captivating teacher. thank you for sharing a bit of yourself with us.

This is the most comprehensive explanation on this very important exercise! This is sheer genius!!! I'm just starting out and this will help me immensely!! Thank you so much Simon!!

Thanks for a great video - I've been struggling with the cylinder for a few days but this makes it clear what I'm doing wrong!

I really have appreciated and gained a lot from this lesson, thank you for being such a good teacher. You have helped a lot of us. Have a good day.

This lesson showed me a variety of ways to make a cylinder. Thank you for teaching me theses skills. You are a great teacher, thanks again!

So today was the day. I got my first potter´s wheel. After a few hours I had my first halfway decent cylinder. This Video helped me a lot. Tank you Simon.

Thanks so much simon! I have been doing pottery for five years now, but learning these basic skills from different people really expand talent. Looking forward to maybe the steps to making a bowl, or plate as well!!!! Thanks again, Kimberley,14 of Long Island, New York

I think you are really generous with your knowlege and time. I have learned so much from you. Thank you.

A truely evergreen video.

Thank you, I always learn something when you review the basics of throwing. Claire

Beautiful video, just beautiful! Paused and saw the sign over your shoulder ~ "Speed kills." Oh, so true! I'm now only throwing my hand-dug farm clay (Maryland clay, redware) and the speed of my wheel has a huge effect on stability, time I have to work on the form before it returns to the "free mud" state it's nature tends toward. Also, if I rush the wedging process, my clay will have lumpy irregularities, as it tends to dry in the bag in such an irregular way, soft areas and harder areas, when resting. Patience with wedging, not rushing, it key to happy wheel time, too! Speed kills, such a great reminder! Thanks, Master Potter Leach!

Thanks simon very useful as im starting throwing again due to earthquake disruption closing the clubs. I always found cylinders difficultvin the lifting up but this drives it home really well - always watch your stuff very concise :-) kim from christchurch nz

I received a pottery wheel and clay for my b-day and have tried so hard to end up with something that I cold shoe but so far I just have a about 20 pounds of waisted clay. trying to follow your wonderful directions but I guess I am just too old to learn am 71 but really want to learn...thanks for you great directions best I have seen so far

Perfect demonstration, easy to remember steps, thank you!

This makes so much sense thank you!!! I have really been struggling with pulling and now I see what I’ve been doing wrong

Beautiful and excellent way of presentation , very helpful with each steps.....thank you sir!

That was great. The basics are so useful for the beginner.

Simon, I'm a new student but a life-long learner. THANK YOU for all these videos you've done! I have learned TONs! (or Tonnes, if you like). I'll be keeping an eye out to see if you ever make it to Washington, DC for a workshop! Cheers!

Thank you for such a clear tutorial! I obviously need far more practice, but this helps greatly.

Sooo helpful. Many of my problems start right at opening and lifting.

I like the teaching techniques and the picture of the finished stages

Thanks Simon, Really clear instructions.

Thank you so much Simon for sharing your knowledge! :)

thank you so very much for all this info for the beginning potter not to mention the tips for us older potters. the very least we can do is click to help you. hope you are having a fun time in the woods of NY

By Jove I think I've got it!! Many thanks for passing on three generations of Leach wisdom. Thankfully I'm not too old to pass it on to my kids and their kids. One of many reasons I pursued your specific approach is because I enjoy the way you speak. Your videos are the first instructional videos in throwing that I've been able to tolerate listening to all the way thru. Another is the tradition I mentioned above: How in 2020 do you do better than being taught to throw by Bernard Leach's grandson?

so so helpful! Thank you, Simon

Very helpful. I haven't tried my hand at throwing, yet. I thought it a good idea to watch a few master potters go over the basics, first. Thanks for posting. ❤

thanks , needed the help because I am having so much trouble with this. but this different stage really help a lot.

Best one out there

beautiful. Thanks for this. I realize I have not been collaring in. I've been having trouble with the cylinders flaring. I look forward to trying this!

Thanks Simon. Much appreciated.

I never thought about pulling teh walls in to counter the centrifugal force. Thank you!

Thanks Simon, great technique... will try this next time I am at the pottery studio

Thanks, Simon. Great demo.

Thank you Simon. that was very helpful.

Excellent video! Thank you!

Watching again! You are the best!

This was lovely! Thank you so much!

Very useful Simon ... thank you!

after weeks of studying, this is definitely the best tutorial i've seen yet. well done.

Bravo! Great tips, thank you!

thank you SO MUCH! I'm throwing cylinders with confidence!

Wow, this was so educational and inspiring, thank you so much! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

So very helpful thank you for sharing this video

Fantastic. Thanks! It's the numbers 4&5 I was missing!

great video for beginners and old timers like myself!

What an awesome demo 👌

Great demonstration, it was good.

Very helpful. Thanks so much.

Great vid! :) Lots of skill there!

i watched this clip a couple of years ago and ive just rewatched it in 2015, i think it mustve sunk straight in... it all seems very familiar...thanks Simon

Thank you......!!! you are D best so humorous too. Please keep on going,G.

I sure appreciate the step by step of the shapes! Yes I bought the book after seeing this, and yes I am totally making a step by step skill by skill class for my new grade sevens here in winnipeg manitoba. And yes I was cheating a bit in both wedging and centring properly so every now and again my throwing would really be a struggle. I found my own teacher here and also signed up for some teacher professional development by sounding stone here in winnipeg. Excellent! Anyways thanks a ton for your patient walk throughs, and is it possible to by the pattern for your treadle wheels, I am hoping to get my local shops classes interested in building a few, so we can use them. Peace Friend! My family is from cornwall also lanteglos on camelford. Barbers

This is great! Heading to my pottery class and I'm going to try these techniques! :)

great teachig

This helps a LOT THX SO much!! :D

Great video

Muy buen video ...Gracias Simon :)

Fantastic Demonstration- from teacher to another:-)

great tutorial!! thanks a lot!

wow! such great instructional video! thx a lot ! :)

great demonstration , thank you :-)

Perfect video i m glad i watched it, very helpful, thank u:)

Thank you. This was necessary and brilliant for me. Super helpful.

This was very informative! I like how all of the steps are shown at the end. I will definitely focus more on collaring to see if it helps! Also, what is a good wall thickness for the end result?

Excellent!

Thank you! thew a cylinder tonight with your help!

That was money. Great teaching technique.

Thanks Simon

goede uitleg dank u

Very good demonstration..... the elbow support is where I am having a problem... when I pull up I get a wobble and my walls are uneven.

Excellent thank you

Thank you Simon! You are a great teacher. You make me believe I can be a good potter some day. I love your ash glazed reduction pieces!!! I hope to buy some in the future. How do I get to your online store?

Great video, thank you. What was the weight of clay you use to throw that size cylinder?

Thank you!!!

I've seen a few different ways to make a cylinder...I will try this one tomorrow...thx

Perfect......thankyou

very helpful

awesome Simon thanks matey..... sammy