Small Slab Roller for Ceramics

This will show you how I made my little cheap and easy slab roller for use with hump and slump molds to make bowls and dishes without a pottery wheel.

1 piece 1/4" ply -3/4" wide by 20" long, 

1 piece 3/8" ply-3/4" wide by 20" long, 

1 piece 1/2" ply- 3/4' wide by 20" long, 

1 piece 1' ply - 20"x16" (for a baseboard) ,

1 piece of unprimed 100% cotton, heavy, artist grade canvas. Primed canvas won't work! , 

Rolling pin that is at least as wide as the baseboard. you can also use a length of 2" (closet hanger) dowel if you sand the heck out of it so that your clay does not have wood marks in it., 

6- 1/2" #10 screws, 

Staple gun with 3/8" staples, 

The 1" ply can be bought as sub-flooring in a 4' x 4' sheet at most larger hardware stores.

Wrap the base board around the canvas. Pulling it taut, staple it to the board on the back. If you have ever stretched canvas before, this should be familiar to you.

Pre-drill the 1/4' ply strip and allow counter sinks for the screws.

Screw the 1/4" ply to the outside edges of the base board, counter sinking the screws so that the pin will roll smoothly over the top.

The other 2 strips of ply can be nestled inside the 1/4" pieces for thicker slabs.

Wedge the clay on the board (works great as a wedging table, too) and flatten out with your hands, then roll it out. Should be nice, with uniform thickness. You can use a rib tool to smooth the canvas marks off your clay.