Paul Borian on tue 15 jul 08
One of my glazes looks really interesting when applied to pots that got
chattered during the trimming process. For me, chattering is something
that generally occurs by accident when the pot is a little too wet
and/or the trimming tool is especially sharp. There was a time when I
would even try to smooth it out with a flexible steel rib tool because I
did not like the way it looked, but this one glaze breaks into a myriad
of colors and I would like to get that look on more of my pots if I can,
but without having to trim when the pots are too wet because that causes
other problems, especially when trying to carve a foot ring.
Has anyone made a tool that will chatter on demand? I am thinking a very
thin piece of metal bent at a right angle at the end and sharpened might
do it - like an old band saw blade with the teeth ground off.
I know people were talking about chattering tools here before but it was
many years ago and I don't recall what they used. Any advice?
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Borian on wed 16 jul 08
So last night I cut off a piece of an old band saw blade (carbon steel),
heated it with a torch and bent it at a right angle, then ground off the
teeth and sharpened it enough to peel a tomato with, then heated the
whole thing to red heat and quenched it in water. Then using another
piece of steel and lots of cheap electrical tape ($1/roll at the local
hardware store) made a nice comfortable handle for it, and it works
perfectly. It chatters exactly how I want it to and it can even be used
for regular trimming if you are careful - use it one way and it trims,
another and it chatters.=20
=20
Paul
John on wed 16 jul 08
Paul,
I have a Bison flat tool that chatters really well and I can make it =
better by speeding up the wheel and holding the tool loosely.
I also had a 3" sharp triangular tool made of banding steel that =
chattered really well.
Hope it helps,
John Britt
www.johnbrittpottery.com/wks.htm
http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on wed 16 jul 08
Hi Paul, all...
The summary elucidation is this -
Any Sharp Tool, if it has a 'flat' Bevel, if held to the Work at
an improperly aggressive angle for Trimming, will make 'Chatter'...
Thus, to one degree or another, if with a sharp Tool, the angle of the
Cutter meeting the revolving
Work, is too aggressive an angle for Trimming, it will create a 'Chatter'
effect...oweing to how the Tool is trying to 'self feed' and how it's
behavior is a function of the drag against the Bevel and the edge which is
complimentary to the Bevel.
If one simply looks at a sharp Tool and considers "how" it's regulation in
cutting is mediated by it's convergent planes which form the cutting edge,
all of this can become self evident.
The Bevel is one plane, and the other side to the Bevel is another, and
both act as 'Rudders' in how they are reacting to forces pushing against
them as the Clay is passing. This then, the angle OF this, is what 'steers'
the Tool.
With Cars or Trucks, suspension problems, wrong Wheel Alignment, or other
factors can cause a dynamic 'wobble' at speed.
This is because the Wheels are being asked to do this, under the mechanical
conditions at hand...and, they will do what is being asked of them.
,
How the Tool is held in the Hand, also enters
into this...as does the consistency of the Clay and Wheel Speed...as
confluent mechanical factors entering into what the Tool is being asked to
do...according to the Tools cutting geometry.
The Faster the Work is being rotated, the more 'gummy' or 'early' Leather
Hard the consistency of
the Clay is, the looser the hold of the Tool, if the Tool is held to the
Work at too aggressive an angle for proper controlled 'cutting', the
'better' or more definite, or
'deep'
the Chatter will tend to be.
It is not that there is or can be such a thing as a Tool which will give
'Chatter on Demand'...
Any 'sharp' Tool with a flat bevel will make splendid 'Chattering' when held
to the Work at an angle which is aggressive for Trimming as such...and the
looser the hold on the Tool, the better it will 'vibrate' leaving rowed
textures behind.
Potters who never learned anything but the complaisency and indifference of
using 'dull' Tools, will tend to get 'Chatter' on accident or by default,
when trying to Trim with a 'sharp' Tool, because they are indifferently
trying to Trim with the same overly aggressive angle of 'attack' which they
used with dull Tools.
Such Potters have never understood how Tools work, or how 'cutting' is
different than 'plowing'.
do Potters insist to use all Kilns the same?
All Clays the same?
All Glazes the same?
All Tools are not the same either.
The habits learned or made rote with dull throw-away-tools, will not be
transferable to any well designed or intentionally designed sharp Tool's
use.
Provided the Tool is "sharp" and has
at least a fairly 'flat' Bevel ( though rounded Bevels could work also, if
not as well or easily ) anyone can get 'Chatter' by holding the Tool to the
rotating Work at what would be too aggressive of an angle for Trimming.
For any 'Sharp' Tool, the flat Bevel it will have, if it were made or
sharpened correctly, the Bevel should be almost parallel to the surface of
the Work, in order to Trim correctly.
In this case, the Tool will be 'Cutting' as it is meant to do.
Well done 'Chatter' is of course entirely Lovely when under various Glazes
which break
to show it to a positive effect.
There are many kinds of Chatter patterns ( or complimentary patterns ) one
can do.
Wood Lathe and Metal Lathe operatives can also get 'Chatter' in occasions of
their Tools or Cutters being not well supported and being hence 'springy'
and bouncing or flexing as they are trying to cut.
With Clay on the Wheel, it is a little different, and, is instead, a matter
of the Tool behaving according to the forces occasioned in it's cutting
geometry meeting the resistances if the Clay..,.and not because the Tool
itself is 'flexing'...though one's grip ON the Tool does allow 'flexing'
when the Tool is being asked TO vibrate or jump in and out of the Work.
In either case, whether Trimming correctly with control and understanding,
or getting 'Chatter' intentionally, with control and understanding, it is a
function of the Tool doing what it is being asked TO do, faithfully...
The question then is one of what are you asking the Tool to 'do'?
And how are you asking it to do it?
Phil
l v
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Borian"
One of my glazes looks really interesting when applied to pots that got
chattered during the trimming process. For me, chattering is something
that generally occurs by accident when the pot is a little too wet
and/or the trimming tool is especially sharp. There was a time when I
would even try to smooth it out with a flexible steel rib tool because I
did not like the way it looked, but this one glaze breaks into a myriad
of colors and I would like to get that look on more of my pots if I can,
but without having to trim when the pots are too wet because that causes
other problems, especially when trying to carve a foot ring.
Has anyone made a tool that will chatter on demand? I am thinking a very
thin piece of metal bent at a right angle at the end and sharpened might
do it - like an old band saw blade with the teeth ground off.
I know people were talking about chattering tools here before but it was
many years ago and I don't recall what they used. Any advice?
Thanks,
Paul
Drake Ash on thu 17 jul 08
hi john--there was an article not too long in one of the clay magazines
about making a japanese chattering tool out of a soup can lid. it involved
cutting a strip of tin, bending it to a curve at the end and then tempering
it by putting it alternately in a flame, then in water. i can't remember the
japanese name for the tool, but it was easy to make (i made two in different
widths) and is fun to use. if you need any more info i can dig out the
article.
hope this helps....
drake
On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 9:08 PM, John wrote:
> Paul,
>
> I have a Bison flat tool that chatters really well and I can make it better
> by speeding up the wheel and holding the tool loosely.
>
> I also had a 3" sharp triangular tool made of banding steel that chattered
> really well.
>
> Hope it helps,
>
> John Britt
> www.johnbrittpottery.com/wks.htm
> http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/
>
Suchman ceramics on fri 18 jul 08
I have made chattering tools out of strapping steel and garden rake tines as
well.e-in-o
On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 6:35 PM, Drake Ash wrote:
> hi john--there was an article not too long in one of the clay magazines
> about making a japanese chattering tool out of a soup can lid. it involved
> cutting a strip of tin, bending it to a curve at the end and then tempering
> it by putting it alternately in a flame, then in water. i can't remember
> the
> japanese name for the tool, but it was easy to make (i made two in
> different
> widths) and is fun to use. if you need any more info i can dig out the
> article.
> hope this helps....
> drake
>
> On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 9:08 PM, John wrote:
>
> > Paul,
> >
> > I have a Bison flat tool that chatters really well and I can make it
> better
> > by speeding up the wheel and holding the tool loosely.
> >
> > I also had a 3" sharp triangular tool made of banding steel that
> chattered
> > really well.
> >
> > Hope it helps,
> >
> > John Britt
> > www.johnbrittpottery.com/wks.htm
> > http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/
> >
>
Ben Shelton on mon 21 jul 08
I have made chattering tools from the metal used to strap things to pallets. It is soft steel and will wear faster than a saw blade. Everything Phil mentioned (speed, tool thickness, how it is held, sharpened, angle) It all has an effect on the outcome. Play with it and see how you like it. You can also grind/file a varied profile into the tool to give even more textures.
I learned from Roy Brown in Tularosa NM
http://www.austinclay.org/roy_brown.html
FWIW I likes the effect best when the clay was leather hard just past the stage where it would smear.
Try it out.
| |
|
