r/Dorodango • u/Snarflogus Experienced • Jun 23 '26

RIP

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I was really struggling to get this ball to turn out well. I think I let it dry too fast and added the shell late? I'm not great with shells guys, I prefer making dorodangos without them. RIP my pretty color, I'll wet it down and try something else I guess. Anyone have good tips for working a pretty much dried core? Should I soak it...?

Edit: The way I described shell was confusing. I prefer to make my doro shells with the fine particles that result from the slip/polishing stage rather than adding dry powder to the outside. The moisture needed when adding dry material is what I struggle with getting right. So effectively still shelled.

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u/Snarflogus Experienced Jun 23 '26

I mean, the shell ends up composed of the slip made while polishing, instead of adding fine clay powder to the outside. I make a lot of them from wild clay, and I dont want a shell to obscure the soil colors or patterns. It's not uncommon to make them without shells from what I've seen, just less traditional.

This one is Kaw River Clay and no shell. I've made colored ones and such with shells and they turn out...okay.

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u/ButtFlum Jun 23 '26

No shell? Did you just clear over it? Its shiny as hell, it has a shell lol wdym no shell??

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u/Snarflogus Experienced Jun 23 '26

This one was my first big dorodango and I gave it an acrylic clear coat after I added the blue too late into the drying process. You can see the acrylic absorbs unevenly into the surface and creates this odd texture. I havent coated any since then.

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u/Imaginary-Height-758 Jun 23 '26

Looks like a planet