Barbara Webb on fri 19 jul 96
Has anyone bought or tried a York Kickwheel. It is the one that looks
like an upside down birdbath. I thought it might be fun for demos and
the patio. It was advertised in CM and I've seen it in some catalogs for
$199. thanks.
Barbara Webb
barbara@fujikura.com
Doug Gray on fri 19 jul 96
Barbara
I have had a York Kick Wheel for about three months now. The
advantages are that it is small, compact, only weighs about 50 lbs.
It travels well. That's why I got it, for demos, workshops etc. The
down side, for me atleast, is the size. For any one with long legs,
it is a bit too short to sit at comfortably and kick. Also the wheel
head is only about 8 inches wide. You can get bats that are larger,
but they had better be sturdy, because most of the bat, and you're
wide pieces will be unsupported by the wheel head. I'm working on a
stack of cinder blocks to raise the wheel so that I can throw standing
up. Then it becomes mre of a push wheel than a kick wheel. Also
considered adding a hook to the edge of the wheel head so it could be
turned with a stick - much like they do it in Japan. All in all, a
good buy, but the small size has it's disadvantages.
Doug
Leslie Ihde on sat 20 jul 96
I bought a York kickwheel when I needed another quick and cheap for my
class. Initially one student preferred it to the shimpo! She was just
learning to center and felt more in control of the york. I like it -
especially for trimming. It is pretty hard to center anything on it- but
once you get your clay centered, it's fine. Easily portable- but I still
do all "serious" potting on my shimpo. I don't regret getting it at all-
it takes up little sapce and is often useful and is used regularly by my
students without complaint- although as they get more experienced, they
have a preference for my electric wheels.
Leslie
Vestal NY
Leona Stonebridge Arthen on tue 6 aug 96
Hi Barbara,
I bought a York at the NCECA conference. It's great for demos as others
have said, but I also like it for throwing off the hump. Since the
momentum of the wheel is not great, it weighing only 50 pounds total, it is
hard to center a large lump of clay. But when throwing off the hump and
centering only the top bit, it is easy to work with. I have short legs so
the height isn't a problem for me. Keeping the kids off it is worse! They
like to go round and round and round... But seriously, it is a nice
little wheel but not one I would choose as a first or as an only wheel.
Leona
Anthony Allison on mon 3 jul 00
Dear Teresa.
Roger York is my wifes cousin. We brought one of his first kickwheels on the
road to test it out and demonstrate at shows a while back. We had a great
time with it and made a lot of pots.
Rogers design is wonderful and the wheel is fun to use. I have ours out on
the patio and it sits out all year in the weather. It is practically
indestructable-- You will love it,
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From: Teresa Speakman
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Monday, July 03, 2000 3:52 PM
Subject: York Kickwheel
>Has anyone used a York banding wheel / kickwheel sold at Axner Pottery.
>What is your opinion of it as a kickwheel? Thanks. -Teresa
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Tjo62@AOL.COM on mon 3 jul 00
I have had a York kickwheel for about four years now. I only use it for
demonstrations. It is good to take to craft sales, elementary schools, or
just anywhere you want to do a simple demonstration. It is difficult to use
on anything larger than a cup or small bowl. I have never used it as a
banding wheel. Tonya
Earl Brunner on mon 3 jul 00
Played with one a bit at NCECA, might be a good portable
demo wheel where there is no electricity. small pots work
best. Wouldn't use it for my regular wheel.
Teresa Speakman wrote:
>
> Has anyone used a York banding wheel / kickwheel sold at Axner Pottery.
> What is your opinion of it as a kickwheel? Thanks. -Teresa
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Teresa Speakman on mon 3 jul 00
Has anyone used a York banding wheel / kickwheel sold at Axner Pottery.
What is your opinion of it as a kickwheel? Thanks. -Teresa
miriam on tue 4 jul 00
I have a York kickwheel. It makes a very good plant stand.
In all fairness, it might work for someone else. I found that I had to
keep kicking constantly while I threw or it slowed down immediately with
any friction to the clay. Maybe I just didn't have the expertise
necessary. I had to keep the clay on the wheelhead very small.
They will take it back if you're unhappy. I've kept thinking I'll get
back and try it again. My throwing has improved in the few years since
I got it.
For those who don't know, the York kickwheel is a cast concrete column,
the top of the wheelhead fourteen inches off the floor, the wheelhead
itself eight inches across, and the thickened out portion at the bottom,
or flywheel, sixteen inches across. It turns easily on bearings and
is held off the floor by a metal foot arrangement you can't see without
upending it. The whole thing weighs, if I remember right, sixty
pounds. I feel it is so small that very little drag stops it from
turning.
Anyone have any good use from this wheel?
Mimi in NJ, USA
Teresa Speakman wrote:
>
> Has anyone used a York banding wheel / kickwheel sold at Axner Pottery.
> What is your opinion of it as a kickwheel? Thanks. -Teresa
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Tjo62@AOL.COM on tue 4 jul 00
The York kickwheel is a great way for kids to make pots.
Teresa Speakman on tue 4 jul 00
Thanks for all the opinions about the York kickwheel. I think I will try it
despite it's limitations. I think it would be great for demos, taking out in
the garden, and my kids will have something else to fight over;)
Peace -Teresa in Ohio
Lee Love on wed 5 jul 00
Can anybody compare how this wheel is to use compared to a Korean Kickwheel?
Don't they weigh about the same?
--
Lee Love
Nanai , Mashiko-machi ,Tochigi-ken 321-4106 JAPAN Ikiru@kami.com
Voice Mail and Faxes (a USA number): (303) 256-0374
Help E.T. Phone Earth: http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
Clayhannie@AOL.COM on wed 5 jul 00
I have a York Kickwheel and it is great for the purposes for which i
purchased it.
I use it for demonstrations and working with children.
Advantages:
Lightweight; I can lift it in and out of truck and move it on dolly. (Note:
always lift it from the base)
Smooth turning and stable
Authentic and straightforward as to how wheels work.
Small enough for children to use
Rugged and sturdy for outdoor use.
I comes with masonite bats, which are the wheelhead on which to throw
(When not in use, I also use it for a plant stand on the porch)
Disadvantages:
My legs are too long
Flywheel too light to keep going long when centering. I use only 1-2 lbs
clay-- a little softer than on a full size wheel..
On the fourth of July, I set up the wheel on a square of plywood in the
back yard, and our 12 yr old house guest mastered the process and threw
several pieces better than most of my adult students. When he finished, we
hosed everything down, including him!
Martha in Illinois
John Baymore on sat 8 jul 00
Can anybody compare how this wheel is to use compared to a Korean
Kickwheel?
Don't they weigh about the same?
Lee,
I had the opportunity to use a York kickwheel during a demonstration at a=
League of NH Craftsmen's Fair a couple of years ago. In general, I reall=
y
LIKE using kickwheels for the sensitivity and smoothness.
The York that I used had (to my limited experience) the feel of a
Korean/Japanese style wheel that I also have had the pleasure to try. Th=
e
lower "kick" area is narrow and there is little weight. I found that it
worked best when used barefoot with the left foot pulling toward me rathe=
r
than "kicking" away with the right. It has a good shape for doing this. =
I
tend to use that technique on a "western" kickwheel anyway particularly f=
or
things like large bowls....so that pulling movement is natural for me. =
Kicking in the traditional western sense was less satisfactory, but
certainly doable. =
I liked the need for the constant "kicking"........ particularly for larg=
er
pieces. I did throw some large peices on it....and it is perfectly doabl=
e.
It works like any very low momentum wheel. Those who are used to
electric wheels set at high RPM's will have a bit of a go adjusting to it=
. It is really nice to use as a decorating wheel for working applying=
slip or doing engraving or whatever....... I like to do that on a
kickwheel anyway .
I liked the wheel in general, but there was one drawback that I noticed
after the fact. The shaft to wheelhead legnth is very short. I had
difficulty getting a good position to work in with it. This resulted in =
my
having some back discomfort the next day. I had another opportunity to u=
se
the York....... and experienced the same back pain the day after. I don'=
t
experience that problem when I use any other kickwheels...so I am
attributing it to the wheel design. It doesn't fit my body .
This is not a wheel that I would use as a mainstay or a replacement for a=
more traditional wheel. But it is a fun "toy". I'd rather have a more
traditional Korean/Japanese kickwheel .
Best,
..........................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JBaymore@compuserve.com
John.Baymore@GSD-CO.com
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop August 18-27,
2000"
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