Jack Richeson - Fettling Knife
Trim clay and plaster precisely with this flexible 8-inch blade
Clay work demands constant adjustments, trimming excess, refining contours, smoothing joins between coils or slabs. This 8 1/8-inch fettling knife handles those recurring tasks with a 4 1/4-inch soft blade that flexes enough to follow curves without gouging. The blunt point lets you work close to delicate areas safely, scraping away material with control rather than stabbing through it. That flexibility makes it equally effective for shaping plaster molds or carving into styrofoam armatures when you're building sculptural foundations.
The soft blade adapts to your hand pressure, responding to how firmly you push rather than cutting aggressively on contact. Trim thrown vessels on the wheel, clean up slab edges, or blend seams where separate clay sections meet. Jack Richeson designed this tool for sculptors and ceramicists who need one reliable knife that moves between different forming stages, rough shaping through final surface refinement. The length provides leverage for larger cuts while maintaining enough precision for detailed work around handles or decorative elements.
