MudSponge,  Flexible Ribs,  MudCutter,  Carving Bow,  Shredder  Metal Ribs Bump Tool    MudShark    MudWire  Hax Tool   Scrapers  Drag/Fluting Tool  
Rasp Shredder   Large Bowl and Platter Ribs   

Sherrill Mudshark

The Mudshark is a needle tool and fettling knife in one!  The needle folds and locks out of the way so you won't impale your hand when you reach into your tool box.   Ergo shaped to fit your hand.  Another great Sherrill tool.

Sherrill Bump Tool    

The Bump is made with a solid aluminum shaft that is bendable, but not flexible.  The sponge end is a very dense material that becomes chamois-like when wet, and it has a hard ball inside that.  The whole thing is designed to allow for great leverage to move clay in those tricky places that you cannot get your hand. 

Sherrill MudWire

The Mudwire is an ergonomically designed clay cut-off tool.  Made of the same plastic as their ribs.  The cutting wire is a stain steel cable.  The Mudwire is easy on your hands.  Straight or Curly wire (you expand the curly wire).

Sherrill MudSponge

Shaped like the traditional kidney rib, this synthetic sponge is the best tough and consistent sponge available to potters today.

Now from Sherrill, the Finishing MudSponge.  It has just the right texture for finishing your pieces. 

Sherrill Flexible Ribs:

These ribs are made from a flexible material that performs well and actually gets better with use (it is self-polishing.)  Unlike rubber, this material will not develop burrs.  In fact, the more you use it the nicer it becomes.  They will actually burnish themselves as you use them, and with five shapes to cover a lot of what handbuilders and throwers need from a rib.  Each rib shape is available in four hardnesses from very soft to very firm.  You choose the shape and hardness that suits your clay and your working style. 

New shape 0 is smaller, perfect for the inside of small bowls and mugs.  

Sherrill Mudcutter  

The Mudcutter has been designed to go around a 4" pug, or an extrusion.  The cutting wire is 5.5" long.  It's design lends itself to the slicing and cutting of handbuilding, or at the wheel it fits well in the hand.  It also works great as a faceting tool.  This is one tool that once you use it, you will ask yourself 'how did I work without it?  Mudcutter is made of stain steel with a surgical stain steel wire under tension.  It is easy to change the wires, if needed.  The handle has an insert made from the same material as the ribs.  The tool is made so you can lay it in a bucket of water and it won't rust or degrade.  This is a lifetime tool.  (Curly wire makes cool looking slices!) 
Instruction for replacing/swapping wires here

Sherrill Carving Bow   

Carving Bow wire is 4" long

Sherrill Shredder     

Great for trimming edges, shaping, and texturing, Won't clog.

Sherrill Stain Steel Metal Ribs 

Mudtools understands that there are times when you just need a stain steel rib.  In fact, some people prefer stain steel over other choices for some of their work.  These ribs are constructed from the finest cutlery grade, flexible stain steel available.   Alternate image

Sherrill Long Stain Steel Scrapers 

Available with either a plain smooth edge (SS-L) or with an extra fine 24-tooth serrated (SS-L24) or fine 18-tooth (SS-L18) serrated edge. Made from the highest quality stain steel, these scrapers are flexible and bendable.

These scrapers are 6" long by 1 3/8" high.

Sherrill Paisley Stain Steel Scrapers 

Great for scoring and detail work.  Available with either a fine 18-tooth serrated (SS-P18) or extra fine 24-tooth (SS-P24) serrated edge, or a plain smooth edge (SS-P).  Made from the highest quality stain steel, these scrapers are flexible and bendable.  These scrapers are 3 1/4" long by 2 5/8" high.

Sherrill Hax Tool 

The ultimate in feathering and manicuring tools.  With its serrated edge, the HAX is Michael's version of a hacksaw blade for scoring and manicuring.  It is designed specifically for clay, especially for fine particle clay like porcelain.  The HAX tool is made of flexible, bendable stain steel and it can be bent for rounded surfaces and hard to reach areas.  Package of 2.  Alternate image   Watch a Video on customizing and using this tool

Sherrill Rasp Shredder   

New Rasp Schredders  

Sherrill Drag/Fluting Tool 

The Drag/Fluting Tool (See it in use)

Sherrill Large Bowl and Platter Ribs 

Birth of Mudtools   
by Michael Sherrill 

During my years of working in clay, making pots and art, I have often had ideas that required working outside "normal" processes. I found that the available "clay tools" did not serve my ideas well. So, out of necessity I would make a tool, or modify an existing one to suit my needs. These new tools quickly became indispensable and were always the first thing to come out of my toolbox. Naturally, I would show these off at a workshop, and as a result I found that people were interested in buying them!

It didn't take long to figure out that I couldn't make a tool for each person that wanted one. I was going to need a little help, and that is how Mudtools was born. I started with the rib. I had already found a material that performed well and actually got better with use (it is self-polishing.) With the material in mind, I designed five shapes that I think cover a lot of what handbuilders and throwers need from a rib. Each rib shape is available in four hardnesses from very soft to very firm. You choose the shape and hardness that suits your clay and your working style.

It is my goal to offer you a tool that has a high performance quality, is pleasing to the hand and eye, and that you find indispensable.

See Mudtools in Action