As a High School Ceramics instructor, I cross section nearly every demo piece in order to show the importance of checking your accuracy. My students despise cutting their pieces in half at the start, but reap the rewards of the process in the long run. Some (after a while) using it as a way to compete with the others in class. Quoting one of them..."I'm trimmin THIN FOR THE WIN baby!!!" I've turned many of my students onto your RU-vid channel and Instagram page, so I can't wait for them to see you (as they regard you in the highest) process your work in the same way. Brilliant as usual Florian! Keep up the masterful work my friend.
For those on the fence of buying a Bison trimming tool, I've had one for five years. After the third year, I sent it to Phil Bison for sharpening. I'm not sure it needed sharpening at that time, but that is the 'warranty' period to send in for sharpening, so I sent it to him. Compared to other trimming tools, they seem expensive. But, being that you never have to stop trimming to sharpen them, and they last for a long time, I believe they are the best value, and comparatively inexpensive. I throw porcelain; exclusively. Porcelain has no grog. Not sure if grog would impact the tungsten carbide useful life, or not.
Fantastic video! My Bison tool was an incredible investment. There's really nothing more satisfying. I filled my storage box with really course sawdust from my planer, which acts as a nice little bed to protect the loops.
Cheers Samuel! Yeah, I'm actually really blown away by how nice they are. I've heard about them for years and never really took the plunge as they are a little pricy, but, they have been absolutely worth it.
Clicked on the video as a curious beginner potter, stayed for the whole 20 minutes. You do a great job of keeping one interested and your voiceovers are very soothing. The tools look far better then my set from Amazon!
Great video, thank you. The Bison tools are the absolute best. Informationally, Phil’s last name is Poburka, the company is Bison. Each tool is made on demand, and he’ll combine each handle and trimming shape to your tastes.
I love the trimming stage, it is so satisfying! And I love how much the pots are refined at this stage 🤗 Thanks for reviewing these tools for us, I've had my eye on some Bison tools for a while now 👀
Will be trimming in my ceramics class in the morning- lots of inspiration from this video ☺️ I keep making my bases too thin so there’s not enough clay to play with but must work on leaving more so I can try a rim like this 👍
I bought one and what is the issue for me is that I have been using Dolan tools for years so I am used to consistent sizes that I can replace when I wear through. I also don't like how careful you need to be. I mean if I drop it it might be destroyed is a big chance to take for $60
hokey heck! looking at the pictures I do recall holding tools like that as a kid. I assume I was at my grandparents place or possibly visiting a cabin somewhere. I never knew what they were before. wow, I've been watching pottery videos for almost 2 months and I often wonder if potters need to resist trimming right the way through. With super sharp tools I guess it'll really train you to be gentle on the trim. Now I'm wondering how much the tools effect the design of what your making.
Hey Florian, just want to drop you a comment here and say thank you so much for sharing your videos, really appreciate it. I am new to pottery and I have learned a lot from watching your videos, and I have watched quite a number of your videos too. I like your style also, I also like simple, clean forms and shapes. Want to ask you also if pottery is best learnt by doing or experiencing or there are some books (theories) that I need to get my hands on? Would appreciate it if you could share your view on this. Thanks Florian
Thanks so much! Well, nothing beats practical experience. Reading some pottery books along the way helps too but you just need to get thousands of hours of practice under your belt, that's the most important thing.
Question: Are there glazed stoneware/clay/ceramic "jewels", to inlay into furniture or similar things? Maybe even with traditional faceting? Some glazes have incredible patterns and shine, I'd love to add them to my pieces. I don't know what to search though, terms like clay cabochon only produce etsy polymer/glass jewelry...
Thank you, Florian, you always bring us very precise details to understand how to refine it. I saw you was in NY month ago from your IG, wish I saw earlier then I will have chance to see your exhibition. I also want to thank you for introducing these amazing tools. I am not ceramic artist (I am 3D artist and do traditional sculpt) but your works are fascinating, and I really want to try ceramic someday. May I have a quick question about your old tools on 4:14, the one with super fine loop can easily trim the clay edge. I think that my soulmate tool. I know you mentioned you kind of forgot where to get it, it’s just a regular tool on the market. Any chance I will be able to fine it in US? I will find a chance to purchase Bison Pottery Trimming Tools someday, they looks so cool and handy. I can understand the feeling that find the matched tools and using them creating cool artwork feels awesome. Thank you again for everything.
Sharper, that's for sure. I had one that was already somewhat similar, but the blade on that was a little thicker. It's the different shapes that I like so much. There's such a variety with Phil's tools.
Those tools are the best out there! My friend Tom Coleman (The American Porcelain Master Potter) turned me on to them. They are not cheap! Florian, you don't close pores in your stoneware after trimming?
Have you added more grog to your clay body? The texture of the forms after you're done trimming looks slightly different than before (I imagine this might also just be because of your new tools though!)
Hello Florian, first of all congratulations for your great job. I'm writting to you because I'm trying to buy the same tools that you've shown on this video, Bison answered me but to make an order I should ask him by names, like "I want one of Robustus 3/4, etc...". Could you send me the names of the tools to let me order him? I know that the sizing could be different, I've already completed this step. Thank you very much!
Hellooo! Just a question about fired pots. Can you get the bottom of the pot wet if you haven’t glazed the bottom? I know you shouldn’t soak it but is there a way to be able to wet the bottom...if that makes sense... what you you do with yours??
I notice you run the wheel counter clockwise. Was it difficult adjusting to a clockwise direction when you did your apprenticeship in Japan? I am a left handed dyslexic and I find the wheel going clockwise to be much more smooth for my backwards mind.
I used a kick wheel in Japan for the most part, so I could still throw with the wheel going anti-clockwise, then, when I used an electric wheel to make my own work there, it was a Shimpo with a toggle, so the wheel can go both ways, so, in the end, it was never a problem.
Hi Florian, Thank you for showing. Could you give me the Email to order? I don't know why, but the website doesn't show properly on my computer. thanks in advance, Sandra
They’re pretty hard to get a hold of. You need to email him and all the ordering/correspondence is done that way. There’s a year long waiting list too, I think! It’s very much worth the wait and the cost though, albeit quite a process to actually order them.
Sadly the demand for his tools is unfathomably high! It’s best to email him directly these days but even then it can be tricky getting hold of them. Last I heard there’s a year long waiting list.