Lgeese@aol.com on tue 9 apr 96
Sam -
So your in Hawaii making fun of us...well, I'll respond anyway...
I don't have a whole lot of guilt about not being able to tap to center. But
somehow, sometimes, I feel like I SHOULD be able to. I know of people who
have learned with a coffee can. Just tapping, tapping, tapping...Apparently
its like riding a bike. Once you've got it, you've got it.
Some profs are more sticklers about it than others...obviously mine were not.
Good or bad?
Lisa in Des Moines - where there's no snow...an expected high of 60...and
little bits of green grass here and there. (Mostly there...where the dog
spends most of her time!) :)
Lgeese@aol.com
Rod Wuetherick on wed 10 apr 96
Hi all Clayarters,
Could someone explain tapping to me in more detail..... Are you talking about
centering a piece on the wheel for trimming.... What is this tapping
method! I use a giffen.... but sometimes I wish I didn't...
Cheers,
Rod Wuetherick
----------
From: Lgeese@aol.com[SMTP:Lgeese@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 1996 4:56 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list CLAYART
Subject: Re: Tapping to center
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Sam -
So your in Hawaii making fun of us...well, I'll respond anyway...
I don't have a whole lot of guilt about not being able to tap to center. But
somehow, sometimes, I feel like I SHOULD be able to. I know of people who
have learned with a coffee can. Just tapping, tapping, tapping...Apparently
its like riding a bike. Once you've got it, you've got it.
Some profs are more sticklers about it than others...obviously mine were not.
Good or bad?
Lisa in Des Moines - where there's no snow...an expected high of 60...and
little bits of green grass here and there. (Mostly there...where the
John Tilton on wed 10 apr 96
I use both the Giffen Grip and tapping to center as these do not seem mutually
exclusive to me. For most things it is easier to tap to center but some special
tasks are better performed using the grip. Examples include attaching goblet
stems to the cups and trimming the bottoms of mugs when the center is still too
soft to hold the mug down with the finger.
Back in the early 80's I taught at the local Community College and it was a
requirement that everyone learn to tap to center in the first course. They all
were able to accomplish this task, and were quite happy with themselves,
actually. It was a game played with much gusto, those more experienced
encouraging the others.
As John Jensen states, I was taught this technique by Steve Jepson shortly after
leaving the University to set up my studio, in 1972. It has saved countless
hours and I routinely have a lid in a pot in a chuck ----all tapped to center.
Most often when you place a pot in a centered chuck, that pot will not be
centered until the chuck is tapped out of center. It's what makes tapping to
center such a powerful tool---- these operations can be performed effortlessly,
especially when the left hand is used to tap.
Here is a copy of my original post.
" Tapping to center is easy to learn and it is a very useful technique, one
which should be in every potter's arsenal.
Begin by placing a coffee can half full of sand or some such equivalent on the
wheelhead. If you normally trim on a foam covered bat as I do, use that. Start
the wheel and tap on the can with the side of your left hand ( palm up ) in no
particular way until it goes to center. Move it off center and repeat this
process for ten minutes and then stop. Do this every day and in two weeks you
will surprisingly be able to tap to center. When you learn with your left hand
you don't have to put down your trimming tool every time you want to make an
adjustment. "
John Tilton
Alachua, Fl
It's 36 F outside right now----this is Spring?, this is Florida?
John Tilton on fri 16 jul 99
If you are just learning to tap to center, and you are right handed, my
advice is to learn to tap with your left hand. That way you will not
have to stop to put down your trimming tool.
To learn to tap to center, take a coffee can and fill it about 1/3 way
with sand. Put it on the wheel and just tap it for 10 minutes with the
side of your left hand as the wheel revolves slowly. If you have a
special bat to aid in centering, such as a foam covered one or, as I do,
one with surfboard stickons, use that. A "grabber pad" will not work
here as it is too sticky.
When the can goes to the center, knock it off and tap again. Don't try
to get it to center or to figure out where you should tap as it comes
around. Do this for 21 days in a row and you will be able to tap to
center. It's a motor skill---- no thinking allowed!
This is a very important skill. I tap almost all of my work to center,
but for some specialized tasks, a Giffen Grip is invaluable. For
instance, I like to trim the bottom of mugs, but the bottoms are so
soft that they are impossible to hold down with the finger at the point
when they need to be trimmed. The Grip holds them by the side.
John
--
John Tilton
16211 NW 88th Terrace
Alachua, Fl. 32615
904-462-3762
Web site: http://www.tiltonpottery.com
mailto:tilton@atlantic.net
Elizabeth Herod on tue 13 may 03
Thanks to all for the information on tapping to center. I=B9ve been trying t=
o
learn for the last month.
I was shown the process last month, but I think I am a bit timid when it
comes to swatting the pot. I like the ideas presented here, and gives me
something to work with, although I=B9ll probably practice with a can.
The rhythm makes a lot of sense to me, Ivor. I have used it for years,
playing tennis, and skiing. It was actually how I learned to hit the ball
on the rise. Instead of bounce pause hit, it is bounce, hit, sort of like
an 8th note before a quarter note.
When working with the difficult white clay that does not like me so much, I
find that counting helps when pulling. There are no magic numbers, and I
don=B9t really know what is happening, I just know that it helps keep from
wobbling.
Which brings another phenomena to mind. I have not played anymore tennis
than usual this past winter, but the game started to improve. I started to
be able to do things that I knew how to do, but could not make the body do
what the mind wanted it to do. I had not noticed any difference, but my
partners noticed. It occurred to me that the patience and concentration
that I have developed from working with clay is transferring to other areas=
,
30 years after =B3The Inner Game=B2. Better late than never, as they say. :)
So, on to tapping.=20
Regards
Beth
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on wed 14 may 03
Hi Elizabeth,
Too, you may practice tapping-to-center with anything
round...with finished Bowls, a Coffee Can, whatever...a
semi-full Coffee Can might be nice since it has a little
weight and you may swat it as hard as you like with
impunity, and then 'lighter' taps or swats from there. ( I
use the pads of my not-bent finger tips, some use the 'tips'
of bent fingers...)
And like other things, it may work best if one does not
think about it, in a way...if one dis-engauge one's
'thinking' observer as such...oust them from the driver's
seat...
Certainly this is true of Tennis, Skeet, Painting, and Work
in general, and, likely, almost everything else as wishes us
to enjoy a co-ordination of movement...Dance...on and on...
'Taping to Center' too...
Phil
el vee
----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Herod"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 5:29 AM
Subject: Re: Tapping to Center
Thanks to all for the information on tapping to center.
Iıve been trying to
learn for the last month.
I was shown the process last month, but I think I am a bit
timid when it
comes to swatting the pot. I like the ideas presented here,
and gives me
something to work with, although Iıll probably practice with
a can.
The rhythm makes a lot of sense to me, Ivor. I have used it
for years,
playing tennis, and skiing. It was actually how I learned
to hit the ball
on the rise. Instead of bounce pause hit, it is bounce,
hit, sort of like
an 8th note before a quarter note.
When working with the difficult white clay that does not
like me so much, I
find that counting helps when pulling. There are no magic
numbers, and I
donıt really know what is happening, I just know that it
helps keep from
wobbling.
Which brings another phenomena to mind. I have not played
anymore tennis
than usual this past winter, but the game started to
improve. I started to
be able to do things that I knew how to do, but could not
make the body do
what the mind wanted it to do. I had not noticed any
difference, but my
partners noticed. It occurred to me that the patience and
concentration
that I have developed from working with clay is transferring
to other areas,
30 years after ³The Inner Game². Better late than never, as
they say. :)
So, on to tapping.
Regards
Beth
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