Cutting terra cotta pots

[tcarswell]

Ive had much more success altering clay pots when they have been soaked for 3-4 days. That is my tip. Also cut with low pressure and really high speed with whatever sander / drill / saw you choose.

 

[Allan01230]

Update! A guy at home depot sold me a rounded carbide blade. Flexible like a rope. It is used for ceramic. I soaked the pot in water for a few hours then turning the pot upside down and holding the blade on the two sides cut straight down the middle of the pot. When I got 3/4 aways down I flipped it over and cut that side till the sides met. Took a good half an hour but ended up with two perfect crack free caves. Saw the same caves for sale at one of my LFS for $15 a piece. Pot cost me $1.99 and $4.99 for the blade that I can use again. By the way wear cloves to avoid blisters. LOL

 

[cypher1024]

A hacksaw will also work.

 

[Redearsunfish]

I like the soak and smash routine myself - it's more fun that way.

 

[tcarswell]

I like the soak and smash routine myself - it's more fun that way.

Yeah ive gotten quite the technique down on the soak and smash I even have myself thinking it looks more "Natural" lol. You can always hide rough edges in the substrate right

 

[Knowdafish]

Water jet!

 

[The1and only]

I tried a masonry bit in a hammer drill and made some guide holes then hit it with a hammer or i score a line with my dremel and hit it with a hammer. both seem to yield one good half and one half smashed to pieces.

 

[Sab_Fan]

Update! A guy at home depot sold me a rounded carbide blade. Flexible like a rope. It is used for ceramic. I soaked the pot in water for a few hours then turning the pot upside down and holding the blade on the two sides cut straight down the middle of the pot. When I got 3/4 aways down I flipped it over and cut that side till the sides met. Took a good half an hour but ended up with two perfect crack free caves. Saw the same caves for sale at one of my LFS for $15 a piece. Pot cost me $1.99 and $4.99 for the blade that I can use again. By the way wear cloves to avoid blisters. LOL

very cool . . . thanks for the update

 

[TwistedPenguin]

I like the soak and smash routine myself - it's more fun that way.

Me, too And it looks better haphazard jumbled together with lots of wood.

 

[thor meeki]

I've never tried to break one in half or cut, but have broken the bottoms out & laid down.A good way to get rid of sharp edges is to hit them with a wire wheel on a bench grinder.That's my pointer.