If you’re one who likes to get your hands dirty while making something from start to finish, then you probably already have a few trusty tools in your arsenal to help you along the way — a high-quality chef’s knife, a heavy cast iron skillet, a pastry brush, and so on. But what about the small but essential tools like a mini offset spatula and an exacto knife? What about the tools for encasing your creations in something like a vase or a frame? The list goes on and on.
To help make sure you’re selecting the best tools for the job, we rounded up the top ceramic pottery tools from ceramicist and ceramic tools expert, Josh P
Our Editor’s Best Ceramic Pottery Tools Reviews
- 18 Pieces in Total: This set of clay tools contains most of the basic tools you may need for pottery making and sculpting. They are great for carving, cutting, chipping, modeling, trimming, smoothing, etc.
- Exquisite Design: These pottery tools provide various shapes and sizes for your creative use. Some of them come in a double-ended configuration, giving you more usable tools and helping you save storage space.
- Sturdy Material: Made of stainless steel and wood, our carving tools are sharp and sturdy enough for sculpting soft materials, including polymer clay, ceramic clay, fondant, cake, dough, wax, soap, etc. Please note that the metal parts of the tool are sharp, so be careful to avoid scratches when using it.
- Zipper Tool Bag: This large-capacity tool pouch helps you to keep things organized. The zipper puller allows you to easily open and close to find and store tools. Please note that it is recommended not to soak the tools in water for a long time more than 1.5 hours, after cleaning, please dry them in time before putting them into the tool bag.
- Excellent Tool: Our pottery tools kit is great for both beginners and advanced pottery crafters. The aspiring artists in your life, no matter what their level of expertise, are sure to appreciate this thoughtful tool that could promote their creativity and imagination.
- 【Ease of Use】Conveniently double-sided, these polymer clay tools are easy to use and manipulate your clay with great precision. Ideal for molding clay, carving shaping, cutting, scraping, smoothing and detailing oven-bake clay before baking
- 【All-in-one kit】This pottery tools and supplies are packaging in it's own Zippered Carry Case. You will receive 2x blue handle ball stylus, 5x wood sculpture knives/needle tool, 2x metal needle tool, 2x wood/metal rib, 3x wood loop tools with stainless steel, 1x wire clay cutter, 1x smoothing sponge
- 【Premium Quality】The clay tools for sculpting are made from metal and wood for many years of use with smooth, sturdy, and lightweight construction for easy holding. You will be pleased with this air-dry clay pottery tool kit
- 【Wide Uses】Our pottery tools come in an astounding variety of shapes, and they are useful in all sorts of hand-building, also widely used for Embossing, Food Decoration, and Nail Art
- 【Reliable Choice】It is a great holiday gift for children who love art and craft. We hope this pottery tool kit will inspire everyone's creative imagination, allowing them to create beautiful artwork that they can be proud of
- Size: length 16-20 cm/6.29"-7.87".
- Double-sided design: Pottery tools are designed with different shapes on both ends, 12 shapes, which can meet your different carving needs
- High Quality: Both ends of the clay tools are made of high-quality stainless steel, which is rust-proof and durable, with a smooth wooden handle for a firmer and more comfortable grip
- Multifunctional: 6 Pcs clay tools, 12 functions, can be used for carving, shaping, cutting, smoothing, etc., to carve out more delicate handicrafts
- Application: Our carving tools are suitable for different levels of pottery clay carving enthusiasts, beginners, or professionals
- [THE ORIGINAL CLAY WEDGING BOARD] - Penguin Pottery designed the original MDF clayboard clay wedging board back in 2020. Today, it is a must-have pottery tool in the pottery tools equipment and supplies world. Manufactured in the USA from water-resistant renewable wood sources using Medex MDF, the highest-quality board material widely used in the ceramics industry (we do not use less water-resistant Masonite board or fiberboard as other brands).
- [EASY TO CARRY AND USE] - We designed our clay board with a built-in handle to make it super easy to carry. Unlike other brands, our board has rounded edges, including the handle! We care about your experience so we make our board easy on your hands. We also do not add a canvas found in canvas covered board for clay to prevent accumulation of dry clay dust, a common problem with other mud tools.
- [DURABLE AND STRONG] - Our clay boards are made with 3/8" Medex MDF on purpose, because it's the perfect thickness for strength and durability, without making it too heavy to carry. It also prevents clay from sticking, and works better than pottery plaster, clay mat, and polymer clay mat. Clay texture sheets, clay slab roller, pottery forms, pottery turntable, and pottery molds for clay can be placed on top. We also make our ceramic bats with Medex MDF. Check them out!
- [LIFETIME WARRANTY] - Our boards will last a very long time, and if you have any issues, we will give you a refund or replace your board - no questions asked! All Penguin Pottery products are backed by our Lifetime Warranty. See warranty & support section for more information.
- [MANY OTHER APPLICATIONS] - Use our boards as a portable table for laptops, outdoor painting, handbuilding clay, clay glaze table, craft table, art board, DIY workbench, DIY table, and many other portable applications. A must have pottery tools for your pottery studio, ceramics classroom (one for each kid!) or community ceramics program.
- Practical Set: ceramic bottle glaze applicator tool set with 2 pcs 3 ounce squeeze balls, 2 pcs 1 ounce squeeze balls, 8 specifications from size 14-21, 5 pcs each for a total of 40 needles, 5 pcs filling funnels, 1 metal connector, 1 box of unclog pins
- Silicone Applicator: available in two different capacity bulb squeeze balls, lightweight and easy to handle, easy to control the output, more precise application, smooth glaze; Ideal for decorative pottery and clay with precise design
- Precision Applicator Needles: 8 types of plastic steel needles, not only meet the needs of different sizes, but also very suitable for painting; The color of each specification needle is different, easy to distinguish; Lake green 14G, brown 15G, transparent black 16G, turmeric 17G, emerald green 18G, black 19G, pink 20G, purple 21G
- Filling and Cleaning: in terms of filling, we also provide 5 funnels for quick filling, and 1 box of dredging pins for cleaning plastic steel needles, which can help the needles to be reused
- Wide Range of Uses: in addition to being applied for glazing ceramic bottles, our products can also be applied for smearing and caulking other thin liquids; Some small sized needles are a bit slender, please note that the filled liquid should not be too viscous, which may affect the release of the liquid
- 30 pieces in total: Contain most of modeling clay tools you will need, great for carving, shaping, modeling, cutting, scraping, brushing, smoothing and so on
- Exquisite Design: Double-sided design for a variety of shapes and uses, make your work more flexible, Please note that the metal parts of the tool are sharp, so be careful to avoid scratches when using it
- Sturdy Material: Smooth, lightweight & comfortable to hold - sturdy wood and stainless steel construction
- Excellent Tool: Three double-headed rubber shapers with 6 different soft tips, make it easy to remove fingerprints and blemishes from the surface of clay. Also great for color shaping, blending and drawing
- Sizes: 13cm-20cm, easy to use, clean and store
- 🏺🏺🏺Precision Tool: This 30mm ceramic clay pottery throwing trimming spinner tool allows for precise control and easy rotation when shaping and detailing ceramic pieces.
- 🏺🏺🏺PrecisioSmooth rotation: The compact ceramic tool smoothly rotates clay works with minimal friction, allowing for efficient trimming and detailing.
- 🏺🏺🏺VARIETY OF USES: From trimming mugs and bowls to shaping vases and planters, this versatile tool supports a wide range of pottery techniques for beginners and professionals.
- 🏺🏺🏺Compact and portable: its compact size makes it easy to store and transport for pottery artists working both in studio and on-the-go.
- 🏺🏺🏺Perfect for Pros and Beginners: Whether a seasoned ceramic artist or pottery hobbyist, this clay trimming spinner provides the handling needed for a wide range of projects.
- Package: Our wooden pottery tool set has 1*boxwood potter's rib,1*boxwood modeling tool,1*ribbon tool,1*sponge,1*needle tool,1*loop tool,1*metal scraper,1*wire clay cutter.Basic wooden clay tools sculpting for beginners.
- Durable: The material of wooden sculpting clay tools is a durable and simple design. The wooden handles are solid wood material, the smooth surface is easy to clean. The corrosion-resistant metal of pottery tools is solid and bent, not easy to break.
- Multiple choice: Different styles and sizes of pottery tools and clay sculpting tools to choose from. Contain 9 pcs clay sculpting tools for different uses, can be used to trim the surface of the work, remove excess mud, make it smooth or use it for some detailed design.
- Application: The rubber tip tool with a soft tip can easily remove fingerprints and stains on the clay surface. The pottery tools and clay sculpting toolset are also suitable for color shaping, mixing, and painting.
- Useful: These pottery carving tool kits are light and handy, the sharp professional pottery tools are accurate and efficient to make your pottery crafted, it's necessary for beginners and professionals in ceramic and pottery, such as art students, professors of various skills.
- You will receive 4 different diameter hole cutters, to meet different punching needs.
- The position of the carving is stainless steel and the handle is made of smooth wood.
- Used for drilling, scraping and marking of clay.
- Suitable for beginners, hobbyists or professionals.
- Wide application. Perfect for pottery, clay, polymer, rubber, paper clay, etc.
- Material: Aluminum alloy, Color: Silver, Length:12.3cm
- The tools are widly used in Pottery & Ceramics, Polymer clay, Soap art, Wax carving, Jewelry design, Hand model and so on
- This Tool set is perfect for fine sculpting, detailing and trimming.
- Professional quality tools,not only fit for the seasoned expert but also for the dabbling novice.
- Package included: 6 Pcs different clay sculpting tools
Best Ceramic Pottery Tools Buying Guide
Before choosing the best ceramic pottery tools you should consider following options:
1. Brush: It is the first thing that you need to paint on a pot. They come in different sizes, thickness and materials.
The most commonly used brush is the nylon bristle brush. It is used for applying glaze and slip and is available in two types: soft and firm. Soft is ideal for applying glaze while firm is used for slip.
You can also use the ink brush for applying glaze. It is ideal for staining and painting intricate designs.
The other type of brush is the synthetic brush. It is used for applying glaze, slip and ink. The advantage of synthetic brushes is that they can hold more paint and are resistant to breakage.
The third type of brush is the shish brush. They are used for applying glaze and slip.
2. Sponges: Sponges are an essential tool to smooth out glazes and slips. You can buy them in different forms such as synthetic, paper and natural.
Synthetic sponges are the most commonly used. They can be re-used, easy to clean and absorbent.
Paper sponges are the least absorbent of all but they are more durable, economical and eco-friendly. Natural sponges are the most absorbent, but they are expensive.
3. Scraper: Scrapers are used to smooth out glazes and slips. The two types of scrapers are the straight and curved.
The straight scraper is used to remove glaze or slip from the pot’s interior while the curved scraper is used for smoothing out the glaze on the surface of the pot.
4. Shaping tools: This refers to the tools used for detailing and carving the pot. They include gouges, rib, line and flat chisels and are made from different materials such as wood, steel and plastic.
5. Angle gauge: It is used to measure the degrees at which the slip is applied to the pot. They are available in different forms such as plastic, steel and wood.
6. Slip gauge: This is used for measuring the depth of slip on the pot. There are two types of slip gauge – the fixed and adjustable.
The fixed slip gauge is used for measuring the depth of slip on the outer surface of the pot while the adjustable slip gauge is used to measure the amount of slip in a pot.
They are available in different forms such as a steel gauge, plastic gauge and a wooden gauge.
What else you should know about ceramic pottery tools
1.What are the most essential tools for ceramic pottery?
The most essential tools for ceramic pottery are clay, water, a kiln, and glazes.
2.What are the different types of ceramic pottery tools?
Some common ceramic pottery tools include:
-Clay cutting wire
-Pottery wheel
-Kick wheel
-Potter’s knife
-Sponge
-Slab roller
-Extruder
-Fettling knife
-Trimming tool
-Carving tool
-Score and slip
3.How do I choose the right tools for my project?
There is no one definitive answer to this question. The best way to choose the right tools for your project is to consult with experts in the field, read reviews, and test out different options to see what works best for you and your project.
4.How do I care for my ceramic pottery tools?
Ceramic pottery tools can be cared for by washing them in warm, soapy water and then drying them with a soft cloth. If they become dirty or stained, they can be cleaned with a soft brush or toothbrush.
5.Where can I find the best ceramic pottery tools?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on personal preferences. However, some good places to look for ceramic pottery tools include art supply stores, online retailers, and specialty stores that sell pottery supplies.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best ceramic pottery tools. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best ceramic pottery tools will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.