Curved Pottery Rib: Wine Tumbler & Mug Profile Tool

Two different profiles for making mugs or wine glasses on at the pottery wheel. Turn it 180° to use the opposite profile. Beveled edges to help compress the clay.

NEW: More rigid design based on feedback!

Using profile ribs can take a bit of practice, but the technique is fairly simple to learn:

1. Pull a cylinder up just a touch taller than the rib (5")
2. Very gently push the edge of the rib against your pot, keeping the bottom of the rib aligned with the wheel or your bat. Hold the rib steady as you move onto step 3.
3. With your other hand, start pushing the walls of the cylinder from the inside out, shaping them to match the rib. Start at the bottom and work your way up.
4. If the rib builds up a lot of clay, simply pause and clean off large chunks, then resume.

At first it's easier to learn by keeping the rib pointed straight into the pot, but over time you can experiment by angling the inside of the rib away, causing the profile to be shallower. For very aggressive shapes you can start with the inside of the rib facing away and gradually turn it in toward the pot, enabling you to shape over a few passes.

As with anything clay related, it takes a bit of practice to get consistent results. And since the rib does not control the overall width of the pot, you'll still need to make sure your cylinders are the same width if you want to get matching pieces. A throwing gauge can help with that if so!

* If you select an option denoted as “seconds”, please be aware that seconds have minor to moderate cosmetic flaws but are fully functional and are offered at a discount accordingly.

Note, this is intended to be used with a counter-clockwise spinning wheel (most common) as the bevels are only on one side. While it can be used clockwise, the bevels will not be on the face. If you need a clockwise variant, please send a message when you order.

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Products are made with a renewable bioplastic called PLA. It's made from starches instead of fossil fuels, making it more ecologically considerate, but it doesn't tolerate high temperatures or exposure to UV well. To ensure your tools last for a long time, avoid leaving them in a hot car or out in the sun.