mel jacobson on thu 23 feb 12
all i know for sure is:
it is very complex.
there are many steps to get the plate.
the machine is thousands of dollars.
and, if you don't know what you are doing
you will go crazy.
seems easy at first look, but is very complex.
and, no...you can't just hire the neighbor
kid to make pots on a jigger.
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart page below:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Ric Swenson on thu 23 feb 12
Mel,
Right you are.
Jiggering does cost a lot for the equipment.... and the learning curve is a=
bout a year or so. There is a lot of jigger/jolley work done for tableware=
s here in China.
....it certain makes things quickly and they do fire flat...no warping like=
RAM pressed plates. Dry (powder) or spray pressed wares have replace some =
of these antiquated methods.
At Bennington Potters we bought some old British machines..... and it took =
about a year...with two pretty talented and experienced people to get the s=
ystem working 100%. You need not only the jigger...but LOTS of molds and a=
conveyor drier too.
not a project for the weak of heart.
Regards,
my 2 cents
Ric
----------------------------------------
Ric Swenson, B.F.A, M.F.A.
Ceramist, Artist and Teacher.
Jing De Zhen Ceramic Institute
Jing De Zhen City,
Jiang Xi Province
China
Mobile: 86-13767818872
> Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:32:59 -0600
> From: melpots2@VISI.COM
> Subject: jigger machines
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>
> all i know for sure is:
>
> it is very complex.
> there are many steps to get the plate.
> the machine is thousands of dollars.
> and, if you don't know what you are doing
> you will go crazy.
> seems easy at first look, but is very complex.
>
> and, no...you can't just hire the neighbor
> kid to make pots on a jigger.
>
> http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart page below:
> http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Des & Jan Howard on thu 23 feb 12
Mel
A horse riding accident scrubbed Jan's ability to lean
over a wheel (sitting or standing). As I was planning
on spending some time away from the workshop at uni I
built a double jigger. This way she could stand upright
& make ware for me to work with on my weekends home.
The system worked well for years. Eventually the
shoulder work from draw down, especially large pots,
caused problems. I installed pneumatic rams operated by
thumb buttons to minimise the effort. Our ram press can
make pots faster than the jigger, but because of the
arc the arm travels through the jigger can do
undercuts. Getting workers, apart from Jan & myself, to
make things just the way I want is definitely not easy.
Des
On 23/02/2012 10:32 PM, mel jacobson wrote:
> it is very complex.
> there are many steps to get the plate.
> the machine is thousands of dollars.
> and, if you don't know what you are doing
> you will go crazy.
> seems easy at first look, but is very complex.
>
> and, no...you can't just hire the neighbor
> kid to make pots on a jigger.
--
Des & Jan Howard
Lue Pottery
Lue NSW
Australia
2850
02 6373 6419
www.luepottery.hwy.com.au
-32.656072 149.840624
plasterjfl@AOL.COM on thu 23 feb 12
I run into this all the time with molds and slip casting.
People think, "I'll have a mold made and that will make it easier." only to
find slip casting has its own complications.
My most complex mold, to date, was a ten piece mold of a fish form. I told
the customer it would be impossible to use such a mold but he was adamant
that I mold it as is.
Only after getting the mold, and casting a few pieces, did he realize his
mistake. By then he was so deep in a hole that he had to walk away from the
project.
take care
Jeff Longtin
Minneapolis
_www.jefflongtin.etsy.com_ (http://www.jefflongtin.etsy.com)
Lis Allison on thu 23 feb 12
On February 23, 2012, mel jacobson wrote:
> it is very complex.
> there are many steps to get the plate.
> the machine is thousands of dollars.
> and, if you don't know what you are doing
> you will go crazy.
> seems easy at first look, but is very complex.
>
> and, no...you can't just hire the neighbor
> kid to make pots on a jigger.
Actually, a small system like the old Ratcliffe isn't that complex. I make
slabs, put them on the spinning mold, bring the arm down, cut the edge,
remove the mold and do the next one. I can make 12 plates in an hour. Once
they are leather-hard they pop off and all they need is a wipe around the
rim.
You're right, though, it does take some skill.
Jiggering is harder than jolleying, and I don't like the result. So I
throw bowls.
Lis
--
Elisabeth Allison
Pine Ridge Studio
website: www.pine-ridge.ca
Pottery blog: www.studio-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com
Garden blog: www.garden-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com
Lis Allison on thu 23 feb 12
On February 23, 2012, Ric Swenson wrote:
> .... You need not only the jigger...but LOTS
> of molds and a conveyor drier too.
>
Why would you need a conveyor drier? A large production shop would, but
not a studio. I just let my plates dry normally and they don't warp or
crack.
Axner used to offer a jolley arm that you could attach to a wheel. You
might look into that. The mechanism is basically simple enough, the real
challenge is building something that is rock-steady. Any wobble or play in
the arm and you're re-cycling clay.
Lis
--
Elisabeth Allison
Pine Ridge Studio
website: www.pine-ridge.ca
Pottery blog: www.studio-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com
Garden blog: www.garden-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com
Lee on thu 23 feb 12
Craig Edwards has a jigger machine and molds from Mashiko he bought
from Jasper Bond.
I've been wanting to make some dishes on it. It is really efficient
for making nice light plates.
I wish Craig lived closer!
--
=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
Ben Morrison on thu 23 feb 12
I've heard that the axner jollying arm for the wheel is worthless. The whee=
=3D
l head flexes and the axner arm=3DA0flexes=3DA0and will not provide for uni=
form=3D
product. The people I've heard talk about it say it's easier to just throw=
=3D
them than use the axner arm.=3D0A=3D0A-Ben=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A_________________=
__________=3D
_____=3D0A From: Lis Allison =3D0ATo: Clayart@LSV.CERAMI=
CS.O=3D
RG =3D0ASent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 5:19 AM=3D0ASubject: Re: jigger m=
achi=3D
nes=3D0A =3D0AOn February 23, 2012, Ric Swenson wrote:=3D0A> ....=3DA0 You =
need not=3D
only the jigger...but LOTS=3D0A> of molds and a conveyor drier too.=3D0A>=
=3D0AWh=3D
y would you need a conveyor drier? A large production shop would, but=3D0An=
ot=3D
a studio. I just let my plates dry normally and they don't warp or=3D0Acra=
ck=3D
.=3D0A=3D0AAxner used to offer a jolley arm that you could attach to a whee=
l. Y=3D
ou=3D0Amight look into that. The mechanism is basically simple enough, the =
re=3D
al=3D0Achallenge is building something that is rock-steady. Any wobble or p=
la=3D
y in=3D0Athe arm and you're re-cycling clay.=3D0A=3D0ALis=3D0A--=3D0AElisab=
eth Alliso=3D
n=3D0APine Ridge Studio=3D0Awebsite: www.pine-ridge.ca=3D0APottery blog: ww=
w.stud=3D
io-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com=3D0AGarden blog: www.garden-on-the-ridge.blogs=
po=3D
t.com
Ben Morrison on thu 23 feb 12
Part of my reasoning behind doing platters plates and bowls on the jigger m=
=3D
achine is because the plates=3DC2=3DA0especially=3DC2=3DA0are the hardest o=
n my han=3D
ds. In my first life before I injured my hip, I was a steel grinder and I k=
=3D
now my fingers are only going to last so long after doing that. Even when m=
=3D
y fingers don't work like they used to I'll still be able to jigger plates.=
=3D
I once saw a guy who had hand problems worked out his jiggering arm on a f=
=3D
oot actuator with air assisted=3DC2=3DA0hydraulics.=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A-Ben=
=3D0A=3D0A______=3D
__________________________=3D0A From: Lee =3D0ATo: =
Clay=3D
art@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG =3D0ASent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 7:51 AM=3D0ASub=
ject=3D
: Re: jigger machines=3D0A =3D0ACraig Edwards has a jigger machine and mold=
s fr=3D
om Mashiko he bought=3D0Afrom Jasper Bond.=3D0A=3D0AI've been wanting to ma=
ke som=3D
e dishes on it.=3DC2=3DA0 It is really efficient=3D0Afor making nice light=
plate=3D
s.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0 I wish Craig lived closer!=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A--=3D0=
A=3DC2=3DA0Lee Love in=3D
Minneapolis=3D0Ahttp://mingeisota.blogspot.com/=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0"Ta tIr=
na n-=3DC3=3D
=3DB3g ar chul an tI=3DE2=3D80=3D94tIr dlainn trina ch=3DC3=3DA9ile"=3DE2=
=3D80=3D94that is, "=3D
The=3D0Aland of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent=
=3D0A=3D
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
Jim Brown on fri 24 feb 12
As one that has used jigger machines for many, many hours I would make th=
=3D
e=3D20
following statesments.
Grandpa had two Patterson jigger machines - one for the larger items and =
=3D
one=3D20
for the smaller ones. (Don't know if they are still in business now but t=
=3D
hey=3D20
made a lot of equipment used by potties and brick yards in the past.)=3D20=
=3D20=3D
=3D20=3D20
We had - literally - dozens and dozens of molds for the full line of Fren=
=3D
ch style=3D20
cooking ware that was made. It would take me about 6 hours to run the fu=
=3D
ll=3D20
line. (For many years, Cambell's soups used these casseroles in their ads=
=3D
- but=3D20
few of you will be old enough to remember them. :)
The lids and all of the rounded bottom items were run on the jiggers - th=
=3D
e flat=3D20
bottomed ones were turned and the non-round items were cast.
The first thing to know is the the clay must me much, much softer than wh=
=3D
at=3D20
a studio potter would normally use. Even the clay we used to turn with w=
=3D
as=3D20
much softer that what you would use today - it had to be to take the=3D20
pressure needed to turn as fast as we did - and the jigger clay was softe=
=3D
r=3D20
than that used for turning.
As for a learning curve, once set up, I could teach anyone to use the mac=
=3D
hine=3D20
in an hour, tops. It ain't rocket science - and virtually no skill is ne=
=3D
eded.
These were heavy duty machines - not like much of the equipment sold to=3D2=
0=3D
studio potters today.
Our biggest problem was getting the molds dry during the winter due to th=
=3D
e=3D20
damp weather in western North Carolina.
Setting up to jigger is not easy or cheap - to make it economical a lot o=
=3D
f=3D20
molds would be needed and mold making is a art in and of itself and to pa=
=3D
y to=3D20
have them made would be very expensive.
Good luck if you decide to try jiggering. - jb
Clyde Tullis on fri 24 feb 12
Ben,
The jigger was the perfect solution for my production. This should work f=
=3D
or you=3D20
too, though I do agree that it takes some getting use to. It took me an a=
=3D
fternoon=3D20
to build the tool. A couple weeks of trial and error to adapt the mold ma=
=3D
king=3D20
system and start to make molds and about 20 pieces to figure out the tech=
=3D
nique=3D20
and the SOFT CLAY thing. I had a couple mentors.
suggestions:
-"The Potter's Alternative" Harry Davis.
-get a copy of the movie Radcliff provides for mold making instruction.
-Georgia Pacific makes a plaster formulated particularly for Jiggering - =
=3D
use it.
-SOFT clay. sticky soft. ~28% water of absorption.
Ben, I also replied to your original thread with some additional info and=
=3D
I can=3D20
help you with this if needed.
Clyde Tullis
http://www.clydetullis.com
Craig Rhodes on fri 24 feb 12
Ben,
I've been successfully using the Axner jigger system for years. As menti=
=3D
oned=3D20
elsewhere here, there is a learning curve which is true of anything worth=
=3D
while.
I make large 19" bowls with it as seen here.
http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Mandalas.html
Plates as seen here.
http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Plates.html
http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/New_Plates.html
http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Garlic_Plates.ht=
=3D
ml
I went with jiggering as a concession to arthritis as well as the need to=
=3D
=3D20
consistently make large identical bowls for mandalas.
If you have any questions either ask here or contact me through email via=
=3D
my=3D20
website.
Craig Rhodes
www.craigrhodes.us
Johanna San Inocencio on sat 25 feb 12
I just looked at your mandalas=3D20
and I have a few questions.
what cone are these fired to? is the surface design underglazes?
I like your sense of design, they are beautiful.
Johanna
On Feb 24, 2012, at 8:55 AM, Craig Rhodes wrote:
> Ben,
>=3D20
> I've been successfully using the Axner jigger system for years. As =3D
mentioned=3D20
> elsewhere here, there is a learning curve which is true of anything =3D
worthwhile.
>=3D20
> I make large 19" bowls with it as seen here.
> http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Mandalas.html
>=3D20
> Plates as seen here.
> http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Plates.html
> =3D
http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/New_Plates.html
> =3D
http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Garlic_Plates.htm=
=3D
l
>=3D20
> I went with jiggering as a concession to arthritis as well as the need =
=3D
to=3D20
> consistently make large identical bowls for mandalas.
>=3D20
> If you have any questions either ask here or contact me through email =3D
via my=3D20
> website.
>=3D20
> Craig Rhodes
> www.craigrhodes.us
Craig Rhodes on sun 26 feb 12
They are glazed with a gun metal black and then fired to cone 6 oxidation=
=3D
.=3D20=3D20
The surface designs are an overglaze on the gun metal black. The bowls a=
=3D
re=3D20
then refired to cone 05.
Thanks for the compliment.
Craig
www.craigrhodes.us
On Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:30:14 -0600, Johanna San Inocencio=3D20
wrote:
>I just looked at your mandalas=3D20
>and I have a few questions.
> what cone are these fired to? is the surface design underglazes?
> I like your sense of design, they are beautiful.
>Johanna
>
>On Feb 24, 2012, at 8:55 AM, Craig Rhodes wrote:
>
>> Ben,
>>=3D20
>> I've been successfully using the Axner jigger system for years. As=3D20=
=3D
mentioned=3D20
>> elsewhere here, there is a learning curve which is true of anything=3D20=
=3D
worthwhile.
>>=3D20
>> I make large 19" bowls with it as seen here.
>> http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Mandalas.html=
=3D
>>=3D20
>> Plates as seen here.
>> http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-_Craig_Rhodes/Plates.html
>> http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-
_Craig_Rhodes/New_Plates.html
>> http://craigrhodes.us/Mt._Pleasant_Studio_-
_Craig_Rhodes/Garlic_Plates.html
>>=3D20
>> I went with jiggering as a concession to arthritis as well as the need=
=3D
to=3D20
>> consistently make large identical bowls for mandalas.
>>=3D20
>> If you have any questions either ask here or contact me through email =
=3D
via=3D20
my=3D20
>> website.
>>=3D20
>> Craig Rhodes
>> www.craigrhodes.us
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