Ribs shape, compress and smooth clay. Wooden ribs are firm and grip wet clay, which makes them ideal for straightening walls and defining curves on the wheel. Rubber and silicone ribs flex to follow a curve; use them to compress the floor of a pot and leave a smooth finish.
Metal and profile ribs refine leather-hard clay with a crisp edge, and profile shapes repeat the same rim or foot every time, which helps when you are making a matching set.
A rib compresses the clay, shapes the profile of a pot, smooths the surface and lifts away slip. Different materials suit different jobs.
Should I buy wooden or rubber ribs?
Most potters use both: a wooden rib for shaping walls and a soft rubber rib for compressing floors and smoothing. A metal kidney is a useful third for leather-hard clay.
What are profile ribs?
Profile ribs have a specific shape cut into the edge, such as a rim or foot. Held against a spinning pot, they reproduce that shape exactly, so sets come out consistent.
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