A neat way of making strap handles on the wheel is to throw a pot, making sure it’s completely even on all sides and then take a sharp tool and slice the tops off the pots at the width you desire. Cut the ring, so it’s flat and you’ll have the perfect handle. But what exactly does pulling a handle mean? It’s exactly what it says, and involves some very gentle pulling to create a smooth shape that will look perfect on your pot. When pulling your handle you must use the same type of clay that you used to make your ware, so it will attach perfectly. You’ll also need to wedge it to make sure all of the air bubbles have been pushed out. The next part is key, as you have to form a sort of carrot shape with your clay, to form the body of the handle. Then you take the clay in one hand and (making sure you have a bucket of water to hand) smooth down the clay pulling it out as you go, with your fingers and thumb. You can always pull it just that little bit longer than you need to make sure that you have enough when it comes to attaching it to your ware. A good tip, once you’ve made your handle, is to hang it over the edge of a wooden bat, so the air can get to both sides and dry it a little before you attach it. Then you’ll need to use your tools to cut the handle to the exact right length and then score the pot where you want to put it. Roughly speaking, the pot should be leather hard and the handle should be dry enough to form a gentle curve when it’s held. You’ll need to score the handle (at the point it will be attached) as well as the pot. Use a little slip on your scored points and then carefully attach the handle, applying gentle pressure at the parts it joins. Then just carefully let the pot dry completely, and it’ll be ready for firing.
How to Pull a Handle
Handles made from other materials must be attached after the pot has gone through its glaze firing. During the pot’s creation, lugs must be made which will be large enough (after shrinkage) for the handle ends to fit through. Lugs can be made from slabs, coils, or even pinched from a lump of clay. Using another material for your handles is where ceramics can get exciting. If you’re making a hanging basket or pot out of porcelain, simple twine can look lovely. You could also use a very thin flat metal wire to wind to use as your handle (attached once it’s been fired, of course). You can make teapots so much more interesting, using different handles.
