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Defect · Drying
Warping
Also called: distortion
Form loses its intended shape -- plates go oval, bowls go off-round, rims go wavy.
- Appears at
- Drying
- Severity
- Cosmetic
- How common
- Common
Causes
Most likely
- ·Uneven drying from one side
- ·Wall thickness variation
- ·Form dried on a surface that absorbs moisture unevenly
Prevention
- ·Dry on a wire rack or bat rather than directly on plaster
- ·Flip wide forms (plates, platters) halfway through drying
- ·Throw with consistent wall thickness
Can it be fixed?
- ·At leather-hard, mild warping can sometimes be corrected by flexing gently
Questions
- Why does warping happen?
- Most often: Uneven drying from one side. Other causes: Wall thickness variation. Form dried on a surface that absorbs moisture unevenly..
- Can warping be fixed?
- Sometimes. At leather-hard, mild warping can sometimes be corrected by flexing gently.
- How do I prevent warping?
- Dry on a wire rack or bat rather than directly on plaster. Flip wide forms (plates, platters) halfway through drying. Throw with consistent wall thickness.
Sources. Compiled from Claybench's defect reference — the descriptions, causes and remedies that appear consistently across standard ceramics references and studio practice; no single source. It is the same reference the photo diagnosis tool reasons over. Where the Wikibooks Ceramicware Defects Handbook covers a defect it is linked above.
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