Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Void and Chuck

To answer some questions about the last post.
Yes John I have a void in my wheel head.
I have one of those bat-thingy systems.
I bought this thing years ago when I saw it in a magazine.
I do make lots and lots of smallish pots and use to throw them on all round bats.
I would put down a clay "cookie" first but I am a lazy potter and hated the cookie.
We just did not get along.
Sometimes the clay was "too soft" and some times it was "too hard" and if I was lucky it was just right.
And instead of being a bear about it all I bought one of these and it works well for me.
I did not buy their bats.
We had our own made.
I use to use both side of this but why both when one side will do.
It lives on my wheel unless I am working on larger pots.


Some of these bats are sorta swollen since they made it through the fire of 08.
The scraper also made it through the fire.
Funny what tools made the cut.

Now about Chuck.
We had several clay chucks that did not make it through the fire of 08.
They are greatly mourned whenever we reach for them.
BUT- this plastic one did make it through.
I had gone to a workshop and there was someone using plastic plumbing parts for chucks- brilliant!
I went right out and bought some.
This is one I use for most lids.
I do have other sizes.
Oh- and save those glass jar lids they work great inside.
all trimmed up.
Here is another tool that made the fire of 08 although its wrapping did not.
I wrapped some wire around the handle, because, as I said- I am a lazy potter.

I have some folks looking for sugar jars with the lids cut out for a spoon to stay inside.
I usually don't do that because I live in a science project in the middle of no where and like stuff closed.
In fact I dreamed about ants before I made the decision to cut the lids.

Anyway- a friend made me this handy tool 29 years ago for cutting honey pots.
You do remember making 100's of those don't you?
It still works well and no- I don't think I am going back to honey pots.
We love the invention of the honey bear.
Less mess.
Although I may have some honey dippers around here somewhere.
Thanks for all the comments and if you have not noticed and have not been reading go pick up Deborah Wood's Blog- she is back and worth the time and the reads- doing some amazing writing.
DW was the first person to ever comment on my blog back in 08 when I was writing about picking up the pieces after our studio fire.
It was a hell of a time after being struck by Lightning.
But that was 08 and now it is 10 11 and life is about other obstacles.
Cheers for the weekend!
M

11 comments:

Shortstuff said...

It's not 10 it's 11...but then we lose years as we age don't we?? I'd like to go back a year in our lives, too.

Anne Webb said...

I hated the pad of clay as well. I got a different tile bat which uses bisque tiles as inserts, but you could go either way. (I actually made one from marine plywood and masonite long before I ever saw the commercial version).
So nice to just pop them in and out without having to stop and re-affix that pad of clay.

Hollis Engley said...

Interesting to see the plastic plumbing pieces as chucks. Great idea. I was throwing teapots and lids this week and, as usual, hating the trimming of these little lids. The part that drops down into the teapot (what do you call that part, anyway?) angles inward as the lid sits on the wheel and no amount of clay wadding holds the sucker down. Pisses me off and makes for nasty language around the studio. I finally came to my senses and threw this tiny tiny chuck for the lids to sit on. Now more than an inch wide and not much taller. It almost totally cured the frustrating problem. Duh ...

Anna M. Branner said...

I must be dim this morning...how do you use the glass jar lid?

cookingwithgas said...

Les- I would like to repeat 2009.

I have a tiny plumbing part- white that does the tiny lids- I don't know what you call that part....
and Hollis- did not know you knew those words-blush!
Anna- the lid is used to steady the clay lid down and help it from slipping.
Just wet a finger and place inside while you are trimming.
I don't keep it in there the whole time, because I need to trim under that lid- it will slip some but not bad enough to worry about.
If the clay lid is too dry it slips more and then I have to "borrow" some of Hollis'words!
Hi Anne- going to check out your blog.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

mmm hmmm, I have some 15 year old honey dippers sitting around in a box somewhere :)

Cougs said...

Hi,
Could you tell me what kind of clay I could use to make a plaster mold for tile? Could you possibly give me a brand name and a source? I went into Michael's the other day and they just had too many kinds of clay and colors and I don't want to purchase something that won't work. Thank you,
Deb

cookingwithgas said...

Deb- you could use molding clay and that should work.
I just use the clay body I throw with, but I have been looking at different clays and molding clay is one.
question: what type of plaster are you going to use?

jim gottuso said...

hi meredith, yes, i hate the round bats but i guess i'm an even lazier potter than you because i haven't gotten around to addressing the problem yet. it's not the expense as jeff campana posted this on how to make your own... http://jeffcampana.com/blog/2010/01/d-i-y-tile-bat-system/#more-657

i need to get one of those plastic plumbing chucks too, that should be easier though.

Linda Starr said...

Great tips here, ummm molding clay and then there is that bake in the oven clay too, never tried it but it may have a use. I am still looking for a used wheel one of these days I'll find one, just missed out on shimpo.

ang design said...

inventive :))