While a Basic Pottery Tool Kit seems simplistic, each item can be used in an infinite number of ways. This is a guide to their basics use, but your imagination is the limit when it comes to what you do it them.

There are a million variations of these tools and a million more other tools you can get, but if you are just getting started, this is all you need!

Likewise, just about anything is a tool if you are creative enough! Potters are infamous tool hoarders, you’ve been warned…this set may be the gateway to a lifelong struggle/passion.

The Sponge

Whether you hand-build or throw, you will likely use a sponge for something. From wetting clay while throwing or soaking up excess water in the bottom of the pot, a sponge can help. Sponges come in many different materials, but the basic one that comes with a basic pottery tool kit does the job.

A Needle Tool

Use the needle tool to score while hand-building. Use it when learning to gauge the depth of your bottoms when learning to throw. An often misplaced but highly needed tool in your pottery tool kit!

Wood Rib

The wood potter’s rib shapes and smooths the clay. While throwing, these come in handy when compressing your bottoms. They come in many shapes, sizes, and materials (not just wood)!

The Steel Scraper (or Metal Rib)

Use the steel scraper (or metal rib) interchangeably with a potter’s rib. It has many of the same uses, but can get a much smoother surface and has the ability to bend to conform to a curve.

The Loop Tool and Ribbon Tool

Use these two essentials for trimming feet on pots, adding texture to the outside of pots, and for hollowing out hand-built pieces.

The Wood Modeling Tool

The wood modeling tool can be used for modeling clay, but it is also handy for removing excess clay from the base of a pot before removing it from the wheel head.

The Cut-Off Wire

Like it sounds, the cut-off wire is to cut clay. Use it to take off a chunk of clay from a clay block, and also to detach pots from the wheel head. Again, there are many varieties out there to experiment with, but the one that comes in a basic potter’s tool kit, does the job!

Now that you know what all these tools are for, find out what else you need to setup a Bare Bones Pottery Studio at Home!