How do you build a plaster wedging table for clay?

A good way is to get some Melamine, (home centers have it). Get a 4x8ft x 3/4in. sheet and cut in half, glue both halves together, the 1-1/2in. thick table top will be strong enough for what your doing. For legs you have 2 ways you can go, these same home-centers have legs you can just screw to your top, or I recommend a individual tool stand. (the tops vary in size as do the feet, you want a foot print of at least 24in x 28in, the bigger the foot print the more stability you have.

no a better way would be 2 rebuild if u mess up!!!!!!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lot of people asked us, Lakeside Pottery, Ceramic School and Studio in Stamford, about wedging tables and plaster molds / casts. This page will focus on building wedging tables but also will answer a lot of questions about making plaster molds and plaster surfaces for recycling clay. We use our wedging tables constantly 5-7 days a week and have to replace them approximately every four years. Being that we cannot afford down time waiting for the plaster to dry properly for a week or two, we build only the wedging board of the table with plaster a head of time. When replacements is needed, we "hot swap" the old with new within minutes (four screws attaching the wedging board to the table) and ready to be used instantly.

The table where clay is kneaded must be sturdy and may benefit from being screwed to the wall or to the floor. Other design considerations include: Comfortable height (30 -32"), absorbent surface, cutting wire, and sufficient space to set scale. Some potters use the wedging table to dry recycled clay.

To make our wedging or clay drying tables, we built a wooden frame (hard wood) 2" - 2 1/2" deep with a bottom made out of plywood. The plaster we used was "No.1 Potter's Plaster" that comes in 50 Lb. bags. A 50 Lb. bag fills up 1,150 cubic inches. For example; a frame 2' x 2' at 2" deep will add up to 1,152 cubic inches. If the depth is increased to 2 1/2", you'll need 1,440 cubic inches and therefore one 50 LB. bag will not be sufficient. See more details below.

Poplar is one of the less expensive hardwoods which we have used successfully

Pottery plaster must have correct water / plaster ratio, mixed / poured properly and with precise timing. Therefore, the instructions and the data below are important for the quality of the mold and it's longevity. For more details, please visit or web site at: http://lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Tips.html or our home page at: www.lakesidepottery.com

Lakeside Pottery, Ceramic School & Studio

543 Newfield Avenue

Stamford, CT 06905

203-323-2222

www.lakesidepottery.com