Where to Buy Pottery Tools
Buying the right tool for you is important, and it can be tricky figuring out where to buy that tool! Here’s a list of reliable places and brands with lots of variety!
At GW, we love Rocky Mountain Clay and Stone Leaf Pottery for all our tool and clay needs (and they’re local)! Did you know that Rocky Mountain Clay’s Boulder clay is a GW original recipe, from when we were Studio Arts Boulder?
Kemper tools - Tried and true, reliable, and available at many clay companies, like Clay King, Laguna Clay, Sheffield Pottery, and Blick Art Materials. However, you can’t buy from them directly.
Mudtools - Made with intention, creativity, and passion, they are functional, durable, and versatile! They’ll last forever, and are well worth your dollar.
Garrity Tools - Funky, unexpected, and perfect for creating uniform shapes, you’re sure to find a tool you didn’t even know you needed!
DiamondCore Tools - As cool as they sound, they’re the best for all your carving and sanding needs! Should you be interested in a glaze fountain or sink, you can buy directly from them!
Xiem Tools - Great for beginners and budgets! They have practically everything, too!
Stoic Clay Tools - Perfect for styling your profiles, and they even have rib earrings! Available directly from the seller.
Dirty Girls Pottery Tools - Literally the best bats ever!
Tortuga Tools - If you’re interested in Tungsten Carbide, they’re the place to go! They’re perfect for Tungsten Carbide (as it can break when dropped, but are sharp forever) and eco-friendly users, as you only need to replace the head if your tool breaks with one handle fitting all heads!
For Cheap - Michaels, Amazon, and Hobby Lobby carry these; you can often find better tools at a discount at (art) thrift stores, like Art Parts, or local hardware stores, like McGukins.
Niche and Specialty - Etsy is a great place for this! Always make sure to check for reviews and do your research. We love ORDOtoolsAndCeramics (locals!), TovoTools (custom needle tools are always a fun gift), and SanbaoStudio (underglaze transfers, trimming tools, texture tools and more!).
International - Many tools used in Eastern Asian pottery are not commonly found elsewhere, despite their growing popularity. If you get lucky and get to go to Japan, here’s a list of makers in Tokyo. Otherwise, Etsy sellers like burlchaser and hsinchuen offer Eastern Asian tools made with excellent craftsmanship. Ceramics Masterclass has a wonderful set of Onggi tools, designed by Onggi master, Kwak Kyung Tae. Have you checked out our interview with him?