One of the most important things you need to build slab projects is slabs. Slab rollers can be very expensive and hard to store in a smaller studio. Many hand builders love using slabs to make mugs, plates, bowls and so many more forms.
If you don’t have a slab roller there are a few ways you can make slabs without one.
1st way
If you have your 25 pound bag of clay you can make or buy a pocket slab slicer (slots are about 1 cm apart).
To make a pocket slab slicer you will need to sticks of wood don’t have to be two long. Mark 1/4 of an inch from the bottom and continue aas high as you want to go. Cut grooves into the marked spots so that you can slide your wire tool into the grooves. Label the cuts so you can make sure that they are matched up and you cut an even slab.
Once you have made your “Pocket Slab Roller” all you need to do is fit the wire into the two grooves tighten i put the ends of the sticks onto the flat surface and pull evenly to cut a slab.
2nd Way
Make two balls of clay that are the same sizes. Make 2 pinch pots that are the same size and slip and score them together. Rib smooth, with the two pots joined there is an air pocket inside so as long as you don’t puncture the ball you will have an easier time smoothing it out. Next use your needle tool to poke a small hole in the clay so that it doesn’t explode when it goes into the kiln. This is very important if you don’t want your tool to blow up. Once it is bisqued we can move on to the next part
Use your wire tool to cut a chunk of clay off of the block. Use your new “tool” we just made to pound the clay. Try and pound the clay evenly so you don’t have to do too much work in the next step.
Once you have gotten the slab to an inch thick you are ready to start rolling it out. It is optional but I suggest you buy some thickness strips. You can just buy a few sticks of wood that are different widths usually 1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4”, 1” you will need 2 of each thickness.
Use a rolling pin and the thickness strips to roll the clay out, Remember to roll the slab pick it up and rotate it 45° arch time. This ensures that the slab doesn’t stick and it makes the slab more even.
3rd way
Cut a slab of clay off the block and use thickness strips and your rolling pin to roll it out. Again make sure that you pick up your slab and rotate it so that it doesn’t stick and it ensures that you have compressed the clay evenly.
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