Pottery Wire Cutting Tool With Adjustable Offset

This tool is designed with the Nerikomi pottery technique in mind, as it allows you to slice thin, fairly uniform, sheets of clay from a block. It is loosely based on one-handed wire cutting tools like this one.

How To Use

1. Attach the wire as described in the Assembly section below.
2. Attach an offset piece to the end of each arm to achieve your desired cutting thickness.
3. When slicing clay, hold the tool vertically so the end with the wire and offset attachments touches the table.
4. Gently pull the wire through the clay. It doesn't have to be held perfectly vertical; the cutting thickness remains consistent as long as the round ends of the offsets are touching the table.

Version

This tool has 2 versions. The only difference between them is how the offset pieces attach to the end of the arms.

• Snap Fit: The offset pieces snap into place. The plastic can break if pulled too hard when removing. Printing the offset pieces vertically will help reduce chance of breakage.
• Pinned: The offset pieces have alignment pins, but will need to be held in place with something like a metal clip or rubber band. There are no plastic clips to snap.

Both versions also have a option for the offsets with MMU number labels.

Assembly

I recommend printing the parts in PETG (I used Printed Solid Jessie PETG with the 0.2 mm structural preset in PrusaSlicer).

• Insert an M5 nut in each knob and an M5 bolt in each side of the handle.
• Attach 28 gauge steel wire, tensioning it so both arms of the tool are parallel.
• Attach the desired offset pieces to set your cutting height.

Links

• 28 Gauge steel wire
• M5 hex bolts and nuts
• Cylindrical knob from Parts for Metal M5 Bolt for LiftPod by HeyVye (included in handle file)