Lyla Kaplan on thu 18 jul 96
Hello. What is a good source for wheel building? I've been to the local
library and nothing there. I did some more successful searching a few
years ago, and it seems like the info that is available is how to build
the kind of kick wheel where you put your foot flat on the bottom wheel
and push-kick it. YUCK, no thanks. The kind of kick I LOVE is where you
constantly and gently kick a lever that is attached to the bottom wheel.
(the lever sticks out and causes nice bruises when you are walking around
thinking about anything but where the wheel is). I have worked on these
kinds of lever-kick wheels in both sitting and standing form. Once I
heard this type of wheel referred to as a "trendle"?? Anyway, if anyone
knows about these wheels, could I follow the plans for a regular kick
wheel and then figure out a way to attach a lever, or are they constructed
in a totally different manner?
One last question, the wheel would have to be left outside in the carport
and, as I am in North Carolina, would the humidity have a detrimental
effect on the wheel?
Please respond to my email lkaplan@vt.edu
Thanks for any help,
Lyla
Hillsboro, NC
June Perry on fri 19 jul 96
There are some excellent sketches and instructions for building a treadle
wheel in the Harry Davis book "The Potters Alternative." I believe this book,
first published in 1987, is still available.
Good luck!
June Perry
EMail: Gurushakti@aol.com
jonpjon@ibm.net on fri 19 jul 96
Hi Lyla,
I think the wheel you are describing is called a "treadle", or an
English kickwheel. This was the design preferred by many English
potters including Bernard Leach. I have seen construction plans
in a book called "Pioneer Pottery" by Michael Cardew.
It's not just a simple matter of attaching a lever to the "regular"
or "continental" type flywheels. The shaft is not straight but has
a "u" shaped section where the lever is attached. I once saw a
plan that uses an old cam shaft from a car, I think it was in
one of the first editions of "Studio Potter".
Personally I prefer the regular "push kick" type. Not only are they
easier to build, but they have the advantage that you kick first
and use the momentum to do the work, with a treadle wheel you have to
work while kicking, hard to keep the body still. I do know though,
that those people who prefer the "English" wheel swear by it.
Jon Pettyjohn Manila jonpjon@ibm.net
>>>>>>----------------------Original Message---------------------------
Hello. What is a good source for wheel building? I've been to the local
library and nothing there. I did some more successful searching a few
years ago, and it seems like the info that is available is how to build
the kind of kick wheel where you put your foot flat on the bottom wheel
and push-kick it. YUCK, no thanks. The kind of kick I LOVE is where you
constantly and gently kick a lever that is attached to the bottom wheel.
(the lever sticks out and causes nice bruises when you are walking
around thinking about anything but where the wheel is). I have worked on
these kinds of lever-kick wheels in both sitting and standing form. Once
I heard this type of wheel referred to as a "trendle"?? Anyway, if
anyone knows about these wheels, could I follow the plans for a regular
kick wheel and then figure out a way to attach a lever, or are they
constructed in a totally different manner?
One last question, the wheel would have to be left outside in the carport
and, as I am in North Carolina, would the humidity have a detrimental
effect on the wheel?
Please respond to my email lkaplan@vt.edu
Thanks for any help,
Lyla <<<<<<<<<<<
Lyla Kaplan on fri 19 jul 96
>Personally I prefer the regular "push kick" type. Not only are they
>easier to build, but they have the advantage that you kick first
>and use the momentum to do the work, with a treadle wheel you have to
>work while kicking, hard to keep the body still. I do know though,
>that those people who prefer the "English" wheel swear by it.
>
>Jon Pettyjohn Manila jonpjon@ibm.net
>
Thanks for the info Jon. I will look it up.
For me, that is the whole reason why i do not like the push/kick. with the
treadle your leg continues to gently kick it the whole time you throw and
there needs not be a pause to get the wheel going again.
Lyla
Leonard Smith on sun 21 jul 96
Dear Lyla
I designed such a wheel many years ago and it was my first and only wheel
for many of my early years of potting. In the past I have supplied the
plans, originally published in Vol 21 N03 of Pottery in Australia, to
members of the list so if you send me your snail mail address I will post
you a copy of the plans and instructions.
I will do the same for any others who genuinely want to build a treadle
style kick wheel sometimes called a Leach wheel. (Unless I am overwhelmed)
Best wishes
Leo who rides the net at night and sieves ash during the day.
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