In this video I'm going to show you how to attach handles to mugs in five easy
steps. Plus a bonus tip to help prevent your handles from cracking.
Hi, Marie here from Pottery Crafters giving you tips tools and techniques to
help you make beautiful pottery. To attach your handles you will want to
have a Potter's knife, a needle tool, a modeling tool, a brush, a smooth sponge,
and some slip. You will want to use the same type of clay for your slip because
the shrinkage rate could be different from a different type of clay and it
could cause cracking. Let's make some handles. First thing you want to do is
choose your mug and one of your decorative handles. I like to use a
banding wheel because my clay can hang and I can determine where I want to cut
my handle. I don't want the handle to be above the top of the mug because I won't
be able to flip it over and let it dry.
Choose the area and start cutting take your Potter's knife and cut diagonally
into your clay like that.
Place it on your mug and determine how far you want your handle to come out. You
don't want to go too far out because the handle will get away from the mugs center
of gravity. I like mine right there.
I can make a mark here
and cut that off.
Once you've determined where you want the handle to be, right here's good,
now you can mark it with your needle tool.
Now take your needle tool and score your mug. I like going both vertically and
diagonally this ensures that it will stick to my mug. I also do the handle the
same way.
You want to put slip on both your mug and your handle.
I always do it this way. I have never lost a handle doing it this way yet. Now
press your handle on the mug but not too firm. Have it set and make sure
that it's straight. Then you can take your fingers put them on the inside
while you're pressing on the outside.
You don't want to dent your mug or have it cracked so it's best to apply
pressure on both sides and you do the same on the bottom. Put your hand on the
inside and press this way to do it.
Now take your modelling tool and smooth out the handle.
I like this modeling tool because it has a nice tip to it and you
can get in areas that your fingers can't get in smoothly.
That's a nice-sized handle.
Now take your smooth sponge and smooth out the area around your handle.
I used two different dyes with the handheld excluder one is a small coil
and the other one is a larger die. Check out my video on the handheld excluder.
You can make really cool handles if you haven't seen it already.
I'm going to finish up the rest of my mugs now.
I promised you a bonus tip to help your handles from cracking off the mug. Just
put some wax resist around your handle where you feel it might crack. The wax
resist will slow down the drying process and help prevent your handles from
cracking. I've used this trick whenever I thought my handle might crack and it's
worked every time. How do you attach your handles? If you've done it this way how
did it turn out? Let me know in the comment section below and click that
subscribe button. Also in the comment section are more show notes and
pottery-making info. Click here to go to my other video about making quick and
easy handles just like these with the handheld clay extruder. Keep making that
beautiful pottery.