Vince Pitelka on fri 31 may 96
Jane -
Here's a system that might work for you. You say that your recycle is slip
consistency. Is it homogenous? If not you need to get a electric drill and a
jiffy-mixer with a long-enough shaft to reach to the bottom of your recycle
barrel. Use the jiffy-mixer mounted in the drill to homogenize the slip. Get
ahold of a collection of empty yogurt or cottage cheese containers - from the
smallest size up to a quart. Try to get the heavier plastic ones. Better yet,
if you can find them, get ROUND tupperware-type containers, but make sure that
they have tapered sides. Line the appropriate containers with cloth, plastic
wrap, food-storage bags, or recycled bread bags. Fill the lined containers with
Tap each container gently on a firm surface to drive all air bubbles to the
surface. Leave uncovered until clay firms up enough to stand on it's own.
Unmold, and strip off cloth or plastic. When stiff enough, place on wheel, and
throw. This entire scenario is the product of my overactive imagination. But
if tapping the slip-filled containers on a firm surface really does eliminate
most of the air, it should work fine. Select the size of container according
to the size lumps of clay you want to throw, but keep in mind that as the water
evaporates from the slip the resulting lump of clay will shrink quite a bit.
I can't resist putting in a plug for a vacuum de-airing pugmill. If you really
have wrist problems you should not be wedging at all. Save your pennies and
get a pugmill. It will increase your enjoyment and your productivity and
reduce stress on your wrists.
If you try the above slip system BE SURE to let us all know whether and how
well it works.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - wkp0067@tntech.edu
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville, TN
cape1764@biddeford.com on tue 4 jun 96
Howdy Jane...
I agree with Vince. You really should save up for a Vacuum Pug mill. I
worked for years throwing at a studio where we had a monstrous de-airing pug
mill. I still struggled with CTS although it has been tolerable. When I first
went on my own, wedging was my major concern. CTS woke me up every night even
with night wrist braces. Much of the clay I purchased could be used fairly well
right out of the bag with a little wheel wedging but what about the scrap and
left over stuff. You always end up doing way too much wedging. I poured my old
slop etc. into plaster forms and let it sit until most of the water has absorbed
then wedged it on a plaster slab.
I would rather save my wrists for what I love the most. THROWING POTS!
Do you have a low interest credit card? How about a business loan or home equity
loan? Really It's worth it. (The finance rate through the clay supply companies
is way to steep.) For under 2 grand you can get set up and be happily employed
for years to come.
Tracy
PS After reading the winter thread on CTS I started taking 200 mg of Vitamin B6
daily and I really notice a difference. My mood is better, too.
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/ / \ Tracy Wilson
/ \ Saltbox Pottery
/ \ RR3 Box 749
/ O | Route 1
/ \ / | Woolwich, Maine 04579
| __V__ | Phone: 207 443-5586
| | | | Fax: 207 443-6544-0
|_________| Email: cape1764@biddeford.com
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