Chris Schafale on sat 5 dec 98
Calling all Giffin enthusiasts--
Bought myself a new toy (ahem -- tool), which I am told will
transform my arduous hours of painstaking trimming into moments of
pure joy and breathtaking efficiency. My question -- what clever
solutions have others developed for catching the whirling cloud of
trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
neatly into the splash pan? I look forward to your thoughts. Also
would welcome any other creative hints/tips/suggestions for use of
the Giffin Grip, as the instructions are remarkably terse.
Thanks in advance.
Chris
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, NC
candle@nuteknet.com
John Jensen on sun 6 dec 98
I no longer use my giffen grip much but the scrap catcher I made to go with
the giffen grip works with my present trimming arrangment. I used
galvanized sheet metal and self tapping screws to assemble a more or less
circular wall higher than the level at which the scraps fly off. I have a
pacifica wheel and there are a couple of places where the scraps would fall
through so I put in a partial floor to the wall just enough to cover the
holes. This big metal thing gets stored under a table when I'm not using
it. In case this is not clear I'll describe it another way..I cut a
rectangle out of sheet metal as wide as the distance between the table of
the wheel and the height about an inch higher than the assembled and
installed giffen grip, and as long as Pi times the diameter of the the
giffen grip plus about three or four inches (the circumference of a wall
going around the giffen grip with a few inches to spare all around). This
rectangle is bent into a circle and the ends fastened together with self
tapping sheet metal screws (pop rivits would be better and I mean to change
mine soon). This circle can be used as is but many scraps may fall through
in the spaces at the bottom. So a floor can me made in a larger version of
the holes and screwed onto the side using bent tabs of metal.
Works great for me..I leave the standard splash pan off all the time anyway.
John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery, Annapolis, Md
Lee Jaffe on sun 6 dec 98
Two solutions I've seen are
1) garden edging, the plastic kind, fits between the inside of the splash
pan and the Giffin grip, and in certain sizes will stand high enough above
the Giffin grip platform to catch most of the scraps. You can cut it to
length so that affords the most coverage without getting in your way.
Because it wants to be straight it pushes out against the splash pan and
clear of the Giffin grip. And because it is rippled, it stands rigid.
2) I've seen a extra large splash pan made for Giffin grips from large
plastic barrels. You cut the barrel about 10" from the bottom and then
cut a horizontal slot on the wall (to allow the pan to be slid around the
wheel head) connected to a radial slot that goes down the wall (like a
T) and across the bottom (to go around the axle). You can shape the
upper edge of the pan to be lower on one side for easier access when
trimming. Some people drape a towel over the slots to catch scraps
that would otherwise escape.
#2 works really well - you can trim forever before filling up this pan
- but it is not easy to make. #1 is fine for relatively light use and
costs a couple of dollars and takes minutes to make.
-- Lee
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Calling all Giffin enthusiasts--
>
>Bought myself a new toy (ahem -- tool), which I am told will
>transform my arduous hours of painstaking trimming into moments of
>pure joy and breathtaking efficiency. My question -- what clever
>solutions have others developed for catching the whirling cloud of
>trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
>neatly into the splash pan? I look forward to your thoughts. Also
>would welcome any other creative hints/tips/suggestions for use of
>the Giffin Grip, as the instructions are remarkably terse.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@nuteknet.com
Bonnie Staffel on sun 6 dec 98
December 5,1998
Dear Chris,
I also enjoy my Giffin Grip toy. Have you tried Sureform rasp tool, the
small one 2-1/2 x 1 1/2" with a slight curve? Terrific. To get back to
catching the scraps, I found a large box, cut out a square where the
wheel touched the box, cut a large slot for the box to slide under the
wheelhead - voila!!! it catches the scraps except for the small place
where I had to make the opening for the wheel head on the side. I have
a very old CI wheel, one of their first ones, so the configuation is a
flat table with the wheel on one corner. I keep this exclusively for
trimming and decorating. You may have to organize your box in a
different way, but just cut the slot so it slides under the wheel head.
There will be a few scraps in your lap but nothing compared to what you
collect in the back of the box. Get a box at least 10" to 12" tall.
Bonnie Staffel
Brenda Woods on sun 6 dec 98
Hello Chris in N.C.
I use a Griffin grip at the school where I take pottery classes. Some kind
person came up with an ingenious idea to hold the "pieces parts". You know
what I mean the different length legs that hold the feet in place on the
pot. They took a piece of a two-by-four and drilled three holes in line for
each leg to stand in. That helps out alot. Also I realized that you can
have your piece on the griffin and it still may not be centered, so I center
my piece with my finger and pin tool before I tighten the legs and feet to
hold it in place.
You will enjoy footing and many other things with the Griffin. I love the
one that I am able to use.
Have fun!
Brenda....A South Carolina Girl living in Georgia!! :)
----------
>From: Chris Schafale
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Subject: Giffin Grip/Catching Scraps
>Date: Sat, Dec 5, 1998, 10:51 AM
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Calling all Giffin enthusiasts--
>
>Bought myself a new toy (ahem -- tool), which I am told will
>transform my arduous hours of painstaking trimming into moments of
>pure joy and breathtaking efficiency. My question -- what clever
>solutions have others developed for catching the whirling cloud of
>trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
>neatly into the splash pan? I look forward to your thoughts. Also
>would welcome any other creative hints/tips/suggestions for use of
>the Giffin Grip, as the instructions are remarkably terse.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@nuteknet.com
Rick Sherman on sun 6 dec 98
Chris:
Lay down a piece of fabric which fits around the wheel [gotta cut a
hole in it] and is large enough to catch all scraps including those
with long trajectory. After trimming, just slide it out and roll scraps
down to one end and upend into bucket. Use a piece of indoor-outdoor
carpet, a piece of carpet padding as long as it has a surface coating,
or a piece of garden fabric - the kind that used under gravel to keep
plant from growing through. Don't use plastic. It slips and tears too
easily.
A griffin grip is great for holding chucks of any kind for trimming
jugs, pitchers, bottles and such.
Rick Sherman
San Jose, CA USofA
sherman@ricochet.net
-----------------your message-----------
...My question -- what clever solutions have others developed for
catching the whirling cloud of trimming scraps that now flies out from
my wheel instead of falling neatly into the splash pan? I look forward
to your thoughts. Also would welcome any other creative
hints/tips/suggestions for use of the Giffin Grip, as the instructions
are remarkably terse.
Thanks in advance.
Chris
Veena Raghavan on sun 6 dec 98
Chris,
I do my work in a group studio, and several of us are the "proud"
owners of the Grip. I find it can be very useful if one is trimming a lot
of pieces in one sitting, otherwise it is too much trouble to set it up,
dismantel, clean, and pack it up (as I mentioned, I work in a group studio
and have limited space). We have not found a really good solution for
catching the flying trimmings, and this is a great disadvantage. The best
that anyone has come up with is to take a used cardboard box (the type our
clay comes in) break it up to fit around the wheel head to catch the
trimmings. It is a cumbersome way. Maybe we should suggest to Giffin that
they produce some type of guard!? I was thinking that perhaps one could
make some type of folding contraption with sheets of thick plastic and some
type of hinges, so it can be folded flat when not in use. But thinking is
as far as it goes upto the present. If you "invent" a great method, do let
us know.
All the best and enjoy your new "toy".
Veena
Veena Raghavan
75124.2520@compuserve.com
tempy on sun 6 dec 98
Chris--
This is going to sound kinda dumb, but here goes. I cut a piece of vinyl
flooring 9.5 inches high and long enough to go almost all the way around
the pan on my wheel (Pacifica) I leave an opening wide enough for my arms
to go through (about a foot or so.) That catches the majority of it.
However, I found that a lot was flying out the whole where my arms were,
so, I put a towel on my lap with the edge of the towel just over lapping
the edge of the pan. When I'm finished, I just gently shake the shavings
into the pan.
Hope this will work for you---Cheers
--Perfect pottery weather here, we had a foot of new snow yesterday.
tempy larew
Mudhen Pottery
Palmer, Alaska
At 10:51 AM 12/5/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Calling all Giffin enthusiasts--
>
>Bought myself a new toy (ahem -- tool), which I am told will
>transform my arduous hours of painstaking trimming into moments of
>pure joy and breathtaking efficiency. My question -- what clever
>solutions have others developed for catching the whirling cloud of
>trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
>neatly into the splash pan? I look forward to your thoughts. Also
>would welcome any other creative hints/tips/suggestions for use of
>the Giffin Grip, as the instructions are remarkably terse.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@nuteknet.com
>
>
Bill Amsterlaw on mon 7 dec 98
Chris Schafale wrote:
<< What clever solutions have others developed for catching the whirling
cloud of trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
neatly into the splash pan? I look forward to your thoughts. >>
Hi Chris:
Things I have done to deal with trimmings over the past several years:
1. When I first set up my studio, I thought I would let the trimmings fly
where they will and then sweep them up and reclaim the clay. No good! I
started having problems with pop-outs. The clay must have been getting
contaminated with lime either from the concrete floor or from garden dirt
being tracked in on my work boots. (I then decided that any clay that hits
the floor has to be discarded. Since my garden soil is very sandy and could
use a little clay, I usually throw the scraps somewhere in the garden.)
2. I built a wooden enclosure that fits on top of my wheel deck. It is made
with a 1"x1" frame and 1/4" plywood. The sides are about 10" high and the
front and top are open. There is a slot jig-sawed out of the bottom so it
can slide around the axle of the wheelhead. The back hangs over the edge of
the deck; there is a hole cut out of the overhanging part that allows me to
push trimmings out the hole where they can drop into a bucket. The
contraption is fairly light, but kind of bulky. It works great. I can put
the enclosure on the deck when I need it and I take it off when I am done
trimming.
3. I now have less of a problem with flying trimmings than I once did
because of changes in the way I work. I now trim when the clay is as soft as
possible. (I now feel that the ideal time to trim is when the clay is just
stiff enough to hold its shape when handled and is still soft enough to be
deformed.) One benefit of cutting such soft clay is that I can cut
aggressively with a wheel that is spinning pretty slowly. The soft cuttings
have a tendency to cling to the tool, the pot, and the wheel deck instead of
flying all over the room. It is pretty easy to grab the clingy trimmings
off the tool or collecting on or around the pot with your hand and drop them
into the reclaim bucket. If the clay is pretty soft and I don't have a lot
of trimming to do on each piece, I now don't usually bother with the wooden
enclosure described above.
I have read that In the area around Seagrove, many stand-up potters keep
their wheels in a large agricultural tub. All the trimmings are contained in
the tub. I saved the following post from Charlie Riggs from last month:
<<
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 09:13:29 EST
From: Charlies and Linda
Subject: Re: Hand Control - Brent
I've thrown in the "upright position" for several years. It's a trick that
I learned from Tom Gray in Seagrove. You don't have to do anything other
than place the pedal on something beside you and use your hand.
An excellent way to accomplish this is to put your wheel in a 100 gallon
Rubbermaid water tub. These are available from your local farm supply
stores for around $80. Just place the tub on 4 cinder blocks (long ways up)
and then place the wheel into the tub sideways facing to the right. Place a
board across the top right corner of the tub for the foot pedal and away you
go. There is a drain plug that when removed is just the ticket for the
electric cord to exit. If the wheel is still a little low (I'm 5'10") add a
red brick inside the tub under each of the wheels legs.
The above contraption is VERY stable and for those that recycle it is great
as all the timings go into the tub and not on the floor. Just don't let
smokers throw in their butts or allow the cat think it's the litter
box......
>>
Vicki Katz on mon 7 dec 98
Dear Chris,
Sweep the trim off the floor at the end of the day. I have used my grip with
my Pacifica at home & Brent at school - just sweep up the trim.
A nice advantage to having a grip is when you need a chuck - you only are
required to secure one vessel - your bottle - with wedges of clay. I have not
been too successful in trimming lids on the grip ( knob on top ) & that is a
disappointment. It is far from perfect, but nice when you have a great deal
of trimming to do.
Enjoy your toys.
Vicki Katz
Katz Creek Pottery
Sugar Land, TX
Bruce Girrell on mon 7 dec 98
Chris,
Trimmings:
We have our wheel sitting inside a children's[1] swimming pool - one of
those plastic things about a foot deep and 6 ft in dia that costs about ten
bucks at your local Wal-Mart/KMart/Target store.
Giffin grip:
Recently, I added a series of rings, spaced every half inch from the center
of the Giffin grip. They are especially helpful when you are using the
extension posts and you need to be sure that the pot is centered on the
grip. Even when not using the extensions, the rings help ensure the best
centering - somehow the rims of our pots aren't always perfectly round. When
the jaws of the chuck close on the edge of the pot, the reference rings
easily show if you have achieved a good center.
Bruce and Lynne Girrell in Michigan, where Fall just isn't giving up.
[1] Actually, the swimming pool is first used for our chocolate lab, Sara,
who loves to cool off in the water when she gets hot. After the pool
develops a leak, it gets recycled as a slop/trimmings catcher for the wheel.
Betty Morgavan on mon 7 dec 98
For catching scraps when trimming, whether with a Giffin Grip or directly
on the wheel head, I use a very large, thin plastic flower pot. I cut the
bottom out of the plastic pot and then cut the sides of the pot down to a
comfortable level. Since my Pacifica wheel has two side humps in the
splash pan I cut out two spots on the pot to fit around these humps. I set
the bottomless pot inside the splash pan. When in use the plastic pot
stays securely inside the splash pan and is removed easily when not needed.
Betty Morgavan, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Dan / Joanne Taylor on tue 8 dec 98
I used to use a cardboard box with one side removed, and the bottom trimmed to
enable me to slide it under the splash pan. But, when it wore out I resorted to
what has been the most simple tool for me for cleaning up trimming scraps...the
broom. ;-)
Dan Taylor
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Carolyn DiPasquale on tue 8 dec 98
I use the Giffin Grip with a Shimpo Wheel and have devised a system that
works wonderfully well....all trimmings land in the splash pan. Used
several layers of the heaviest pellon I could find (used as an interfacing
in sewing) and made a long strip about 10 inches wide and long enough to go
around the outside of the pan with some overlap. I then wrap it taughtly
around the pan. Placing it about 4 or 5 inches in height above the pan is
all that is necessary to deflect the trims into the pan. It is then secured
with one of the black, fold-back, heavy-duty paper clips, and perhaps one
more on each side. The clip catches the pellon and clips onto the edge of
the rim of the splash pan. It folds when not in use and is washable, if
need be.
In the past someone posted of a similar system using 1 inch foam, glueing
into a continuous circle and pulling this down over the outside of the pan,
adding height to the pan with the foam deflecting the trims.
Hope this helps...don't want to be sweeping trims off the floor.
Carolyn
Cheryl L Litman on tue 8 dec 98
I cut a large rectangle of cardboard and set it behind the splash plan
and wrap around to the front leaving just an opening for me in the front.
I have a 2 piece splash pan so I bring the ends back into the pan as
they come to the front. Minimal amounts get through. Portable and folds
flat so I can tuck it away easily.
Cheryl Litman
Somerset, NJ
email: cheryllitman@juno.com
On Sun, 6 Dec 1998 22:13:11 EST John Jensen writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>
>I no longer use my giffen grip much but the scrap catcher I made to go
>with
>the giffen grip works with my present trimming arrangment. I used
>galvanized sheet metal and self tapping screws to assemble a more or
>less
>circular wall higher than the level at which the scraps fly off. I
>have a
>pacifica wheel and there are a couple of places where the scraps would
>fall
>through so I put in a partial floor to the wall just enough to cover
>the
>holes. This big metal thing gets stored under a table when I'm not
>using
>it. In case this is not clear I'll describe it another way..I cut a
>rectangle out of sheet metal as wide as the distance between the table
>of
>the wheel and the height about an inch higher than the assembled and
>installed giffen grip, and as long as Pi times the diameter of the the
>giffen grip plus about three or four inches (the circumference of a
>wall
>going around the giffen grip with a few inches to spare all around).
>This
>rectangle is bent into a circle and the ends fastened together with
>self
>tapping sheet metal screws (pop rivits would be better and I mean to
>change
>mine soon). This circle can be used as is but many scraps may fall
>through
>in the spaces at the bottom. So a floor can me made in a larger
>version of
>the holes and screwed onto the side using bent tabs of metal.
>
>Works great for me..I leave the standard splash pan off all the time
>anyway.
>
>John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery, Annapolis, Md
>
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Andi Runt on tue 8 dec 98
Hi, Chris
I made a scrap-catcher for my Grip out of an old shower curtain, (
polyester-not plastic ) a good material cause the scraps slide off it
easily. I cut a small hole in the center the size of the wheel-head shaft,
then cut a 14" slit from that hole and put in a zipper. Corners/edges get
tacked to the wall/shelf and one corner is suspended from the ceiling with
string and a clothespin. Makes a parachute-like contraption; looks wierd
but is very convienent-I put my reclaim bucket under one edge and just let
down the corner that's suspended to funnel the scraps into the bucket.
The whole thing can be removed easily via the zipper & can be thrown in the
wash between clay colors. It also eliminates the need to lift heavy
buckets of scrap or reclaim-the plaster drying boards are right next to the
scrap buckets (the best scenerio for this potter with a bad back). Hope
this helps; if you need more/clearer description, you can email me.
Andi in State College, PA where it's finally beginning to look a little
more like Christmas-grey and 40's-still no snow though.
Andi Runt
Impressions in Pottery
State College, PA
jpri@email. psu.edu
amy parker on wed 9 dec 98
My question -- what clever
>solutions have others developed for catching the whirling cloud of
>trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
>neatly into the splash pan?
Chris -
I use a large piece or cardboard that was pre-folded at both sides, and
have put some tape across the top to keep it in the folded position. I place
this behind the wheelhead on the wheel table, and it does a pretty good job
of knocking the trimmings down onto the table.
________________
/ / wheel / here
If you don't have this kind of cardboard already, look for a display board
for school science fairs, etc. They are larger, and could be cut down.
Sometimes I try to hit a certain spot on the board with the trimmings
stream...but I always was easily amused!
amy parker Lithonia, GA
amyp@sd-software.com
Caryl W. on thu 10 dec 98
I've been using a Giffin Grip for a couple of years, and also had the
problem of scraps flying everywhere.I made myself an extra large,extra
high splash pan like contraption.It's not beautiful, but it works.It's
made out of coreplast(from some old for-sale signs I had no further use
for), but any bendable,sturdy material would work.I used duct tape to
assemble the pieces(love that stuff)...it's actually two sections that
pivot front to back ,and I use a clothes pin to keep the front
together.It's about 14" high in the back,and curves down towards the
front (for access to the pot)to about 6".I find most of the scraps land
at the sides and back.Its supported on the wheel,under the wheel head(I
have a Shimpo Silver)I can do a fair amount of trimming before it's
full, and often I'll finish and just lift the thing off and let the
scraps go bone dry before I put them into an old clay bag to recycle
later.I've always thought there was a need for something like
this,commercially produced, but I've never seen anything, so necessity
is the mother of invention.
Caryl
>Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 10:51:01 EST
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>From: Chris Schafale
>Subject: Giffin Grip/Catching Scraps
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>
>----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
>Calling all Giffin enthusiasts--
>
>Bought myself a new toy (ahem -- tool), which I am told will
>transform my arduous hours of painstaking trimming into moments of
>pure joy and breathtaking efficiency. My question -- what clever
>solutions have others developed for catching the whirling cloud of
>trimming scraps that now flies out from my wheel instead of falling
>neatly into the splash pan? I look forward to your thoughts. Also
>would welcome any other creative hints/tips/suggestions for use of
>the Giffin Grip, as the instructions are remarkably terse.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, NC
>candle@nuteknet.com
>
>
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