John Baymore on mon 12 apr 99
------------------
I have had an Estrin kickwheel for about 28 years that seems to me to be
the perfect portable demo kick wheel. I use it all the time for this
purpose. It has stood up to the test of time well. For a while it saw a
lot of hard use. It was my first commercially purchased wheel.... after
the homemade wooden frame kick wheel I built as my first wheel. I still
use it in the studio occasionally since I really like the feel it has. It
is mostly used now in the noborigama firing workshop I run each summer.
It is designed with a frame that allows it to be tipped up onto the edge of
the flywheel and rolled along. That makes using it on the road a breeze.
The flywheel is machined steel, but is a pretty small diameter so overall
the wheel is quite compact. The flywheel is plenty heavy though....probably
90-100 lbs. It has a 12 inch head with bat pins and an adjustable aluminum
splash pan. The frame is square tubular steel. The seat and table come
off via tensioners, making it really small to transport. It has a motor
attachment that uses an AC constant speed motor and the =22hockey puck=22 =
drive
system.
Estrin Manufacturing is out of Vancouver, BC Canada, if I remember
correctly. I have seen ads for them recently in some magazines. Sorry I
don't have an address or phone right here by the computer.
I used a friends York for a number of hours at a demo at the League of NH
Craftsmen's annual summer fair a couple of years ago. I really wanted to
try it....looked like fun. I hate to say it, but It killed my back.....and
I don't typically have back problems=21 The head height relative to the
ground is really awkward. At least for someone of my build (5 feet 9
inches).
If the concrete =22shaft=22 were longer it would be great, but my guess is =
that
if it were longer the cast concrete would be too fragile to ship easily. I
liked the feel of the York.... reminded me of a Japanese kickwheel........
very little momentum...... constant kicking......... good gesture in the
pots made on it.
It worked very well using a bare left foot and using the left foot to
continually pull the wheel toward the potter (instead of kicking away from
the potter)...... similar to techniques used in parts of Japan or Korea. I
did find it pretty good for doing slip inlay decoration on the inside of a
24 inch bowl...... a giant foot adjusted banding wheel. Great control with
the left foot, and the bowl was big enough that the height issue was
lessened a bit except in the very bottom.
So there's my two cents worth.
Best,
........................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752
JBaymore=40Compuserve.com
Tim Skeen on wed 14 apr 99
I have an Estrin kickwheel also. I purchased mine used and it fit into my
Mustang, that's how compact it is. It is the only wheel I use in my studio.
I took the seat off and I use a stool so the height is perfect for me. I
have short arms so I took the front table off and use a small table next to
me for tools and water bucket. I cut the splash pan off because it was hard
for me to raise and lower it. My husband made one out of two plastic buckets
and I use clips to hold the halves together. Now the splash pan is
removable. I guess after all that it is still an Estrin? With all the
changes I made it is easier to move around. I use the motor most of the time
but on my better days I just kick and it sails. I don't get the same
feeling when I work on an electric wheel. When using the motor it can get
loud but I got used to it and it now helps me focus and center. I pit fire
and raku some of my work and using a kickwheel sets the stage for an earthy
and rustic feel to my pots from beginning to the end of my potting process.
I saw Knox at a fair, the people watching her were fascinated with her work
and the way she made pots on her kickwheel. She did a great demo! I think
watching her helped me make up my mind to get one...(Thanks Knox) If you'd
like to see the wheel I have a picture of it on my web site. I think it
would be a great demo wheel!
PS... John, I just got back from a week in NH. It was great going home for
a visit, I was in Nashua... Wilton is a wonderful little town, haven't been
there in years, this visit I only got as far as Milford.
Audrey
mailto:t.askeen@worldnet.att.net
http://home.att.net/~t.askeen
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU]On Behalf
Of John Baymore
Sent: Monday, April 12, 1999 5:13 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Portable demo wheel
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
------------------
I have had an Estrin kickwheel for about 28 years that seems to me to be
the perfect portable demo kick wheel. I use it all the time for this
purpose. It has stood up to the test of time well. For a while it saw a
lot of hard use. It was my first commercially purchased wheel.... after
the homemade wooden frame kick wheel I built as my first wheel. I still
use it in the studio occasionally since I really like the feel it has. It
is mostly used now in the noborigama firing workshop I run each summer.
It is designed with a frame that allows it to be tipped up onto the edge of
the flywheel and rolled along. That makes using it on the road a breeze.
The flywheel is machined steel, but is a pretty small diameter so overall
the wheel is quite compact. The flywheel is plenty heavy though....probably
90-100 lbs. It has a 12 inch head with bat pins and an adjustable aluminum
splash pan. The frame is square tubular steel. The seat and table come
off via tensioners, making it really small to transport. It has a motor
attachment that uses an AC constant speed motor and the "hockey puck" drive
system.
Estrin Manufacturing is out of Vancouver, BC Canada, if I remember
correctly. I have seen ads for them recently in some magazines. Sorry I
don't have an address or phone right here by the computer.
I used a friends York for a number of hours at a demo at the League of NH
Craftsmen's annual summer fair a couple of years ago. I really wanted to
try it....looked like fun. I hate to say it, but It killed my back.....and
I don't typically have back problems! The head height relative to the
ground is really awkward. At least for someone of my build (5 feet 9
inches).
If the concrete "shaft" were longer it would be great, but my guess is that
if it were longer the cast concrete would be too fragile to ship easily. I
liked the feel of the York.... reminded me of a Japanese kickwheel........
very little momentum...... constant kicking......... good gesture in the
pots made on it.
It worked very well using a bare left foot and using the left foot to
continually pull the wheel toward the potter (instead of kicking away from
the potter)...... similar to techniques used in parts of Japan or Korea. I
did find it pretty good for doing slip inlay decoration on the inside of a
24 inch bowl...... a giant foot adjusted banding wheel. Great control with
the left foot, and the bowl was big enough that the height issue was
lessened a bit except in the very bottom.
So there's my two cents worth.
Best,
........................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752
JBaymore@Compuserve.com
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