Centering the Clay

An unbaked earthenware cup sat crooked on a hand-turned wooden potter's banding wheel left under the eaves. Instead of fixing a loose mechanical fitting, I opted for an exercise in pure rotational balance. Leaving my bo staff leaning securely against the low cedar bench, I placed both hands firmly against the rotating perimeter of the wooden disc. With measured momentum, I gave the turntable a steady, controlled spin. As the uneven lump of soft clay wobbled out of phase, I braced my thumbs against the rim and pressed inward with equal lateral pressure. The vibration smoothed out, and the vessel rotated true, without a millimeter of eccentricity.