A Complete Guide to Clay Tool Names and Their Uses
Updated June 2025
Whether you’re just getting into ceramics or have years of studio time behind you, knowing the names of clay tools and how they’re used can make all the difference. Understanding what each tool does helps you create more confidently and choose the right gear for every step in the process.
We put together this go-to list of pottery tools with real-world tips on how and when to use them. If you’re looking to refine your skills, build your toolkit, or just see what’s out there, this guide is a great place to start.
Arc Shaver
Built with a stainless steel blade and hardwood handle, the arc shaver is perfect for removing leather-hard or dry clay. It's great for trimming curves, smoothing out surfaces, or adding textures. The holes in the blade let excess clay fall away as you work, keeping your piece clean and controlled.
Clay Extruders
Clay extruders are your best friend when you need consistent coils, handles, or decorative shapes. These handheld tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, giving you endless design options for adding elements like feet or lids to your pots.
Fluting Tools
Fluting tools help you carve clean, curved grooves with burnished edges. They're a popular choice for adding visual interest to bowls, mugs, and plates. Use them to create texture, flow, and personality in your pottery.
Impression Stamps
Impression stamps make it easy to press patterns into clay, whether you’re working on a small detail or covering a full slab. They’re ideal for signature touches, repeating designs, and adding texture that catches the glaze just right.
Needle Tool
Needle tools are sharp and precise, great for scoring, measuring, or adding fine detail. You can use them to trim edges, clean out holes, or lay down delicate linework on both soft and leather-hard clay.
Ribs
Pottery ribs can come in wood or metal and are all about refining shapes and smoothing surfaces. Whether you're hand-building or throwing on the pottery wheel, a good rib helps you shape clean curves and crisp edges.
Sgraffito Tools
If you like working with colored slip or underglaze, sgraffito tools are a must. They’re made for scratching through the top layer to reveal the clay underneath, letting you draw detailed designs or bold patterns with depth and contrast.
Shrink Ruler
When size matters, a shrink ruler keeps your measurements accurate from wet clay to finished piece. It's a must-have when you’re making sets of cups, fitted lids, or anything that needs to match up after firing.
Sponges
Sponges help keep moisture in check and surfaces smooth. Use them to clean up your workspace, shape on the wheel, or gently touch up your piece before firing. Every potter needs a few in rotation.
Trimming Tools
Trimming tools let you refine wheel-thrown pieces with precision. Whether you’re cleaning up a foot ring or removing excess clay, these tools help you shape a clean, finished form once your piece firms up.
Wire Tools
Wire tools, often called wire cutters, are essential for slicing clay off blocks or removing finished pots from the wheel. The tensioned wire glides through thick slabs of clay without distortion, making them a studio staple.
Why Knowing Pottery Tools Names Matters
Learning the names and uses of different ceramic tools gives you more control over your craft. or anyone trying to learn specific ceramic tools names, it’s helpful to connect each one to the job it does in the studio. From loop tools and trimming tools to slab rollers and clay cutters, each one plays a role in shaping your work and supporting your creative flow.
Ready to step up your studio game? Check out our full lineup of premium pottery tools designed for artists at every skill level. Whether you're shaping, carving, or throwing, we’ve got the gear that helps you do your best work.
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