Sylvia See on fri 25 apr 97
Hi all;
Russel refers to a centering arm for centering large amounts of clay. I
have not seen the illustrations he mentions, but I had a handy friend make
one for me and it worked like a charm. I had mine made because I was
throwing alot of Raku clay with very coarse grog in it and it was tearing
my hands up and I was getting eczema, or some kind of a rash, which spread
almost to the elbows. I don't know how the ones work he was referring to
but mine just clamps onto my pacifica with c-clamps. It has a board
attached to the metal arm which rides on the wheelhead. I just push on it
with my left hand and it centers the clay right to the wheelhead. I took
alot of kidding about it because I was told I was cheating, but it sure
saved my hands and made centering a breeze. I started out with a
straight-sided cheap mug held upside down in my left hand and used it for
some time before I had my centering arm made. Even a hand-sized block of
2x4 works. I use them alot for centering the very bottom of the clay at the
wheelhead. It's the grogged clay at the wheelhead that puts the reduction
material, your skin, in your piece. My arm is made so that it swivels on
the main stem and I can also contol it to ride up the clay as I am
centering it. Very clever friend I have. We didn't have any pictures to go
by so I just explained what I needed it to do for me and he made it. Can't
remember for sure but I think it cost me about $225.00. To me!!! Well worth
it because I throw alot of large pieces as well as alot of Raku.
Sylvia See Claresholm, Alberta sylviac@telusplanet.net
The golden years have come at last, I cannot see, I cannot pee,
I cannot chew, I cannot screw. My memory shrinks, my hearing stinks.
No sense of smell, I look like hell. My body drooping, got trouble pooping.
The golden years have come at last, The golden years can kiss my Ass.
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