Sylvia See on mon 15 jun 98
Hi all, here is a report on the new Jepson Pro Station wheel I just =
purchased. I
have had a few questions directed me about it and a few concerns so thought =
I
would tell the list what I think about it.
Concern =231 wood table top.
For heavens sake if you are thinking of getting this wheel make sure to get =
the
wings design. I blew it there. Got the standard and am now looking for =
someone
to cut the leg cutouts in it for me. Otherwise I am too far away from my =
work as
my legs butt up against the tabletop. This however was MY mistake in =
ordering.
They asked me if I wanted the regular or wings top, and my brain went out to
lunch. I immediately thought, I had been throwing on a regular wheel for 12 =
yrs,
so I didn't need the wings. WRONG=21=21=21. the front of the regular =
tabletop is flush
across. I'm now trying to correct it.
However, the woodtabletop is covered with a very hard varnish and is 11/2 =
inch
thick, so very heavy and strong. As for keeping it clean or worrying about =
it
weathering, I have been using it for a month now and it isn't even dirty. =
The
waterbucket, tool setup, keeps the tabletop clean.
Concern =232 cost. The wheel itself costs, Canadian dollars about the same =
as I
paid for my Pacifica or Shimpo, after the darn dollar conversion. However, I
bought all the bells and whistles and ordered an extra pan for trimmings, =
and
both sizes of water buckets. So=21=21=21 Yes=21=21=21 It cost me alot more =
than a standard
wheel.
Concern =233 will I still be throwing on it 30 years from now=21=21=21=21 =
Answer, God I
hope so. That would make me 90 and in great shape, so if the wheel can do
that=21=21=21=21 WOW.
Now, how do I like the wheel. I started on a second-hand, very old, Estrin
kickwheel with motor. Changed to electric because it was easier to move, =
take
back and forth to our small guild, and of course more control. Never managed=
to
find one though that would throw like the Estrin. It had a true wheelhead, =
and
none of the electrics worked as well for me. Went through the footpedal
problems, loose wheelheads, wheelheads still turning after supposedly =
stopping,
etc. Actually have the most expensive banding wheel in Canada I am sure as I
finally gutted the Canada Tec wheel with table, to keep from spending any =
more
money on it trying to keep it running. Sold a new Shimpo after a month, and =
went
back to Pacifica. Now why would I want the pro station. It had a few =
features
that were really important to ME. I was throwing with the Jepson bat system,=
and
the bats were above my splashpan and throwing mud all over the room. The
wheelhead on my new Pacifica was working loose again, and I hated the screw
system to tighten it. Just keeps wearing loose. I am tired of spending 8 hrs
alone in the garage every day, so wanted to throw in the house, and do the =
rest
in the garage, especially in the winter. I found I was loosing enthusiasm =
having
to work totally alone all day.
Do I like the Pro Station??? You bet I do. It does everything I thought =
it
would and more. I was really nervous as it took a long time to get it, but I=
am
so happy with it. The wheelheads just pop off and on, no screws. The bucket =
is
really deep, so no splashing all over the room. I now throw in the computer
room. The waterbuckets, I got both the large and the small. one for water, =
one
for scraps. The tooltray, I really thought was a so so item, and probably be=
in
the way, is a godsend. No more groping behind the splash pan for tools. In =
fact
the tabletop stays clean. The wheelhead chucks work great and the bats pop =
in
and out as well as throwing as true as the wheelhead. The wheelhead is large=
and
I found an interesting bit of trivia with my plasti bats on the new =
wheelhead. I
went to the plaster bats because my plasti bats waved and warped on my =
pacifica
wheelhead, even though they fit tight. I put them on the Jepson wheelhead =
and
they lay flat. I'm now wondering about the wheelhead on the pacifica, which =
is
only about a year old. I kept it for throwing in the patio and carting to =
the
guild for courses as we are short of wheels. Amazing difference with the =
bats
between the wheels. I thought it was poor bats. Maybe poor wheelheads on the
pacifica.
Cleaning is a breeze. Everything pops off and easily washed. However the =
best
part of the wheel is the wheelhead run true like the Estrin kickwheel. There=
is
such a difference, it is the first thing I noticed about the wheel. The
footpedal is very sensitive and works like a charm.
The only complaint I have, I expressed to Stephen, and that is it is =
ridiculous,
to spend this much money on a wheel that features the wheelhead chucks and
plaster bats, and not be able to buy molds to make my own bats for this =
wheel.
Hopefully, he will solve this problem right up, in the meantime, I'm going =
to
see if I can get molds for the 2 larger size bats from Randalls.
So there you have it. What I think of my new wheel. It is showing a
difference in my work between both wheels, and that surprised me. Am I =
excited
about it??? You bet=21=21=21
Sylvia See Claresholm, Alberta sylviac=40telusplanet.net
Hoping the day will finally come when the Canadian dollar gets close to par =
with
the American dollar. Sigh=21=21
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