Mudtools Pottery Ribs – Shape 5 Polymer Rib (Red Very Soft), Traditional Kidney Shape for Slab Smoothing & Wheel Throwing (R5)

The Mudtools Shape 5 Polymer Rib is the large-format kidney rib built for potters who need serious surface coverage. Sharing the same classic kidney shape as the beloved Shape 0 and Shape 1 ribs, the Shape 5 scales it up to 4.13 inches long and 2 inches wide — giving you a broad, smooth working surface that glides across clay fast. It’s especially well suited for smoothing slabs, pulling up the walls of wide forms, and covering large surface areas with fewer passes. Like all Mudtools polymer ribs, Shape 5 is made from a unique proprietary flexible polymer that resists wear and the formation of burrs. With regular studio use it becomes naturally burnished over time, getting better the more you use it. Available in five color-coded flexibility levels — Pink (Ultra Soft); Red (Very Soft), Yellow (Soft), Green (Medium), and Blue (Firm) — so you can match the flex to your clay body, your throwing style, and the amount of pressure you like to work with. Whether you’re throwing on the wheel, hand-building, or sculpting, the Shape 5 acts as a natural extension of the hand, reaching surfaces and achieving finishes that fingers alone can’t. Shape 5 is also available in stainless steel for those who prefer a firmer, rigid tool. Designed by potter Michael Sherrill and made in the USA. Every studio needs at least one.

• Pottery Rib Built for Large Surface Coverage — The Mudtools Shape 5 shares the classic kidney profile of Shapes 0 and 1, scaled up to 4.13” x 2” for broader, faster coverage. It’s ideal for smoothing slabs, pulling large open forms, and finishing wide walls with fewer strokes.
• Traditional Kidney Shape That Does It All: Whether you’re throwing on the wheel, hand-building, or working on sculptural forms, the Shape 5 acts as an extension of your hand — smoothing, shaping, and refining clay surfaces that fingers alone can’t reach.
• Flexible Polymer That Gets Better With Use: Made from Mudtools’ unique proprietary polymer that resists wear and the formation of burrs. With regular studio use, Shape 5 becomes naturally burnished over time for an even smoother glide across clay.
• Choose Your Flexibility — Color-Coded for Easy Selection: Available in four stiffness levels: Pink (Ultra Soft), Red (Very Soft), Yellow (Soft), Green (Medium), and Blue (Firm). Each version delivers the same Shape 5 kidney profile with a different flex to match your clay, your style, and how you like to work.
• Made in the USA by Mudtools: Designed by potter Michael Sherrill and trusted by ceramic artists worldwide. Built to last, easy to clean, and comfortable in the hand—every studio needs at least one.