Use the right trimming tools!
Trimming is an integral part of pottery. It's where you refine the shape and give the piece the finishing touch it deserves. Many potters find trimming tedious. Do you also find trimming a hassle? Use high-quality trimming tools, and a whole new world will open up for you!
New trimming tools
Trimming tools for clay come in various sizes and shapes and are typically made from stainless steel. These trimming loops are sharp when purchased, allowing for smooth trimming of leather-hard clay, with clay shavings flying around.
Stainless steel trimming tools wear out quickly and become dull almost immediately.
After only a few pieces, the stainless steel trimming tool starts to wear down. Especially when trimming drier clay or clay with grog, it quickly becomes less efficient. Your trimming tool deteriorates, and the mood drops rapidly. You toil and sigh as those clay curls become much harder to remove from the pot. Trimming starts to take a long time and becomes a frustrating chore. Eventually, your stainless steel trimming tool ends up in the trash because it’s simply worn out.
If you don't like trimming, you're not using the right trimming tools!
How do you reignite your passion for trimming? Simple! Just use the right trimming tools. If you don’t enjoy trimming, you’re probably using the wrong tools!
Trimming loops made from tungsten carbide are the solution. Tungsten carbide is the second hardest material in the world, almost as hard as diamond. Tools made from this material hardly wear out. Tungsten carbide isn’t a metal but a compound of tungsten and carbon. It’s extremely sharp and only becomes slightly dull after years of use (but you can sharpen it). So, it’s nearly indestructible unless you drop it or bump it hard against something. It’s hard but brittle, so you should handle it with care.
Finding tungsten carbide turning tools?
I’ve been using tungsten carbide trimming tools for four years now, and believe me, I wouldn’t want anything else. My first tungsten carbide trimming tool was a handcrafted piece from Russia. It was fantastic and I was immediately hooked! I bought two at the time: a drop-shaped and a mini trapezoid. Since then, I’ve never used anything else. Over the years, I’ve also ordered two from the USA and one from Turkey. Why order from abroad, you might wonder? Because they’re incredibly hard to find! Only a handful of people worldwide produce such trimming tools. Every potter should have access to tungsten carbide trimming tools, but they’re so poorly available! That’s something I wanted to change.
I'll just do it myself!
Actions speak louder than words. I’d been playing with the idea for years, but in early 2024, I took the plunge.
I’m proud to announce that I’ll soon be bringing my own tungsten carbide trimming tools to the market! I’ve designed the handles ergonomically, and they will be crafted by a Flemish woodturner whose family business has been delivering craftsmanship for nearly 100 years. Additionally, the assembly of the loops into the handles will be done with high quality by Mariasteen VZW, a custom workshop with extensive expertise in metalwork that provides employment to people that have difficulities finding employment on the "regular" job market. I’ll personally handle the finishing with my logo and a sustainable oil to ensure the trimming tools last a long time. You’re investing in quality and durability. A tungsten carbide trimming tool will last a lifetime if treated with care.
What, when, where?
The first prototype I've assembled has been tested and approved.
Now, we're entering the comprehensive testing phase with several pieces of each model. This will allow us to make any necessary adjustments. I’m aiming to have the trimming tools ready for sale by the fall. Initially, I’ll offer three models: a large pear-shaped loop, a "seven" shaped hook, and a small trapezoid. The large loop is perfect for bowls and round shapes. The "seven" shape (which literally looks like the number 7) is essential for trimming sharp edges, straight walls, and the bottoms of plates. The small trapezoid shape is ideal for fine detailing on foot rings or intricate details.
Stock will be limited. If you're interested and want to be among the first to know when the trimming tools launch, sign up for the waitlist. You’ll be the first to hear about the release, which will likely be in October 2024. I can’t wait!!