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stools & thoughts

updated tue 5 jul 11

 

logan johnson on sat 2 jul 11


I like a seat with a back that gives a little so I can =3D

Hey There Mel,=3D0A=3D0AI like a seat with a back that gives a little so I =
can =3D
sit back rest my muscles & look at what I've just thrown. =3DA0=3DA0 I real=
ly l=3D
ove my broken down - I'm the only one who can sit in it safely=3DA0 secreta=
ri=3D
es chair.=3DA0=3DA0 My chair probably wouldn't be broken if it was on a spr=
ing =3D
that was so strong you wouldn't bounce on it but could bend forward , sidew=
=3D
ays & back just a bit =3DA0 to the right throwing & resting position.=3DA0 =
Pers=3D
onally I like a chair on wheels & am used to it so I would put it on a base=
=3D
that rolls but that a personal thing each potter would have to decide on f=
=3D
or him/her self.=3DA0=3DA0 If you don't like a back on your potters stool h=
ave =3D
you tried one of those cool metal "vintage"=3DA0 tractor seats ?=3DA0 A lit=
tle =3D
padding on one would keep your "seat" warm in the winter & comfy all year '=
=3D
round. I "padded"=3DA0 a wooden stool with one of those foam garden kneelin=
g =3D
pads & it turned an uncomfortable stool into a great throwing seat for my Y=
=3D
ork kick wheel.=3DA0=3DA0 The
foam pads cut easily with a kitchen knife & come in a comfy size.=3DA0 =3D=
0A=3D
=3D0A=3DA0I'm really looking forward to hearing what you come up with as a =
fina=3D
l design !=3D0AHugs !=3D0ALogan=3D0A=3D0A=3D0ALogan Johnson =3D0AYakima Val=
ley Pottery =3D
& Supply719 W Nob Hill Blvd. Ste C=3D0AYakima, WA 98902=3D0A509.469.6966=3D=
0A=3DA0w=3D
ww.audeostudios.com=3D0A"Carpe Argillam!!"=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3D=
A0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0=3D
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0

Robert Anderson on sat 2 jul 11


Hey! Mel. Those four stools you made sure sparkedsome deep thoughts. I l=
=3D
ove it...keep'em coming. Bob =3D

Raymond Jimison on sun 3 jul 11


I like a seat with a back too.=3DA0 A few years ago I=3DA0 bought a high-ba=
ck=3D
=3DA0adjustable stool from a guitar store.=3DA0 I thought this would be goo=
d to=3D
use when throwing taller pieces.=3DA0 Unfortuneately, this stool has two p=
ro=3D
blems. #1 because it is tall, it is hard on the lower back when centering.=
=3D
=3DA0 #2 It does not have wheels, so when I push back to evaluate, I then h=
av=3D
e to pull the stool back up to the wheel to continue rather than just roll =
=3D
up.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AJust my personal issue.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0ASandra =3D0Ajimison=
pottery@yahoo.=3D
com=3D0A=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AFrom: logan johnson =3D0ATo:=
Clayart@L=3D
SV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0ASent: Sunday, July 3, 2011 1:13 AM=3D0ASubject: Re: Sto=
ols =3D
& Thoughts=3D0A=3D0AI like a seat with a back that gives a little so I can =
=3D0AH=3D
ey There Mel,=3D0A=3D0AI like a seat with a back that gives a little so I c=
an s=3D
it back rest my muscles & look at what I've just thrown. =3DA0=3DA0 I reall=
y lo=3D
ve my broken down - I'm the only one who can sit in it safely=3DA0 secretar=
ie=3D
s chair.=3DA0=3DA0 My chair probably wouldn't be broken if it was on a spri=
ng t=3D
hat was so strong you wouldn't bounce on it but could bend forward , sidewa=
=3D
ys & back just a bit =3DA0 to the right throwing & resting position.=3DA0 P=
erso=3D
nally I like a chair on wheels & am used to it so I would put it on a base =
=3D
that rolls but that a personal thing each potter would have to decide on fo=
=3D
r him/her self.=3DA0=3DA0 If you don't like a back on your potters stool ha=
ve y=3D
ou tried one of those cool metal "vintage"=3DA0 tractor seats ?=3DA0 A litt=
le p=3D
adding on one would keep your "seat" warm in the winter & comfy all year 'r=
=3D
ound. I "padded"=3DA0 a wooden stool with one of those foam garden kneeling=
p=3D
ads & it turned an uncomfortable stool into a great throwing seat for my Yo=
=3D
rk kick wheel.=3DA0=3DA0 The=3D0Afoam pads cut easily with a kitchen knife =
& come=3D
in a comfy size.=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0A=3DA0I'm really looking forward to hearing=
what yo=3D
u come up with as a final design !=3D0AHugs !=3D0ALogan=3D0A=3D0A=3D0ALogan=
Johnson =3D
=3D0AYakima Valley Pottery & Supply719 W Nob Hill Blvd. Ste C=3D0AYakima, W=
A 98=3D
902=3D0A509.469.6966=3D0A=3DA0www.audeostudios.com=3D0A"Carpe Argillam!!"=
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3D
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3D=
A0 =3DA0

Lee on sun 3 jul 11


My favorite is a throwing platform. Like this one in my studio:

http://bit.ly/lvkTVL
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue

Bonnie Staffel on mon 4 jul 11


I use an old stool from a school's chemistry lab. Very uncomfortable but =
=3D
I
padded it. Still I sit on the forward edge. I also use a very large =3D
framed
mirror in front of me so that I don't have to lean back to see the whole
pot. Puts a whole new dimension on the progress as one is pulling up,
shaping, etc. My mirror is about 18" wide and 3 ft. tall. Of course it =3D
could
be smaller if one makes small pots =3D20

=3D20

Regards, Bonnie

=3D20

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

Ric Swenson on tue 5 jul 11


Bonnie,



I try to always try to use the advantages I can make for my self...being ab=
ove, not even or lower than the clay and wheel head...save that back!


use legs muscles to center, rather than arms...elbows or hands....brace!



I also use a large mirror in front of my wheel...

but...not for vanity, but I hate bending forward and to the right to see th=
e shape......or standing up and back from the form....as I form it. Saves =
my neck from a long day of throwing..


you are actually further from the form,,,,distance to the mirror ..doubled

we learned the value of a 3 legged milking stool in Schaller, Iowa when I w=
as 5.... down on the farm...but now I use a padded seat. I have gone soft.

hehe


Regards,



Ric



http:blog.sina.com.cn/ricswenson


"...then fiery expedition be my wing, ..."

-Wm. Shakespeare, RICHARD III, Act IV Scene III



Richard H. ("Ric") Swenson, Teacher,
Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Jingdezhen Ceramic Inst=
itute,
TaoYang Road, Eastern Suburb, Jingdezhen City.
JiangXi Province, P.R. of China.
Postal code 333001.


Mobile/cellular phone : 86 13767818872


< RicSwenson0823@hotmail.com>

http://www.jci.jx.cn






From: bstaffel@chartermi.net
To: ricswenson0823@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Stools & Thoughts
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 15:38:57 -0400






Ric, I agree with you. This former chemistry stool was adjustable for heigh=
t, but somehow it got stuck at the right measurement to put me just above t=
he wheel head including the one inch clay cookie on which I place my bat. I=
also teach those who come to my classes complaining of backaches. Just put=
a little lift on the height of the stool and a slight tip forward to put i=
t just above the wheel, Voila!! Backache gone in most cases. I also never s=
it in a seat that tips backwards, putting stress on the spine and hips. I a=
lso push down from the front and pull from the back to center the clay, arm=
s can become stable at this position rather than the 3 =A8C 9 o'clock posit=
ion. Been doing this for about the 50 of my 60 years on the wheel. I never =
studied Physics (may not be the right study) but I apply its laws after bec=
oming the lone potter in the studio. No muscle people around to help me mov=
e those 50# boxes of clay any more. One has to adapt to the ravages of age =
when working as a potter.

I always make a beehive shape when centering so that the uneven clay has a =
point at the top in which to disappear. I cringe when I see so many things =
going on in YouTube demos that make the job more difficult. Common sense ga=
ve me my throwing with coils and slabs method, so simple and easy. I can st=
ill throw large items without much muscle such as platters, tall pots, etc,=
without having to center large balls of clay any more. So many cling to wh=
at they learned in the beginning, without exploring or studying other metho=
ds. Cardew's book of pottery is so full of these hints. I remember my early=
days when my first book was by Leach. What he was teaching did not have mu=
ch meaning to me at the time, but after progressing in tuning my own skills=
, found that almost every sentence in the book was a teaching situation.

I often wish that I had my father's old stool he used in dentistry. It had =
a pivot situation so that he could lean at any angle to reach the job in th=
e patient's mouth. He had the most interesting antique equipment as he was =
the last apprenticed dentist to receive a diploma from the state of Ohio. H=
e inherited his mentor's equipment as well. He passed away in the 50s and t=
he equipment was dispersed to who knows where now. I remember how he used t=
o mix the fillings with mercury in a rubber tube and I would often play wit=
h the mercury myself as a child. Who knew?

Regards,

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


-----Original Message-----
From: Ric Swenson [mailto:ricswenson0823@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2011 11:10 AM
To: bstaffel@chartermi.net
Subject: RE: Stools & Thoughts


just above the wheel head...for comfort... apply the physical ergononic =
need...is a matter of source and angle........apply force down with no forc=
e forward...just down...

a three leg stool... of the right height is all that you need...

a picnic chair is a joke...your arms are not strong enough....never




hehe


ric



---------

http:blog.sina.com.cn/ricswenson


"...then fiery expedition be my wing, ..."

-Wm. Shakespeare, RICHARD III, Act IV Scene III



Richard H. ("Ric") Swenson, Teacher,
Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Jingdezhen Ceramic Inst=
itute,
TaoYang Road, Eastern Suburb, Jingdezhen City.
JiangXi Province, P.R. of China.
Postal code 333001.


Mobile/cellular phone : 86 13767818872


< RicSwenson0823@hotmail.com>

http://www.jci.jx.cn




> Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 08:58:52 -0400
> From: bstaffel@CHARTERMI.NET
> Subject: Re: Stools & Thoughts
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>
> I use an old stool from a school's chemistry lab. Very uncomfortable but =
I
> padded it. Still I sit on the forward edge. I also use a very large frame=
d
> mirror in front of me so that I don't have to lean back to see the whole
> pot. Puts a whole new dimension on the progress as one is pulling up,
> shaping, etc. My mirror is about 18" wide and 3 ft. tall. Of course it co=
uld
> be smaller if one makes small pots
>
>
>
> Regards, 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
>
>
>
>