These engineering students want to save a potter's aching joints and bank balance.
Creating handmade pottery by definition is a low-tech process. But it’s not no-tech. Equipment makes the process both more efficient and more enjoyable. With the array of tools available today, it may seem like every potter’s need can be filled. But some first-year engineering students have just addressed a huge gap with equipment designs that reduce drudgery, add safety, all while offering an accessible package.
Yesterday, I attended the Praxis II Showcase at the University of Toronto where teams of first-year engineering students presented designs that address a challenge in the lived experience of a community. Two teams focused on improving the clay reclaim process for potters.
AN ENGINEERED MEETING
It all started back in February when I had the opportunity to meet with the team of Amir, Karen, Akash and Ariel at my home studio to talk about my processes as a solo potter working in a small space. If you know me, I can all too easily start to “talk pottery”. (Um, sorry.) So it was cool for me to be able to blab on about how I make pottery…all while they took notes! ;)
Joking aside, I was impressed from the beginning by their professional manner, engagement and great questions. Also if you know me, you won’t be surprised that the session ended with them on the pottery wheel to get their hands into clay!
At our next meeting here, we were joined by the team of Hannah, Hayson, Jerry and Jessica, and the teaching team contact Christine. An even bigger captive audience, woot! At this point, the two teams focused on the process of clay reclaim.
What the heck is clay reclaim? In the process of making pottery, a lot of clay scraps get produced: throwing slip, trimmings and pots that haven’t worked out. These bits can be recycled by soaking together in water for even consistency, drying out the resultant muck so that it can be handled, and wedging for a consistent texture for re-throwing. The process is slow, laborious and a workout for the wrists and back.
ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE!
At the Praxis II Showcase, the two teams revealed their ingenious designs to help with this labour.
First up: the Ergowedge! This wedging board is a height- and angle-adjustable ramp to take pressure off wrist and back strain. I tried the prototype and noticed the difference immediately!
Left to right: Amir, Karen, me, Akash and Ariel with the Ergowedge. (Apparently, I'm still looking around at the projects instead of the camera.)
My meetings with the students made me realize how long I’d been putting off drying out and wedging the soaked clay. So I got on it. A bit too much. After my usual method of wedging on a flat board, I needed a couple of days to give my hand joints a break. Unlike the usual flat board that potters use, the Ergowedge infuses comfort and ergonomic safety into the process.
Next up: The ClayNest! It’s an electrically powered clay mixer that shortens mixing time and improves clay consistency. Potters, you might think: is this a pugmill? While inspiration can be found there, The ClayNest is compact, powered by a circuit board (no electrical plug needed!), and designed for affordability. Pugmills cost several thousand dollars which can be prohibitive for small studios. Where the pugmill is an industrial mixer, The ClayNest is the countertop blender version.
Left to right: Hayson, Jessica, Hannah and Jerry with The ClayNest.
WE'VE GOT DESIGNS ON THIS
Pottery-making processes have come a long way from their earthy origins. The term “pothole” likely originated from the old practice of digging into roads for cheap clay. Pots were hand-fashioned with clay coils. Potters used pit-firing: they dug a trench, piled their pots in it and covered it with an open bonfire. Now we can buy boxes of plastic-wrapped clay, use a wheel for throwing, and fire in an electric kiln. It seemed like we had it all…aaand some sore joints or a hefty credit-card bill to avoid that.
But these engineering student teams have given us what we didn’t even know we needed. The students were given a single challenge: Effect a verified and validated sustainable improvement in the lived experience of a community. That’s exactly what they did. All of you get an A+!!!
While these designs are prototypes, I hope that in some way, this equipment comes to fruition...and so do my wrists!
Photo of clay on tabletop by Samantha Hurley.