Deb Pratt on fri 31 jul 98
Greetings!
Would anyone care to share their experience with the Versa-Bat system?
(Just for info's sake, it's sold by Great Lakes Clay in Illinois and is
a permanent master bat with interchangeable bat inserts.)
Thanks for the input; this list is a fanastic resource!
Deb
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Christine Pereira on wed 5 aug 98
>Would anyone care to share their experience with the Versa-Bat >system?
Deb:
I have been using the versa-bat system for about a year now and I like it
for small to medium sized shapes (mugs, bowls, etc.) Plates, platters and
large bowls won't work as the bats are just too small. If they are really
dried out, sometimes I'll have to wedge a piece of dry cleaning plastic in
to keep them from slipping around, but most of the time they stay in place
just fine.
<+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+>
Christine Pereira, Systems Admininstrator
Native American Rights Fund, Boulder, Colorado
pereira@narf.org
<+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+>
Cindy on wed 5 aug 98
Deb,
I, or rather, my dad, made my own version of the versa-bat system (before I
saw the ad, so we kind of re-invented the wheel). I wanted small square
bats which could be easily re-centered. I like the way they stack against
each other on my drying shelves. They take up much less space than large
round bats, which I don't need for the myriads of mugs and small
vases/bottles/etc. that I throw. At the time, I sometimes did a bit more
trimming once a pot had set to leather hard, but before removing it from
the bat. That's why I wanted to be able to re-center. Now, I nearly always
do my trimming before removing the pot from the wheel, but that's another
subject.
Anyhow, because of the centering thing, I didn't want to merely stick the
little square bats to the wheel--too hard to re-center. So I came up with
the idea of a frame for them, which we made of masonite (like the bats). I
love the way this system works. I always have enough bats, and I have more
(if not always quite enough) drying space for my pots. If I prefer to leave
a pot attached to the bat (not cut it off) until it dries, I can usually do
this without the bottom cracking. (This works with small-based pots only,
of course.)
I'm not sure if the versa-bat system is polymer or what. I wouldn't like
using non-porous bats. The masonite warps a bit, even though I use double
tempered, but this hasn't proven to be a problem for me. The warping a 4"
square can accomplish is minimal, and I just use them with the bowed side
up. If you don't like the warping, you can use marine grade plywood. If I
had it to do again, I'd treat the "frame" with marine varnish, but it's
working fine, and I don't have time to fool with making another one right
now.
Hope this helps, :)
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
----------
> From: Deb Pratt
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Versa-Bat system
> Date: Friday, July 31, 1998 2:03 PM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Greetings!
> Would anyone care to share their experience with the Versa-Bat system?
> (Just for info's sake, it's sold by Great Lakes Clay in Illinois and is
> a permanent master bat with interchangeable bat inserts.)
> Thanks for the input; this list is a fanastic resource!
> Deb
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Karen A Peters on thu 6 aug 98
Cindy -
In response to your method of using a masonite framework along the same
concept of the versa-bat system...well, it sounds like what I have done.
However, to remedy the center squares (using masonite cutouts) warping I
use bisque tiles. I have simply gone to Home Depot and purchased a case
(48) of unglazed red tile, I've cut out the appropriate square centered
and along one straight edge cut a wedge out in order to insert a straight
wood or metal pry tool.
The unglazed tile is great of drying evenly, can be recentered easily,
cleans extremely well; as well as all of the points you mentioned about
stacking and storing.
I found this much easier to deal with by only having to cut one hole from
the center of a masonite bat as opposed to cutting all those center
square bats.
Oh yeah, the case of tile was only $8 and some change or I figured out
19cents each. If one happens to break it's not a big deal.
Regards
Karen Peters
Overglazed@juno.com
Mill City, Oregon
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Christine Pereira on fri 7 aug 98
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Cindy -
I have simply gone to Home Depot and purchased a case
(48) of unglazed red tile, I've cut out the appropriate square centered
and along one straight edge cut a wedge out in order to insert a straight
wood or metal pry tool.
Regards
Karen Peters
----------------------------End Original message----------------------------
Cindy -
One caution if you try the tile route - some unglazed tile surfaces are
rough on the hands and if you throw alot at one sitting you may end up with
bleeding hands from the abrasion against the tile. The side of the little
finger knuckle will definitely show some wear and tear if the tile surface
is rough. I tried using glazed tile but had problems with clay staying put
during centering and then drying properly without cutting. The bleeding
hands prompted the purchase of the versa bat system which, as I mentioned in
a previous message, has worked wonderfully for me.
<+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+>
Christine Pereira, Systems Admininstrator
Native American Rights Fund, Boulder, Colorado
pereira@narf.org
<+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+>
Kathi LeSueur on mon 10 aug 98
In a message dated 8/6/98 1:40:40 PM, you wrote:
>In response to your method of using a masonite framework along the same
>concept of the versa-bat system...well, it sounds like what I have done.
>However, to remedy the center squares (using masonite cutouts) warping I
>use bisque tiles. I have simply gone to Home Depot and purchased a case
>(48) of unglazed red tile, I've cut out the appropriate square centered
>and along one straight edge cut a wedge out in order to insert a straight
>wood or metal pry tool.
Another variation on this theme is to use a plastic bat with a square cut out.
It doesn't warp or deteriorate like masonite. I like the tile concept. Always
used masonite squares soaked in marine varnish. But the tiles are a better
choice.
Kathi LeSueur
"Originality is failure to remember"
Judith Musicant on tue 11 aug 98
Deb,
Just had a chance to reply to your question re Versa-Bats. I have been
using this for some months now, and really love it. No more need to pluck
or slide pots off larger bats or the wheel head, and risk deforming them.
It's a real space saver. I suppose if you (or a friend) were handy, you
could make it yourself, as it is rather expensive, but I plan to order more
of the 6" and 8" mini-bats that go with the system.
Judy
John & Anne Worner on sun 6 jun 99
Hi,
Do any of you have a Versa-Bat System from Great Lakes Clay Company.
I would welcome any comments about it. Do you like it, does it work
well,
any disadvantages, any problems.
If there are any ingenious people out there, any ideas for making
something
similar yourself?
Anne Worner
Donn Buchfinck on mon 7 jun 99
Anne,
Take a plastic bat and buy a box of 6 inch bisque tiles from your ceramic
supplier
cut a 6 inch square out of the plastic bat
use the bisque tiles in the square
the bisque tile acts like plaster
you will be amazed at how much more work you produce
Donn Buchfinck
San Francisco
you wrote:
Do any of you have a Versa-Bat System from Great Lakes Clay Company.
I would welcome any comments about it. Do you like it, does it work
well,
any disadvantages, any problems.
If there are any ingenious people out there, any ideas for making
something
similar yourself?
Anne Worner
tommy humphries on mon 7 jun 99
Hello Anne-
I have been using the versa-bats for almost three years now and have had
nothing but success with them. The bats fit into the holder snugly, and
don`t loosen up like pinned ones do. Also the material the bats are made of
releases the pot much like plaster does. I suppose that you could obtain
sheets of this material and make your own bats for less money than buying
them from GL.
The only thing that I can think of that anyone might not like about this
system is the way you must pry the bats out of the holder... It is no
problem for me, but some might rather just lift off the bat.
I would recomend this system highly!
Tommy Humphries
----- Original Message -----
From: John & Anne Worner
To:
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 1999 2:16 PM
Subject: Versa-Bat System
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi,
>
> Do any of you have a Versa-Bat System from Great Lakes Clay Company.
> I would welcome any comments about it. Do you like it, does it work
> well,
> any disadvantages, any problems.
> If there are any ingenious people out there, any ideas for making
> something
> similar yourself?
>
> Anne Worner
>
Judith S. Musicant on tue 8 jun 99
Ann,
I have the Versa-Bat System and love it. Saves a lot of shelf space, and I
no longer have to risk deforming pieces in plucking them off the wheelhead
or a larger bat. In that regard, it's especially good for smaller bowls,
where you wouldn't want or need to use a large bat for each bowl, but
plucking them off a large bat or the wheelhead would likely deform the
piece.
Judy
Robert Marshall Simpson on wed 9 jun 99
Ann,
I am using the Jepson plaster bat system and it is great. Had a wonderful
week of learning at Jepson Pottery last fall.
Had no intention of switching to plaster bats and had just ordered a case of
bats before I went to Florida. But---Jepson"s
bats were far superior to the three types of bats I had at home! Please
check them out before going whith the Versas'.
His bats come in 4 sizes---I started out with the smallest @ 7" and added on
from there.
Kayte---in Oklahoma where it's not as hot and dry as it was last year
-----Original Message-----
From: Judith S. Musicant
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Tuesday, June 08, 1999 4:31 PM
Subject: Versa-Bat System
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Ann,
I have the Versa-Bat System and love it. Saves a lot of shelf space, and I
no longer have to risk deforming pieces in plucking them off the wheelhead
or a larger bat. In that regard, it's especially good for smaller bowls,
where you wouldn't want or need to use a large bat for each bowl, but
plucking them off a large bat or the wheelhead would likely deform the
piece.
Judy
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