Once your clay is centered you are ready to open your piece.
Once your clay is centered you are ready to open your piece. While bracing your elbows on your thighs, make a divot in the center of the clay using your two thumbs, pushing down slightly in the middle. Once you’ve created a divot this will act as your center guide. With one hand, you will begin to push down in the middle of your piece driving toward the bottom nice and slow. This can be accomplished using your middle and index finger. Make sure you continue to add water throughout the process. Do not open all the way to the wheel head. Once you’ve gotten closer to the bottom, you can stop your wheel and measure the bottom by poking your pin tool through the floor of your piece. Leave between a ½ inch and a ¼ inch for your floor. If you still have a considerable amount of clay, continue driving downward and checking with your pin tool.