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