Video · YouTube

8 Centering Tips I Wish I Knew Earlier - Pottery Wheel Throwing for Beginners

By MW Ceramics

Type
Video
Level
Beginner
Length
17 min
Price
Free
Published
2026
Open on YouTube(opens in a new tab)

About this lesson

Eight practical tips for centering clay on the pottery wheel: bracing, placing the clay, water use and applying and releasing pressure.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Intro
  2. 0:13Mud Club Shoutouts & Membership Info
  3. 0:45Why Centering Is So Frustrating (My Story)
  4. 1:29Tip #1: Always Brace Yourself
  5. 2:39Tip #2: Don’t Throw the Clay On
  6. 3:45Fixing Off-Center Clay Before Spinning
  7. 4:22Tip #3: Don’t Use Too Much Water
  8. 5:08Tip #4: Easy On, Easy Off Pressure
  9. 5:55Tip #5: Control Your Wheel Speed
  10. 6:31Tip #6: No Volcanoes & No Mushrooms
  11. 9:57Bananas, Not Mushrooms (How to Cone Down Properly)
  12. 11:10Remove the Skirt (Why It Matters)
  13. 11:59Tip #7: Use Leverage & Body Weight
  14. 14:51Tip #8: There’s No “Right” Way to Center
  15. 15:28Why Centering Is the Most Important Skill
  16. 16:29Final Thoughts & Outro