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Want to work on hand building projects at home without a slab roller? Use thickness strips and a rolling pin on a cloth covered hard surface. These are long enough for a larger project as well as small ones.

This size is good for most small to mid sized projects such as ornaments to mugs. The bare wood resists sticking. Just resist the temptation to clean it and use it in your kitchen afterward. That's a health no no. 

This rolling pin is fabulous for mid sized to larger projects such as mugs to platters. The heft helps with the rolling process and the width helps to create anlarge even slab.

This is so helpful for hand builders who want even overlapping seams. There are several great brands.  This one is an affordable option by a longstanding company.

Tiny enough to fit inside small spaces to smooth seams, and flexible enough to gently do the task perfectly. This is a favorite hand building rib.  

9 7/8"D x 7 1/2 H classic Shampoo-Nidec banding wheel will provide a lifetime of  smooth turning..

This cast iron entry level banding wheel is also available in the 12" size.

This is a splurge when an old pillow case, tshirt, or canvas over a hard surface would work too. Yet it's pretty awesome, durable, functional, and portable. 

Mudtools shredder rasp can help you smooth edges and more. It's a favorite in my bag.

Ceramic Design Course: Principles, Practice, and  Techniques: a Complete Course by Anthony Quinn. Of all of the books I have in my pottery collection, this is an absolute favorite. It helps you zoom out to learn how to approach the creative process. Not only that, but the ingenuity, succinct helpful technical tools, and artwork will not disappoint. This link will take you to a used paperback version. 

Sunshine Cobb's The Beginner's Guide to Hand Building Functional and Sculptural Projects for the Home Potter is chock full of fundamental information.

Calipers are a classic way to set and check the sizing of your thrown pieces. 

Xiem's batmate is the solution. Wet it before placing on the wheeled, then top with your bat. Voila'

When you are ready for the trimming tool that is beyond the basics in the throwing kit, this is our favorite option. 

A sponge on a stick can be easily made with a bamboo skewer, a sponge, a wire tie, and some glue. If you want the ease of a ready made one, however, this one looks like a good option.

A sponge on a stick can be easily made with a bamboo skewer, a sponge, a wire tie, and some glue. If you want the ease of a ready made one, however, Xiem quality is reliable, and replacement sponges can be ordered. It's a little more, yet you may find it's worth it.

Then visit Simon Leach's YouTube video tutorials on wheel throwing, equipment reviews, and explanations of many techniques in ceramics. Want a silent reliable introduction to working in clay? Buy his book, Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Throwing Beautiful, Functional Pots.

Mastering the Potter's Wheel: Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for Potters (Mastering Ceramics) by Ben Carter provides both essential and advanced techniques for wheel throwing. Skill building exercises will help you take your throwing to the next level. 

This mop has outlasted and out performed three other competing brands. We use it several times a day in the studio. 

Want free packaging for transporting your ware?  A heavy duty shredder will pay for itself. Shred old boxes and paper to use as packaging for shipping, packing gifts, or transporting your ware to and from shows or the studio.

Skutt is renowned for its customer service and user friendly design. The Skutt KMT 1027 kiln is known as a real powerhouse because of its large 7 cubic foot capacity and ability to fire to Cone 10 at 240V. It also has a program library for single firing, crystal firing, slow sculptural firing and more. The touchscreen controller connects with your phone for ease of use. This one comes with a furniture kit and an Envirovent.