Pottery Ribs
Available in a multitude of shapes and sizes, ribs are great tools for both wheel throwing and handbuilding. Every rib has its place: from a hard wood or plastic rib for compressing a rolled out slab, to softer ribs that assist achieving shapes that might otherwise be near impossible. And let's not forget our friend the metal rib, which, among other uses, is phenomenal at easily hand sanding off glaze drips...
Kemper Rubber Finishing Tool - Soft
The Kemper rib is a classic, having been around for decades, and lasting just as long. Kemper's soft rib is superb for both throwing, and smoothing slabs.
Kemper Rubber Finishing Tool - Hard
Another Kemper classic rib, this durable rib is a favorite for slab building and compressing slabs just after roll-out.
Potter's Wood Rib - RB4, 3-1/2 inches
Can not say enough good about this wood rib, in finished hardwood. A complete asset for compressing clay, shaping the inside of large bowls and working on slabs. The Kemper RB6 (not available with this link) wooden rib is also helpful for shaping rims on the wheel, and when hand-building bowls.
Kemper Hardwood Potter's Rib - RB6, 4-1/8 inches
The Kemper RB6 wooden rib is extremely helpful for shaping rims on the wheel, and for hand-building or throwing bowls.
You can do phenomenal clay work with the Kemper ribs, including the first four shown on this page.
Mudtools Polymer Rib - Shape 0, Red/Very Soft
If you haven't thrown with one of these yet, you're in for a new experience. It takes a little getting used to, particularly as you move from the sidewall to the bottom of the piece, but once mastered, you can achieve extremely refined shapes and curves.
2024 Note: Blick's price on Mudtools Ribs, currently $9.00 (USD), is comparable to several pottery supply stores we shop at. A very big website (selling everything under the sun) has this particular Mudtool at more than double the price.
Richeson Potter's Ribs - Set of 5
This highly affordable set of wood tools is a toolbox plus. Picked up this set at a craft store years ago, and use each piece constantly. The elongated tool with teeth is great for adding texture, and the tapered end is good for trimming excess clay off the bottom sides of pots just before undercutting. The rest are helpful in handbuilding; the only one not used much is the tear drop shaped one. We do likey these muchy!
Kemper Steel Scrapers - 3-7/8', Smooth Edge
A metal rib is another essential for all pottery seasons! Takes a bit of experience
to use on the wheel (so you don't cut into a wall), but they have amazing flex while
simultaneously supporting, facilitating contouring and shaping.
The flat edge of this metal rib is fantastic for smoothing and compressing clay slabs, just after rolling,
and later in the greenware stage, particularly if your piece has joined edges.
And talk about longevity. Decades later, the one that came in the Kemper starter kit rocks on!
Kemper Pottery Tool Kit
In days of yore, just about anyone starting pottery started with a Kemper Pottery Tool Kit. And many of us still have all of these tools, due to their high quality and durability. If you need a a few new tools, this is a good buy, particularly with the metal and wood ribs; And who couldn't use another needle or wire cutter, the latter of which always seem to disappear, particularly in a studio environment!
Tip: If you usually throw your needle tools in your toolbox, only to be inadvertently poked when rummaging for a tool, here's an easy solution: simply stick your needle tool in a potter's sponge, which also makes it obvious where it's stored.
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