Larry Kruzan on tue 17 nov 09
A few weeks ago I asked for suggestions as I looked for a system to make =
=3D
my
own plaster bats. Several referrals were given and I checked them all =3D
out =3D96
I even ordered a couple to look them over. So, as promised here is a =3D
update.
=3D20
The Lester system was the specific system I remembered seeing at NCECA =3D
and I
found a local owner of this kit who graciously allowed me to check it =3D
out.
It looked like I remembered, very simple to use, provided the best =3D
bat-pin
mount system of any I saw. Cost $89 at Axner for the basic kit.
=3D20
One other kit I ordered was the AMACO 30987Y - Wheel Throwing Heads -
Special Throwing Head Set. This kit replaced the head of the wheel with =3D
a
smaller cup style head and included an aluminum band that was to be used =
=3D
as
the mold for the bat. Cost was $114 from Brickyard pottery supply. This =3D
was
returned 11/1 unused and I=3D92m still waiting for a refund. I might have =
=3D
kept
this but it did not fit my Brent model =3D93C=3D94 wheel. The refund thing =
=3D
is really
starting to bug me.
=3D20
I also had checked out the =3D93pure and simple=3D94 system as a =3D
possibility. I
already own some this system so I would only have to buy the bat mold. I
decided against this one because the bats are so thick =3D96 around 1 =3D
=3DBD=3D94 =3D96 I
just don=3D92t have room enough for 300 of these.
=3D20
In the end I decided that these all had one major drawback =3D96 you can =
=3D
only
make one bat at a time. It takes about 40 minutes to make each bat. I =3D
want
to make around 200-300 bats, so by the time I retire in twenty or thirty
years I should finally have enough. In order to be able to make enough =3D
bats
in a reasonable amount of time I would need 5 or ten molds to work with.
That just put most of these DIY systems out of reach. 10 Lester molds at
$900 plus plaster would be a major investment!
=3D20
Over the last week or so, I have decided that I would forgo the benefits =
=3D
of
bat pins and simply attach my plaster bats with a clay patty. This will
allow me to make plaster bats made from a much simpler mold. How simple? =
=3D
How
about a pizza pan! While shopping at a =3D93Tuesday Morning=3D94 store last=
=3D
week, my
wife came home with the perfect bat mold. This pan is 12 =3DBD=3D94 in =3D
diameter,
5/8=3D94 deep and tapered on the edge. Made from very heavy stamped metal =
=3D
it is
very rigid. Produced by =3D93GD Designs=3D94, the pan is sold for $7 at thi=
s
discounter.
=3D20
A quick run back to the store and I was the proud owner of five for just
$35.=3D20
=3D20
Tonight I began the first run of bats. After 3 hours I now have the =3D
first 25
bats made from two bags of hydrocal. The cost of the Hydrocal was $33 =3D
for
the two bags resulting in a cost of $1.33 per bat. Pretty reasonable if =3D
you
don=3D92t add in my time. If there is any way to speed this up I will sure =
=3D
try
to find it =3D96 I may go buy some more pans and mix bigger batches of =3D
plaster.
Ten at a time would be very nice and very doable, five was easy.
=3D20
My wife is looking forward to my completing this job because she gets =3D
all
the pizza pans =3D96 ok, I=3D92ll enjoy that part too.
=3D20
Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com
=3D20
Glistering Phaeton on wed 18 nov 09
Dear Larry,
Did you use anything in the pizza pans to help release the Hydocal?
Thanks!
=3D97Adam
Los Angeles
"Down, down, I come; like glistering Phaeton, wanting the manage of =3D
unruly
jades."=3D20
-William Shakespeare, King Richard II
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Larry =3D
Kruzan
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:38 PM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Plaster Bats - Undate
A few weeks ago I asked for suggestions as I looked for a system to make =
=3D
my
own plaster bats. Several referrals were given and I checked them all =3D
out =3D96
I even ordered a couple to look them over. So, as promised here is a =3D
update.
=3D20
The Lester system was the specific system I remembered seeing at NCECA =3D
and I
found a local owner of this kit who graciously allowed me to check it =3D
out.
It looked like I remembered, very simple to use, provided the best =3D
bat-pin
mount system of any I saw. Cost $89 at Axner for the basic kit.
=3D20
One other kit I ordered was the AMACO 30987Y - Wheel Throwing Heads -
Special Throwing Head Set. This kit replaced the head of the wheel with =3D
a
smaller cup style head and included an aluminum band that was to be used =
=3D
as
the mold for the bat. Cost was $114 from Brickyard pottery supply. This =3D
was
returned 11/1 unused and I=3D92m still waiting for a refund. I might have =
=3D
kept
this but it did not fit my Brent model =3D93C=3D94 wheel. The refund thing =
=3D
is really
starting to bug me.
=3D20
I also had checked out the =3D93pure and simple=3D94 system as a =3D
possibility. I
already own some this system so I would only have to buy the bat mold. I
decided against this one because the bats are so thick =3D96 around 1 =3D
=3DBD=3D94 =3D96 I
just don=3D92t have room enough for 300 of these.
=3D20
In the end I decided that these all had one major drawback =3D96 you can =
=3D
only
make one bat at a time. It takes about 40 minutes to make each bat. I =3D
want
to make around 200-300 bats, so by the time I retire in twenty or thirty
years I should finally have enough. In order to be able to make enough =3D
bats
in a reasonable amount of time I would need 5 or ten molds to work with.
That just put most of these DIY systems out of reach. 10 Lester molds at
$900 plus plaster would be a major investment!
=3D20
Over the last week or so, I have decided that I would forgo the benefits =
=3D
of
bat pins and simply attach my plaster bats with a clay patty. This will
allow me to make plaster bats made from a much simpler mold. How simple? =
=3D
How
about a pizza pan! While shopping at a =3D93Tuesday Morning=3D94 store last=
=3D
week, my
wife came home with the perfect bat mold. This pan is 12 =3DBD=3D94 in =3D
diameter,
5/8=3D94 deep and tapered on the edge. Made from very heavy stamped metal =
=3D
it is
very rigid. Produced by =3D93GD Designs=3D94, the pan is sold for $7 at thi=
s
discounter.
=3D20
A quick run back to the store and I was the proud owner of five for just
$35.=3D20
=3D20
Tonight I began the first run of bats. After 3 hours I now have the =3D
first 25
bats made from two bags of hydrocal. The cost of the Hydrocal was $33 =3D
for
the two bags resulting in a cost of $1.33 per bat. Pretty reasonable if =3D
you
don=3D92t add in my time. If there is any way to speed this up I will sure =
=3D
try
to find it =3D96 I may go buy some more pans and mix bigger batches of =3D
plaster.
Ten at a time would be very nice and very doable, five was easy.
=3D20
My wife is looking forward to my completing this job because she gets =3D
all
the pizza pans =3D96 ok, I=3D92ll enjoy that part too.
=3D20
Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com
=3D20
Larry Kruzan on wed 18 nov 09
Hi Adam,
Yes. I mix Vaseline with paint thinner and brush this onto the pan with eac=
h
casting. Cleanup between runs was very easy with this application. I allowe=
d
the plaster to sit in the pan for around 35+ minutes before trying to remov=
e
it - as it was well into the heat/set cycle. It needs to be warm first!
As the bat sets up a puddle of water formed on the surface. I drained this
off as soon as the bat was firm to the touch. Don't really know if this was
right or not but I did it this way.
Removal was accomplished by turning the pan over and gently dropping it
around 6-7 inches onto the tabletop. The bat should pop right out. In the
interest of full disclosure - I did have the first couple break because I
rushed the setup time. Given enough time they come out easy. They really
come out easier with more time to set - the most I gave any of them was 45
minutes.
After I had all five out of the pans, I used 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper to
smooth the sharp edge and to knock off any high spots - you must keep the
paper/bat very wet for this to work well and be sure to rinse the bat
thoroughly after sanding. I did this in a big "bus Pan" I got at a
restaurant supply store years ago.
One other note to help with bubbles on the surface of the plaster. I keep a
spray bottle of Alcohol at hand and if I see any bubbles on the bat surface
I misted it with the Alcohol which disperses the bubbles without damage to
the surface. Of course this only works in the earliest stages of the
process.
From what I understand - (scary part) you would normally cast a mold with
the finish surface down. I am cast with the finished surface up due to the
angle of the sides, so I want as smooth a surface as I can get. I am being
very careful not to introduce any more bubbles into the plaster than I have
to. These first few are looking pretty good.
Exercise the normal cautions with plaster and don't dump it down the drains
- unless you have a plumber in the family!
Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Glistering Phaeton [mailto:GlisteringPhaeton@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:25 PM
To: 'Larry Kruzan'; Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: RE: Plaster Bats - Undate
Dear Larry,
Did you use anything in the pizza pans to help release the Hydocal?
Thanks!
-Adam
Los Angeles
"Down, down, I come; like glistering Phaeton, wanting the manage of unruly
jades."
-William Shakespeare, King Richard II
Jess McKenzie on thu 19 nov 09
Linda
We've msg'd on this before--we like the method (ref
below), invented by Jim Wylder. His method casts the
bat on the wheel. No worries about placing the pin
hole because one uses the pins to locate the holes.
Another advantage is that the "holes" are easily
replaced as the pins wear them.
http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-studio-equipment/pottery-
wheels/replaceable-bat-pin-inserts/
We can't understand why no one else has commented on Jim's
system.
~joan and jess
Date sent: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:37:08 -0500
Send reply to: Linda Goodson
From: Linda Goodson
Subject: Re: Plaster Bats - Undate
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
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options ]
Hi Larry,
I made some plaster bats to fit my very old Shimpo.
The bat pins are
kind of large, and they are spaced wider apart than
the newer bats, so
I had to make my own.
This sounds weird, but I found some plastic
flowerpots at Lowes. They
came with a plastic tray that fit onto the bottom of
the pot. Here is
link to a similar pot
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=3DproductDetail&p
roductId=3D36338-77
374-20-59120&lpage=3Dnone
Anyway - I only used the bottom tray. It pops right
off the pot, and
it has four plastic knobs that hold it to the pot.
These knobs are
almost the exact size of my bat pins. I filled the
tray with the
plaster and when I took it out -- I had two
indentions where my bat
pins go. (actually had four indentions under the
plaster piece)
You have to measure carefully to see how far apart
your bat pins are,
and then measure the distance between the knobs in
the pot tray! I
got lucky and found one just the right distance for
my wheel.
Maybe this will work for you too!
Linda Goodson
Lincolnton, NC
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