How can I make clay use to make things?

What type of clay do I need to make dishes….i.e., coffee cups, plates? and do I need a kiln?

• can I use my oven? I have never had a hobby and my wife tells me I need one. So I have searched my memory to figure out what it was I liked to do. Boom I remembered finally, I liked working with clay but have not done it since I was in elementary school and easy 30 years ago. Well I might have done the wrong thing but I think it is right considering on my expereince level as a beginner or child. I just bought a cheap wheel from Kmart for kids. But, I also know at some point I will need a kiln I guess? But my main concern is what type of clay I should use to make the things I would like to try and make. Even though I know there will be a learning curve and I will screw things up I still need to know.

• Answer:

  A cheap wheel for kids from kmart is not going to much for you. You might be able to use it like a turn table for hand building, but definitely not for throwing clay on a wheel. Take a class. You will actually save money this way and you will have a much steeper learning curve as you will benefit directly from the experience of others... And yes, you would need a kiln. Don't buy a kiln or a pottery wheel until you are absolute sure you stick with it for a hobby. Then buy decent quality. If you want to save money buy used. The only time when it can be advisable to buy crappy tools is when you don't expect to use them more than a few times. If a tool is cheap it also might not even do the task you want to do with it, or you will need much more time and effort to achieve the same as you could with a decent tool. I've done my share of buying cheap tools and learned that with tools you definitely get what you pay for...