- 1). Take the measurements of a plastic 5 gallon jug so that you know how large to make your ceramic jug.
- 2). Center around 8 pounds of clay on the potter's wheel, then insert a thumb into the centered clay to open it up in the middle. Widen the clay by gently increasing outward pressure with your thumb while steadying the side of the clay with your other hand. Stop when the base is as wide as the plastic jug base measurements and the sides around 3/4-inch thick.
- 3). Firm the rim of the base using a propane torch while the base is spinning on the wheel for three to four minutes.
- 4). Roll out a large coil of clay that is long enough to go around the base's rim and about twice the thickness of the base's sides.
- 5). Place the coil around the rim of the base and press it firmly onto the base. Spin the wheel and use your fingers with very little water to pull the clay coil upward until it is the same thickness as the base's sides.
- 6). Firm the rim of the first coil as you did the base, then repeatedly add coils and pull up the sides of the jug until the right height is reached. Use a finger to gently pull a spout from one side of the jug.
- 7). Roll out a final two coils the desired thickness and length of the jug handles. Shape the coils into the handle shape and press each end onto the sides of the jug either side of the spout. Two handles provide extra support for the large jug. Given the weight of a large jug filled with 5 gallons water, you may want to position the handles one-third to halfway down the sides of the jug in order to balance the weight when pouring.
- 8). Slide a piece of fishing wire held between your hands under the base of the jug to remove it from the wheel. Store under a plastic sheet to slowly dry. Once dry, bisque fire the jug in a kiln.
- 9). Apply a glaze to the jug, inside and out, and fire it again in the kiln so that it becomes watertight.