jonpjon@ibm.net on tue 9 apr 96
>Is tapping to center a skill that is somewhat attainable? I have seen
>my professor do it, but he has never recommended that we seriously try
>to do it and so I haven't a clue where to start and I'm wondering if I
>should bother. Whattaya think?
>Sam, in beautiful Hawaii listening to you guys complain about snow and
>loving every minute! ;]
Hi Sam,
"tapping" is indespensible for anyone who spends much time at the wheel
turning, trimming or even banding. Definitely attainable but it takes a
little practice.
I love to show my students how to do this because its an unusual sort
of reflex skill (like riding a bike) thats impossible if you
think about it too much,but if you relax and let your body take over
is quite easy. Once you learn it you will never need a Giffin grip
(or any other kind for that matter) ever again.
I get my students to take a small round plastic bowl (filled with soft
clay to give it some weight) around 4-6 in. dia. Place the bowl
(inverted of course) on the wheel, use the right hand to tap (assuming
counter clockwise) keep the right hand lightly on the top. The speed
should be medium to fast, too slow will make it more difficult.
Timing is the thing, you just have to tap it gently at precisely
the right moment to put in on center.While you are practicing this
the bowl will go flying accross the room a few times before you get it,
but I think you can get the knack of this in less than an hour. The
trick is not to think about it. It's one of those miraculous little
abilities that I love because it shows how human beings can do things
that are really quite amazing.
Jon Pettyjohn, Manila jonpjon@ibm.net
summer is well underway here too, perfect weather for the beach
I'm smirking with you Sam :]
Brian Voth on wed 10 apr 96
jonpjon@ibm.net wrote:
>
>
> "tapping" is indespensible for anyone who spends much time at the wheel
> turning, trimming or even banding. Definitely attainable but it takes a
> little practice.
> I love to show my students how to do this because its an unusual sort
> of reflex skill (like riding a bike) thats impossible if you
> think about it too much,but if you relax and let your body take over
> is quite easy. Once you learn it you will never need a Giffin grip
> (or any other kind for that matter) ever again.
I would tend to agree that "tapping on center" is a rather useful skill but
there are more reasons to use a Giffin Grip that just centering. I wouldn't
think of getting rid of mine and I am quite adept at tapping on center. In
fact, I think the combination of being able to tap on center and the Giffin
Grip is one of the best time saving combinations that I have. It takes a
matter of seconds to tap the pot on center and then use the Giffin Grip to
hold the pot in place without having to roll wads and chunk the pot down. If
you have a table full of cereal bowls to trim and a little bit of arthritis
in your nuckles, all of that clay handling can get pretty painful.
I have no interest in the Giffin Grip company...I just used to be one of
those people who would "poo poo" the idea of buying a Grip...now I wouldn't
be without it.
Brian Voth
Newton, KS
art_selsor@vino.emcmt.edu on wed 10 apr 96
I found that dipping the lip in water and then tapping allows the pot to
slide to the center. By the time the water is soaked into the clay,
the pot is adherred to the wheel head requiring no wods of clay. This
works great for mugs especially. The lip can be smoothed with a swipe
of the finger after trimming.Marcia in Montana
n
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