Pammyam on sun 28 dec 97
I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I am
trying
to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can do
occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another gadget to
clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of the box and
muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old Clayart
posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises learning
to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a grip on whether
or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as well without it.
My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the least, so I don't
want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
So, group, what do you say?
Thanks,
Pam
pammyam@aol.com
Liz Willoughby on mon 29 dec 97
Hello Pam, I've been making pots for 25 years. I never mastered the
"tapping to the centre", just couldn't get the hang of it. Got a Giffin
Grip quite a few years ago and it is one of the best tools in my studio.
The best thing in my books about the grip is being able to check thickness
of the wall and then placing it back on the wheel and centering in a snap.
My advice is to keep it and use it. Liz
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I am
>trying
>to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can do
>occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another gadget to
>clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of the box and
>muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old Clayart
>posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises learning
>to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a grip on whether
>or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as well without it.
>My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the least, so I don't
>want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
>So, group, what do you say?
>Thanks,
>Pam
>pammyam@aol.com
Liz Willoughby
R.R. 1
Grafton, Ontario, Canada
K0K 2G0
e-mail lizwill@phc.igs.net
Unruly JuliE on mon 29 dec 97
I say use it. It cost you nothing. If you have a hard time
centering, and your pot bottoms come out a little crooked, you
will be glad you did.I think it is a wonderful tool that I would
rather not do without.
This is my opinion, and everyone has one.
JuliE in Michigan
Pammyam wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
>
> I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want
> one. I am
> trying
> to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do,
> and can do
> occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just
> another gadget to
> clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of
> the box and
> muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old
> Clayart
> posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises
> learning
> to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a
> grip on whether
> or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as
> well without it.
> My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the
> least, so I don't
> want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
> So, group, what do you say?
> Thanks,
> Pam
> pammyam@aol.com
Roeder on mon 29 dec 97
Pam,
I received a Giffen Grip as a Mother's Day present a few years back. I
love it!
YES, I know how to center without it, but when I do a large number of
pieces, it really is a time saver.
I also use it for banding (YES, I also have a banding wheel) and for a
number of things (like trimming a pitcher that's too heavy after
attaching the handle).
It is One Handy Gadget...one of my favorite studio tools.
I feel that one should learn to center without one...ABSOLUTELY!!
However, it is one of those not-necessary-but-nice things to have in the
studio.
Sure, you can get along without it. But, hey, it's a gift! Use it w/o
guilt!
The purists will disagree, I know. But, you can clean a rug by hauling
it outside, putting it over the clothesline and beating the hell out of
it....OR, you can use a vacuum cleaner ;-)
Candice Roeder
livin in the sticks...in Michigan
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I am
> trying
> to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can do
> occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another gadget to
> clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of the box and
> muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old Clayart
> posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises learning
> to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a grip on whether
> or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as well without it.
> My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the least, so I don't
> want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
> So, group, what do you say?
> Thanks,
> Pam
> pammyam@aol.com
Carol & Wayne Sircoulomb on mon 29 dec 97
Pammyam wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
>
> I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I
> am
> trying
> to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can
> do
> occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another
> gadget to
> clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of the
> box and
> muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old
> Clayart
> posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises learning
> to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a grip on
> whether
> or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as well
> without it.
> My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the least, so I
> don't
> want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
> So, group, what do you say?
> Thanks,
> Pam
> pammyam@aol.com
I am a new potter,ie middle aged person.I like the grip. if it works
use it.Why do we get so hung up on what to use if it works. My full time
job is as a photographer.I dont care what brand of camera I use if my
exposure is correct and i have a photograph that sells. So I feel the
same about tools in any profession if it helps make a good pot use it.
Your friend in dirt
csir
Ron Roy on mon 29 dec 97
Hi Pam.
It is true that centering by hand is more accurate - if you can do it. I
still use that way with a lot of my work. It certainly is worth learning.
On the other hand I make a lot of dinnerware sets and I use my grip
whenever I can. Like any tool you need to make some adaptations to it. For
instance I know that my pots will be a little off centre with the grip.
Pots are usually off center a bit anyway so you need to be able to cope
with that part. Small adjustments in the way you throw and trim will be
necessary.
The main problem is: when you tap to centre you are able to centre the part
to be trimmed. The grip centers the pot at the rim - which is not the part
to be trimmed - usually. You can see why the grip is more useful for those
who can throw pots well centered. It must be a shock when beginners try to
use it.
I recommend the grip - especially for production potters - it does save a
lot of time.
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I am
>trying
>to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can do
>occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another gadget to
>clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of the box and
>muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old Clayart
>posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises learning
>to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a grip on whether
>or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as well without it.
>My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the least, so I don't
>want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
>So, group, what do you say?
>Thanks,
>Pam
>pammyam@aol.com
Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough,Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings, call 416 439 2621
Fax, 416 438 7849
Studio: 416-752-7862.
Email ronroy@astral.magic.ca
Home page http://digitalfire.com/education/people/ronroy.htm
Stephen Mills on tue 30 dec 97
I learned to tap centre when I first started potting, which was fine for
some things. Then when working (holiday job) for a local pottery making
flower pots (they made them, I didn't, I was fetch, carry, & pug clay) I
learnt about chucks both internal and external. In recent years I
aquired a cheap imitation of a Giffin: not bad, damned useful when
trimming a load of Tea Bowls and things of that ilk, but not the answer
to everything. ALL the aforementioned have their place in your armoury,
no one technique is the answer to everything.
Try it out, you'll soon find there are pots where it is the only
solution to turning them successfully.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Pammyam writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I am
>trying
>to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can do
>occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another gadget to
>clutter up my very limited space? I don't want to get it out of the box and
>muck it up in case I decide to return it. I've searched the old Clayart
>posts and there seems to be a small consensus that advises learning
>to tap before resorting to the Grip, but I have not gotten a grip on whether
>or not most who have tried the Grip love it or can do just as well without it.
>My pottery skills are still under construction, to say the least, so I don't
>want to confuse myself or hinder my progress unnecessarily.
>So, group, what do you say?
>Thanks,
>Pam
>pammyam@aol.com
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home tel: (44) (0)1225 311699 e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work tel: (44) (0)1225 337046 e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Roeder on tue 30 dec 97
Ron Roy refers to the giffin grip centering pots at the rim. Yes, you
CAN center at the rim, but it is also possible to use the rods (arms) w/
"foam hands" to grab the pot in the middle, high or low, since the rods
come in an assortment of lengths.
It is also possible to trim uneven pots, but this is one of the
"adjustments" Ron was probably referring to.....Sometimes, when trimming
an altered pot on the grip, I "shim" it to make it level, then twist the
grip to secure it.
It's also a very handy tool for holding a chuck in place when trimming
bottles, etc.
Candice Roeder
Ron Roy wrote:
> The main problem is: when you tap to centre you are able to centre the part
> to be trimmed. The grip centers the pot at the rim - which is not the part
> to be trimmed - usually. You can see why the grip is more useful for those
James Dapogny on mon 5 jan 98
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I was given a Giffin Grip as a gift. I thought I didn't want one. I am
>trying
>to master the skill of tapping to center, which I like to do, and can do
>occasionally. Is the Grip a wonderful tool or is it just another gadget to
>clutter up my very limited space? ...
>So, group, what do you say?
>Thanks,
>Pam
>pammyam@aol.com
Dear Pam,
I'd say that it depends upon how productive you are. If you make a few
pots a couple times a week, then you probably can live without it. If you
are an active, avid potter who loves to throw and gets fidgety when you go
a couple of days without working in clay, then seriously consider it.
While I completely respect someone who prefers to do without it, I have
found the grip to be a vastly helpful, time-saving tool. I find that I am
a better craftsman for having it, because I can check my pot as I'm
tooling, and am less apt to rationalize when I need to go back on the wheel
and correct something.
Recently, in a Cynthia Bringle workshop, she was asked about the grip. She
gave us her wonderfully funny,deadpan look for a moment, and then replied
in her down-to-earth voice: "Now, do I look like I'd be dumb enough to
ignore a good tool!"
--Gail Dapogny in Ann Arbor (jdapogny@umich.edu)
Arthur Lee on sat 10 feb 07
Many thanks to everyone who responded to my questions about buying a rather
ancient Giffin Grip. Judging by the number of people who contacted me
privately, it looks as though I raised some old and sometimes controversial
questions, and as though there are both enthusiasts and detractors and not
very many in between. In the end, I did buy the grip and soon will learn
whether it works for me. Particular thanks to those of you who offered
practical advice and suggestions!
This is an extraordinary group; it's a privilege to be part of it.
Thanks again,
Arthur Lee
Englewood, Florida
arlee3@ewol.com
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