Ellary Blair on fri 7 mar 08
I am having trouble adjusting my stool to the right height at my wheel=
Is there some kind of formula or easy way to adjust to the right sp=
ot. I like pain free throwing and now I have a backache everytime I s=
it down and work. Any ideas would sure be appreciated.=0D=0A=0D=0ATha=
nks=0D=0AEllie Blair=0D=0ABlair Pottery=
William & Susan Schran User on fri 7 mar 08
On 3/7/08 12:06 PM, "Ellary Blair" wrote:
> I am having trouble adjusting my stool to the right height at my wheel Is
> there some kind of formula or easy way to adjust to the right spot. I like
> pain free throwing and now I have a backache everytime I sit down and work.
> Any ideas would sure be appreciated.
Well, the best advice for backache is probably switch to standing up.
I have a few women in my classes with back issues.
Switched two of the studio wheels with leg extensions to heights that work
well for them to stand & throw.
If you decide to remain seated, then try to have the stool/chair a little
higher than the wheel head.
My lower back has suffered over the years.
I know put all of my prepared clay on a table across the room in my studio.
Every time I finish a pot, I take it over to the table and get another ball
of clay. It's now rare that my back hurts.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Victoria E. Hamilton on fri 7 mar 08
Ellie,
The recommendation I've been following, and the way I have my students
adjust their stools, is that while sitting, your knees should be a little
lower than your hips. I follow this myself and it seems to work fine.
Also, this puts my knees right level with the table portion of a Brent C
wheel.
Hope this helps.
Vicki Hamilton
Millennia Antica Pottery
Seattle, WA
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Ellary Blair
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 9:06 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: stool height
I am having trouble adjusting my stool to the right height at my wheel Is
there some kind of formula or easy way to adjust to the right spot. I like
pain free throwing and now I have a backache everytime I sit down and work.
Any ideas would sure be appreciated.
Thanks
Ellie Blair
Blair Pottery
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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Hollis on fri 7 mar 08
This is an old solution and doesn't work for everyone. But after about
15 years of throwing seated on a stool, I had a horrendous couple of
months of back and leg pain. Part of the solution - in addition to long
hours of stretching in the local sports center - was putting the
Soldner wheel up on cement blocks and throwing standing up. That was
three years ago and so far is working out just fine. No more sitting
down at the wheel. Also, no more tear-inducing leg and back pain.
Hollis Engley
Hatchville Pottery
E. Falmouth, Mass.
hatchvillepottery.com
On Mar 7, 2008, at 12:06 PM, Ellary Blair wrote:
> I am having trouble adjusting my stool to the right height at my wheel
> Is there some kind of formula or easy way to adjust to the right
> spot. I like pain free throwing and now I have a backache everytime I
> sit down and work. Any ideas would sure be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Ellie Blair
> Blair Pottery
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
> subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here:
> http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>
Dannon Rhudy on fri 7 mar 08
Many people like their stool to lift
them so that their hips are at the same
height as the wheel. I find that too low,
and uncomfortable. I like to sit a little
higher than the wheel and sometimes a
LOT higher than the wheel. A tall stool
makes it much simpler to pull tall pieces.
For me. Val Cushing showed me that
trick some time back, reminded me that
for larger pieces, if you are seated too
low you're pushing the clay up rather than
pulling the clay up. My eventual solution
has been to throw smaller pieces, platters
and bowls etc at a wheel set for STANDING,
and tall pitchers or lamp bases or whatever
from a tall stool. A tall stool permits you to
stretch your back while centering, and then
to just pull the clay up to meet you, for tall
stuff.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Randall Moody on fri 7 mar 08
I usually keep my stool height the same as my wheel height. I also
have a hydraulic drum throne for easy adjustment and more padding.
Make sure that you are bending at your hips and not "sitting in your
navel.
--
Randall in Atlanta
On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 12:06 PM, Ellary Blair wrote:
> I am having trouble adjusting my stool to the right height at my wheel Is there some kind of formula or easy way to adjust to the right spot. I like pain free throwing and now I have a backache everytime I sit down and work. Any ideas would sure be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Ellie Blair
> Blair Pottery
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
> subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots2@visi.com
>
David Hendley on sat 8 mar 08
I have a stool like the one Joe mentions. It is a great option
for a throwing stool, as it is adjustable. The best part is that
these stools are commonly found at secondhand stores. I
got mine, in like-new condition, at Goodwill for a few bucks.
About 10 years ago, I switched over to standing when
throwing. I think it is the healthiest set up for a serious
long-term potter. I use my shower stool at my jewelry and
woodworking work bench.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david(at)farmpots(dot)com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
> I have been using an invalid shower stool for my throwing stool. The
> version I use has 4 adjustable aluminum legs and a plastic cushion type
> seat. I adjust the back legs higher than the front so the seat has a
> slight
> tilt toward the wheel, perhaps 10 degrees.
>
> I set the leg length so the front of the seat is just a little higher (1/2
> inch) than the surface of the wheel head. I try to keep my back rather
> erect when I throw with my chin in an area vertically above the near edge
> of
> the wheel head.
miriam on sat 8 mar 08
I have used an adjustable secretary's chair in the studio for years.
The height, angle of the seat and back support can be adjusted
easily.
I went through several cheap chairs and finally, 20 years ago, bought
a good used chair at a used office furniture store.
It is sitting and waiting for me right next to my wheel.
miriam
vpitelka on sat 8 mar 08
Victoria E. Hamilton wrote:
"The recommendation I've been following, and the way I have my students
adjust their stools, is that while sitting, your knees should be a little
lower than your hips. I follow this myself and it seems to work fine.
Also, this puts my knees right level with the table portion of a Brent C
wheel."
Vicki -
You are right on the mark. It is very important to have the angle of thigh
to torso be slightly open when sitting up straight - so that your knees are
slightly lower than your hips. This gives good circulation in the legs,
whereas if one is sitting with one's knees level with or higher than the
hips, circulation in the legs is poor, and the results can be serious over
time. So many people think in terms of either throwing sitting down or
standing up, or else they think only in terms of the height of the seat in
relation to the height of the wheelhead. and I am glad that Ellie Blair
asked this question. It is important to adjust the height of either the
wheel or the stool in order to achieve the best height. I like a seating
surface that tilts forwards (towards the wheel) slightly, and is slightly
lower than the wheelhead, but first you have to establish the position of
thighs to torso, as mentioned above, and then adjust the height of the
entire wheel and/or stool to get the relationship between stool height and
wheel height.
I hope that helps -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
June Perry on sat 8 mar 08
Besides the obvious choice of standing up, you can make sure that when
you're sitting that your hips are a bit higher than your knees. Ergonomically,
this prevents pressure on your back when you lean forward.
Regards,
June
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Joseph Herbert on sat 8 mar 08
Ellary Blair wrote about the difficulty of proper stool adjustment.
I have been using an invalid shower stool for my throwing stool. The
version I use has 4 adjustable aluminum legs and a plastic cushion type
seat. I adjust the back legs higher than the front so the seat has a slight
tilt toward the wheel, perhaps 10 degrees.
I set the leg length so the front of the seat is just a little higher (1/2
inch) than the surface of the wheel head. I try to keep my back rather
erect when I throw with my chin in an area vertically above the near edge of
the wheel head.
Many of the "standard" stools I find in shared studios are, by my measure,
too short. When I see relatively short people (I am over 6 feet) sitting on
stools with their butts well below the wheel head, I cringe. When they are
in this position, they have only arm and upper body strength to work with.
In the case of small women, they are at a significant strength and leverage
disadvantage. Centering and throwing larger pieces requires using the
larger body muscles for power and bracing (when not staying seated while
throwing). I expect that people have read about bracing their arms against
legs or hips while opening or centering think it is impossible to do because
their sitting position makes it so.
Try sitting higher, it may help.
Joe
Joseph Herbert
Technical Writer
Irving, Texas
214-725-8305 (Cell)
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2:01 PM
Lee on sun 9 mar 08
On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 7:09 AM, Joseph Herbert wro=
te:
> Many of the "standard" stools I find in shared studios are, by my measur=
e,
> too short. When I see relatively short people (I am over 6 feet) sittin=
g on
> stools with their butts well below the wheel head, I cringe.
I think our throwing setups are extremely individual. On my
Korean wheel, I sit level with the wheelhead, but on the Leach wheel,
I am sitting lower than the wheel head. Also, when I worked on the
shimpo gold before I moved to Japan, I put the shimpo on milk crates
and used a bar stool. This arrangement had the wheelhead higher than
my seat. It allowed me to stretch my legs, but also be able to put my
feet on the crates to steady myself when centering or trimming.
One of the reasons the Asian system works, is because most
things are thrown off the hump. It allows you to keep your back
straight. But, because many things on a Western wheel are thrown
off the wheelhead, a lower seat, like on the Leach wheel, helps you
keep a straighter back.
My friend Toshi, who sold me my Shimpo Gold, told me he
thought Western potters looked like vultures, because they loomed over
their wheelhead.
Also, soft clay and coil and throw or coil and paddle
traditonal throwing methods allow you to make larger things so you
don't have to horse a huge hunk of clay on the wheel. Before the
electric wheel, it was how most large things were made.
--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "T=
he
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
Lee on sun 9 mar 08
On Sat, Mar 8, 2008 at 6:04 PM, June Perry wrote=
:
> Besides the obvious choice of standing up, you can make sure that when
> you're sitting that your hips are a bit higher than your knees. Ergonom=
ically,
> this prevents pressure on your back when you lean forward.
>
Wheel on milk crates and using a bar stool does the same thing. As
does a Leach Wheel.
The the Japanese/Korean platform is good for the back too.
the knees are slightly lower than the hips.
With the handwheel, you sit crosse-legged, monk style. In
this posture, elivating the hips with a cushion is good.
--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "T=
he
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
Lee on wed 12 mar 08
On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 10:26 PM, Chris trabka wrote:
> Lee,
>
> Maintianing balance at the wheel is an important aspect of posture. One o=
f
> the "positions" neglected (overlooked) is the left foot (if the wheel is
> controlled by the right foot). I have a brick under the left foot that is
> about the same height as the foot pedal. This allows the left and right
> leg to have the same height and thus allo
On the Korean wheel, which is kicked barefooted (no way you can
wear work boots and use a korean wheel), I have wooden block on both sides
of the kick plate. I both pull with my right foot and kick with my left.
On the Leach wheel you have a built in place to put your
other foot.
The movement required on a kick wheel, especially the Korean,
helps protect your back. Your legs keep loose because you are exercising
them.
--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "Th=
e land of
eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent within itself."
-- John O'Donohue
Chris trabka on wed 12 mar 08
Lee,
Maintianing balance at the wheel is an important aspect of posture. One of
the "positions" neglected (overlooked) is the left foot (if the wheel is
controlled by the right foot). I have a brick under the left foot that is
about the same height as the foot pedal. This allows the left and right
leg to have the same height and thus allows the arms to rest at the same
height and thus allows the trunk of the body to be straight.
It's amazing how noticing little things can help us get through a good day
at clay (play) [never work].
Chris
Jennifer Boyer on fri 14 mar 08
HI All,
I've settled on a hybrid version of stool height: not sitting low,
but not standing:
There's also a pic of my glaze bucket setup.
http://www.thistlehillpottery.com/studiomisc.html
On Mar 8, 2008, at 10:13 PM, miriam wrote:
> I have used an adjustable secretary's chair in the studio for years.
> The height, angle of the seat and back support can be adjusted
> easily.
>
> I went through several cheap chairs and finally, 20 years ago, bought
> a good used chair at a used office furniture store.
>
> It is sitting and waiting for me right next to my wheel.
>
> miriam
>
> _
***************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
http://jboyerdesign.com
http://artisanshand.com
***************************
Veena Raghavan on fri 14 mar 08
Hi Jennifer,
Lots of great ideas. I too have a shimpo, about 7 years old, though not a
Whisper, and I too find the trays are not great. I love your idea of a mallet, as
I have problems with my wrists and center can strain them, even though I use
soft clay. Thanks for sharing.
Veena
In a message dated 3/14/2008 9:32:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
vtpots@GMAIL.COM writes:
>
>
> HI All,
> I've settled on a hybrid version of stool height: not sitting low,
> but not standing:
> There's also a pic of my glaze bucket setup.
>
> http://www.thistlehillpottery.com/studiomisc.html
>
VeenaRaghavan@cs.com
mel jacobson on sat 22 jan 11
my old orthopedic suggested that when back trouble
comes on, change the height of the wheel.
in my case, i lifted the stool about three inches.
i built a wooden frame on the bottom of the stool.
i will take a pix this afternoon, and show it.
it pushes me up and over the wheel head.
it seems to help a great deal.
and, that home depot /velcro girdle really is
great.
pulls me together.
i also will show how i lift my brent up, to make it level.
take a wooden block, and with a door knob drill, you know
about a four inch drill bit, i make the block fit over the
leg. in my case, the floor slants to the drain a great deal...for
hosing out my studio. the block lifts the front leg to make the
wheel head level.
will take a pix of that too.
a potters back is the `Achilles tendon` of the thrower.
we must do things to protect it.
my orthopedic told me he his group has done
more `tommy john` shoulder surgeries, like 10-1 on
violin players vs. ball players. jaw problems arise for
violin players too. that pressure on the shoulder muscles
and jaw are very great.
they break down.
one of my buddies is/was a fiddle player for the
minnesota symphony orchestra. he has had several nasty surgeries.
had to retire early. tommy john ten years ago. he sold his good fiddle
for like $275,000. nice retirement package. he has three others of almost
that quality. and, cute story...he has a junk fiddle he uses when he does
outdoor concerts with the symph, and when he plays at polish weddings.
(those damn family fights still pop up.) he told me once he made more
money playing in a polka band, doing weddings etc., then he made with
the symphony. of course those classical musicians all moonlight with
a variety of musical styles. polka and country western is still big
around here. and, like `charlie daniels`, they know how to play their
instrument.
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
Bonnie Staffel on sun 23 jan 11
Some years ago, my potter buddy's husband worked in the local high =3D
school as
a chemistry teacher as well as a coach. I mentioned needing a stool for =3D
my
wheel and at that time the school was selling the stools from the =3D
chemistry
lab. What a find. They were adjustable in height, had a wooden seat and =3D
spun
around easily. After all these years, I had it set at a few inches above =
=3D
the
wheel head, which I advocate for offsetting back problems, it happened =3D
to
freeze/set at that level. I am still using it but added a cushion. My =3D
father
was an old time dentist and I remember his stool which was similar but =3D
it
also leaned so that he could move to get to the patient more easily. I =3D
often
wished we had saved the stool when he closed down his office at age 80.=3D2=
0
=3D20
The movers stole us blind when they moved all the antique dental =3D
cabinets
and furniture. He had apprenticed with another dentist and inherited all
that equipment. He was also the last apprenticed dentist in the State of
Ohio to receive a license. When I went to his office after my art class =3D
at
the Toledo Museum I would often be called upon to hold a patient's head
while he pulled a tooth. Or I was given the task to dust everything as =3D
the
railroads of the time were spewing a lot of soot in downtown Toledo. =3D
Another
memory, he would send me downstairs to the Kroger store to buy a pint of
select oysters, a quart of milk, a stick of butter and a small box of
crackers. We would then make oyster stew on his old fashioned gas =3D
hotplate
to enjoy for lunch. Otherwise, I always dreaded the time when he would
suggest to me that it was time to look at my teeth. No Novocain used =3D
then
for fillings.=3D20
=3D20
Bonnie
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Introduction to Wheel Work
Charter Member Potters Council
=3D20
Dale Neese on sun 23 jan 11
I never was a big fan of any of the stools that were available for potters
wheels so years ago I built a "potter's bench". It was made from 2x10's to
the height that I was used to sitting on in college and my first instructor=
s
job. It's solid. I dressed it up with some wood stain, put some furniture
glides on the bottom. Some padding attached to the top to avoid flat
spotting my ass. I have a metal handle on the side because I can carry it
easily with me to every workshop or place I will be throwing on the wheel.
It's like taking your favorite pillow to a hotel room. Have you tried
sleeping on some of those things they think are pillows? Some places I've
been what they offer for a seat to sit on is an old folding lawn chair or
some tiny stool resembling a milking stool. If you are not comfortable whil=
e
working it is very hard to sit and throw for very long. I'll take my stool
on Tuesday down to Alvin Community College for a throwing session in the
ceramics department. I don't leave home without it.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
Helotes, Texas USA
www.daleneese.com
Randall Moody on mon 24 jan 11
I use an old drum throne. The one I have is hydrolic so that you can
adjust the height, has four legs and a good deal of padding. Mine is a
very old model I got with a drumset I bought in the late 80's but I
think Pearl Drums has a good assortment. Many are now coming with an
optional back.
--
Randall in Atlanta
http://wrandallmoody.com
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