THIS Is Why You Struggle to Center Clay on the Potter's Wheel 

If you want tips on pulling cylinders after your clay is centered, I made a short video on that! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ow1cUkZkBpA.html

Really good instruction - self taught people are always the best teachers (my father was a ceramics teacher and he used to tell his students :its easy after the first 10000)

I want to mention that left handed people may have trouble if the rotation of the wheel hasn't been reversed. I struggled horribly through 2 sets of beginner wheel classes. Then at the end of the 3rd try, the instructor that time finally noticed that I was a lefty, flipped a switch on the wheel and suddenly, everything got MUCH easier!!

I told Dante (Earth Nation Ceramics) that you called him out. He appreciated it, watched your video, and now he wants to update his video on centering.

thank you so much. Awesome description. I now fully understand

Incredible. Love the troubleshooting which is so hard to do without physical instruction. Self learners need this!!! Thank you

Absolutely helpful. Thank you!!

Tip three is something I had to figure out the hard way, but you are 100 percent spot on.

Thank you, EXTREAMELY helpful.

Step one, is, game changing🎉 thank you so much! Following your channel now!

Great tutorial. Thanks!

Thanks- this really helped ❤

I learn so much from you. Thank you so much!

All of your online teachers were also mine, and I am also mostly self taught. Great tutorial! I'm now a new subscriber!

Thank you ... I haven't tried it yet but it makes sense ❤

super stinking helpful. I don't think concepts are taught enough and this was really well explained

Thank you. Very helpful.

I watch videos from all of these guys, but especially Hsin-Chuen Lin….he is a master potter….love his videos! 😊😊

wonderful bro, keep going, man.

Thanks for this! I did take a few classes, but never managed to learn centering prior to using tips I had found on RU-vid. I'm a lot better at centering now than I was before, but I still found myself struggling when it came to bigger pieces. Now that I've watched your video, I see that there were a few subtleties I was missing, so I can't wait to head to the studio and apply these tips!! Thank you :)

ok ok thats actually real real helpful. never noticed that core part, but that super makes sense

Thanks for this video. I've watched some detailed instruction videos but was missing a few pieces of the puzzle this video helped unlock. Once I understood what is was meant to do not just how I was then able to feel it. Everything went so much faster and it was actually centred.

Thank you so much for this! Lately I’m feeling like I get worse at centering every time I try, I think it’s letting go too fast!! Also too much pressure in general, I tend to Hulk Smash all my clay… thank you for showing what it looks like when you do it “wrong”, that also helps a ton. So many videos are experienced people doing things perfectly while talking about how they do, which makes troubleshooting really difficult. I’m not that good yet, so I need to see issues that “look like” mine!

DAAUUUDE!!! THANK YOU!!! I never Got the one hand being the supper and the other being the pusher! I thought I was trying to make sure that I had the exact pressure on the pushing down from the top hand and the pushing the side of the clay hand!!! So much easier this way! Just subscribed.

Thank you. That helps.

Thank you😃

Thank you ❣️

Omg the only person I've seen actually explain what it means to brace your arm when centering and not give a 2 second explanation. I've wasted so much clay having no idea how to brace.

Ugh. I'm having a challenging time centering. I'm really trying to adjust my mindset because I really love hand building

This is the most beautiful man I've ever seen.

Ben: I'm not going to be scandalous... The rest of the internet: Awww :(

I finally signed up for a local pottery class, something I've wanted to do for a very long time. Oh, and I'm a complete newbie. 😊 Last week was my 1st lesson and the teacher just flew through all the instructions, then put us on the wheel. I had a blast, but what a failed mess!😅 I've been watching tutorials all week. Thank you for these tips! I'm excited to put them to use in class tonight. Thank you! I just subscribed. ❤

Well explained, thank you.

Tinker Thinker--- When I listened to your explanation of 'core', I applauded... I've been saying it to everyone who asks for help mastering centering. As a retired golf professional, I can tell you without debate that core strength and stability are paramount to BOTH activities. Since I have done both since childhood, I understood the relationship of arms close to and connected to the core in golf. In pottery, my left elbow is on my hip and my right on my leg. This affords me the power to use my body/core to center quickly and easily. Further, once that relationship is understood, opening, and pulling becomes SO much easier for beginners. When success is elusive, interest wanes quickly. Keep up the good work. Few instructors ever explain this very important point.

Really great tutorial video. Now after you master centering you can get a strong arm.

I'm new to ceramics and not great at centering. Sooo...I have been hand building...which I love. But I am going to try your techniques and try to conquer the wheel. I'll never stop hand building...but want it to be a choice and ONE of my skills...not a necessity because I haven't conquered the potter's wheel. Thanks for the great explanation.

i never understood centring untill i used a lathe - the tool is completely ridged when it meets the rotating work the work has to become round

it would be great if you do something on pulling, cant quite get that for some reason

My students and I thank you.

Oh your point on bracing arm/leg/chest - I feel like I'm struggling hardcore with that. I am very physically weak and it feels like when I try to center clay I'm putting so much force in without it doing anything to the clay at all (coning is a nightmare), because if i try to just brace my body and keep my hands steady it seems impossible to keep them in the same position. Is there something I'm missing or do you just have to have some level of physical strength to do it properly

I agree

I just attended my first pottery class and I REALLY struggled with centering. The perspective of not pushing, but rather holding a steady point will help I think. Booked some studio time to add that perspective :)

This really helped me understand centering a bit better in the physics sense thankyou, what was the name of the Asian instructor you mentioned please?

Damn. That's crazy.

what a wonderful chanel, I souscribe & like, salam, peace from algeria

Do you also happen to be an engineer? You def give engineer vibes.

what are the channels he recommended in the beginning?

cool

Unfortunately I have a treadle wheel so have difficulty bracing my arm against thigh because its moving! Any ideas?

I think you missed a major step. When placing the clay on the wheel it helps to slap it into place all the way around. It literally pre centers the clay. I wasn’t self taught but been throwing for plus 15 years. Slapping the clay in place has you hand move the wheel then seal the bottom w your finger should really be the first step to help. All to often I see beginners just throw the clay on the wheel and it’s not even in the center of the wheel. Most people think you have to throw it down and you don’t, just set it. I never learned to push the clay across but only push down into my hand. That prevents aka pushing off the wheel which I have to say you still have to push quite ridiculously hard for that to happen. Having a good strong core does help. Strength really doesn’t mean much. I have a fellow potter and on a great day she is maybe 90 pounds and she can center 25 pounds of clay in no time, and like I we throw really dry. But I’ll have to watch a few more of your videos.

What is the name of the potter, Shin Jung Li?

And don’t forget to breathe!

such clear, concise instruction! excellent video. next time take off your shirt lol

😂 when I'm helping newbies on the wheel, my Montra for hands on and off the clay is: " Shhhh, go slow... you don't want to wake the baby " 🤸🤹‍♀️🥳🙆

You should almost never use your finger tips wile centering use the sturdy butt or lower palm it gives you more control and stability

2sep22

Throw a sack of 25lbs of clay 32 inches high, 18 inches wide into a classic shape or a bottle in 4 minutes 11 sec... toss 40 bags a day... 1000lbs lbs...keep yourself busy...be a potter.

Next time be scandalous!

Hmm instructions unclear. Maybe it will be okay to take off your shirt and show me

Too much talking and not any real physical demonstration. I need to see the mechanics and advice in action. Sorry this video did not help me.