Geoff Walker on sun 17 jan 99
Kathi et al,
Beats me why anyone with a pug mill ever needs to wedge. Even balling
clay seems a complete waste of time to me. Why can't clay be used
directly from the mill? Cut the pug into desired lengths, throw it down
sideways on the wheel head and throw.
I know there are some who insist that wedging is essential, but if you
buy the clay that suits what you aim to do with it, then pug-to-wheel is
fine. If this doesn't work, then find a more appropriate clay.
My three cents worth ... the Aussie dollar is only worth 60 odd US cents
.... LOL!
Geoff.
http://www.cronulla-pot.com.au/
Vince Pitelka on mon 18 jan 99
>Beats me why anyone with a pug mill ever needs to wedge. Even balling
>clay seems a complete waste of time to me. Why can't clay be used
>directly from the mill? Cut the pug into desired lengths, throw it down
>sideways on the wheel head and throw.
>I know there are some who insist that wedging is essential, but if you
>buy the clay that suits what you aim to do with it, then pug-to-wheel is
>fine. If this doesn't work, then find a more appropriate clay.
I have to agree with Geoff. When I was doing production pots in Northern
California in the late 70s and early 80s I'm sure glad I didn't know all
this stuff. I took the deaired clay straight from my pugmill, cut it into
disks, and slapped the disks flat onto the wheelhead. I do tend to
wheel-wedge thoroughly - always did, always will. Never had any problems
with s-cracks, bubbles, irregularities etc.
For those who have strong wrists trained to physical strain, and like the
rythm and ritual, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wedging. For those
who take up clay with little previous history of physical exertion of the
arms, wedging is a sure route to debilitating muscle and joint problems.
Simple as that. When one considers the alternatives, de-airing pugmills are
cheap.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
John K. Dellow on mon 18 jan 99
Hay mate of course i have an answer for you. When the extruded pugs ( due
the weight) are longer than wide, the bouncing around when centring is what
causes the strain on the wrists. That's why I roll up the clay up into a
bullet shape before throwing . Of course I come from the land of point.
Throw the pointy down , & the lump is nearly centred before the hand touch
it.
Over to you God :) .
Geoff Walker wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Kathi et al,
>
> Beats me why anyone with a pug mill ever needs to wedge. Even balling
> clay seems a complete waste of time to me. Why can't clay be used
> directly from the mill? Cut the pug into desired lengths, throw it down
> sideways on the wheel head and throw.
>
> I know there are some who insist that wedging is essential, but if you
> buy the clay that suits what you aim to do with it, then pug-to-wheel is
> fine. If this doesn't work, then find a more appropriate clay.
>
> My three cents worth ... the Aussie dollar is only worth 60 odd US cents
> ... LOL!
>
> Geoff.
> http://www.cronulla-pot.com.au/
--
John Dellow "the flower pot man"
ICQ : #2193986 {jacka}
E-mail : dellow@usa.net
25 Hugh Guinea Ct, Worongary Q 4213
Ph:+61-7-55302875 Fax:+61-7-55253585
Home Page : http://welcome.to/jkdellow
David Hendley on tue 19 jan 99
At 08:10 PM 1/17/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Beats me why anyone with a pug mill ever needs to wedge. Even balling
>clay seems a complete waste of time to me. Why can't clay be used
>directly from the mill? Cut the pug into desired lengths, throw it down
>sideways on the wheel head and throw.
How about a 6 pound pot, and you have a 3" diameter
pug mill? Do you start with a 3" by 5" length of clay and
try to center it? Sounds like a lot more work than doing
a little kneading and balling.
How about a 12 pound pot? Start with a 3" by 10" pug?
I'd like to see that.
Shall I continue? A 25 pound pot?
Even for a small piece, I would rather spend 2 seconds
making it into a ball instead of trying to center a wildly
out-of-round pug of clay.
Am I missing something?
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
John K. Dellow on tue 19 jan 99
Vince , if your pug is so good why do you have to rewedge on the wheel ? . I
have seen californian throwers here, just cutting a bag in half or quarters to
make planters . They put this lump on the wheel & centre, with hand ,arms &
shoulders going all over the place. This really is not good for the body.
I wonder if the complaints in this discussion re. neck & shoulder pane are
caused by this type of bad throwing practice ? .
Pottery is a physical pursuit and I feel that excursus is something you as a
teacher should encourage.
If a talented athlete did not do additional excursus as well as training ,
that athlete is likely to be injured while participating in that sport .
I was remiss in bring up the amounts of clay I wedge , this was irrelevant to
the discussion. The lady to whom my original response was addressed to , asked
about buying a pug. I felt that it was an unnecessary expense at the outset of
her new venture. Most potters on this list would never make enough pots in a day
to justify the expense of a pug. In my friend Geoff's pottery it is a necessity
, but I still roll up lumps over 3 lbs. to save my wrists & shoulders from
unnecessary wear & tear.
Lili Kranowski has a valid point re the build of men & women but that does not
excuse either sex from keeping muscles well toned .
--
John Dellow "the flower pot man"
ICQ : #2193986 {jacka}
E-mail : dellow@usa.net
25 Hugh Guinea Ct, Worongary Q 4213
Ph:+61-7-55302875 Fax:+61-7-55253585
Home Page : http://welcome.to/jkdellow
Vince Pitelka on thu 21 jan 99
>Vince , if your pug is so good why do you have to rewedge on the wheel ? . I
>have seen californian throwers here, just cutting a bag in half or quarters to
>make planters . They put this lump on the wheel & centre, with hand ,arms &
>shoulders going all over the place. This really is not good for the body.
> Lili Kranowski has a valid point re the build of men & women but that
does not
>excuse either sex from keeping muscles well toned .
John -
You make a very good point about physical conditioning. Wheelwork is unlike
any other form of exercise, and too many people embark on serious clay
ventures with little or no appropriate physical conditioning. That's when
RMS and Carpal Tunnel can really get you, regardless of the physical
differences between men and women.
My pugmill produces effectively de-aired clay. I still find that the clay
is more responsive in throwing if I wheel-wedge up and down a few times
before penetrating and lifting the pot. It hardly takes any time at all. I
have certainly never suffered a bit for it, and the movements involved are
smooth and gentle. I have no idea what you are talking about when you refer
to the "Californian throwers here . . . . with hand ,arms & shoulders going
all over the place."
In general the pugmill is one of the most practical and cost-effective
pieces of studio equipment available. For several thousand dollars you can
eliminate wedging, and easily reprosses all your recycle. That pays for
itself pretty quick. It is a great investment for any potter, amature or
professional. And for any serious clay artisan who does not have the
appropriate long-term advance conditioning of arms and hands, the pugmill is
not an option, it's a necessity.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Louis Katz on sat 23 jan 99
In Thai Potteries the first process to get motorized is claymixing. Wheels come
much latter. Then Gas kilns. Pyrometers normally are put into every gas kiln.
Cones are expensive there.
There are probably some exceptions to this progression, but I can't recall any.
Louis
>
>
> In general the pugmill is one of the most practical and cost-effective
> pieces of studio equipment available.
--
Louis Katz
lkatz@falcon.tamucc.edu
NCECA Director At Large
Texas A&M-CC Division of Visual and Performing Arts Webmaster (512) 994-5987
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