June Perry on thu 17 jun 99
Dear Vicky:
Tell him to get the kids to go to a Good Will or Salvation army store and
pick up a 50 cent stainless steel knife from a place setting. They can
sharpen it on a grinder to a point, or dull the tip. I've had one for years
and it works great. It stays sharp and fits my hand just right and is rust
proof.
Warm regards,
June
Vicki Katz on thu 17 jun 99
My ceramics professor asked me to place this inquiry on CLAYART :
The complaint is that Kempner tools - specifically, the fettling knife, trim
tool & needle tool in the starter kit are rusting - so much so that first
time students are complaining about the lack of quality in their brand new
tools. The discussion went so far as to point out that the fettling knife
was not as strong as the Kempner knife was at one time.
Does anyone know another brand he can to students & stock in the bookstore?
It seems everyone is disappointed in the declining quality of Kempner tools.
Thanking you in advance,
Vicki Katz
Jim Brooks on fri 18 jun 99
Vicki.. why not just use a paring knife from the kitchen...in stainless
steel.. I have and it works fine.. ALso, if you dry the tools off after
washing them.. you wont have as much of a rust problem..
a needle in a cork will work as a needle tool.. or even a small knitting
needle..and most of these are aluminum..so they dont rust.. You can find
substitues for most of our common tools........
Mike Obrien on fri 18 jun 99
I'm glad to see others reporting the problem. I have used Kemper pallet
knives for the last 15 years. About 3 years ago the quality went right out
the window. They used to make a great offset pallet knife. I was told by
Laguna Clay that they were now having them made in China. I haven't bought
one since. I haven't noticed a rusting problem.
I too, would be interested in another company that makes quality knives.
Mike
Dwiggins, Sandra (NCI) on fri 18 jun 99
Strongly agree about the Fettling knife. It's been a problem for a long time.
You must clean it off completely and dry it if you want it to last.
Sandy
-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Katz [SMTP:VandRKatz@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 1999 5:00 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Poor quality Kempner Tools
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
My ceramics professor asked me to place this inquiry on CLAYART :
The complaint is that Kempner tools - specifically, the fettling knife, trim
tool & needle tool in the starter kit are rusting - so much so that first
time students are complaining about the lack of quality in their brand new
tools. The discussion went so far as to point out that the fettling knife
was not as strong as the Kempner knife was at one time.
Does anyone know another brand he can to students & stock in the bookstore?
It seems everyone is disappointed in the declining quality of Kempner tools.
Thanking you in advance,
Vicki Katz
Jim Bozeman on sat 19 jun 99
Everyone might be interested to know that Peter Callas (who fires Peter
Voulko's ceramic work) also makes trimming tools and metal ribs. They are of
the very highest quality. I wish I had his address handy to post?!? Jim
Bozeman
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NakedClay@aol.com on sat 19 jun 99
Hi Vicky, and other tool-conscious readers:
I, too, have used fettling knives, which rusted after one or two uses. I
don't know the brand names of these tools, which I still possess, and use
regularly. I "dry-scrub" the blade of the knife with steel wool, before using
it, and take care not to use it when working with whiteware or porcelan
clays.
An alternative might be to buy an old stainless-steel dinner knife at a
thrift store, or at a flea market. Stainless steel is rust-free. Most
dinnerware is made from this material. Or find a high-quality rigid plastic
knife (don't use the flimsy "fast food restaurant" variety).
As far as the needle tool goes, one can buy a stainless steel ice pick, or a
knitting needle, to substitute for the high-priced tool your students buy.
The ice pick can be found at the thrift store; the knitting needle can be
found at a crafts store, or as in my case, from my great aunt's craft box
(bequeathed to me some time ago).
I hope this helps you.
Milton NakedClay
102 degrees, F, in the Mojave Desert at this moment.
Pamala Browne on tue 22 jun 99
I have noticed the difference in the fettling knives also and now check them
before I buy them to make sure I'm getting the right one. But I have also
used stainless kitchen knives when I can't find the fettling and they just
don't work as well ! My clay sticks to them and I can't get a clean cut
well not as clean as I want it ) So, for me ,even the flimsy fettling
knife is better than the kitchen knife. Just an observation .
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 1999 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: Poor quality Kempner Tools
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi Vicky, and other tool-conscious readers:
>
> I, too, have used fettling knives, which rusted after one or two uses. I
> don't know the brand names of these tools, which I still possess, and use
> regularly. I "dry-scrub" the blade of the knife with steel wool, before
using
> it, and take care not to use it when working with whiteware or porcelan
> clays.
>
> An alternative might be to buy an old stainless-steel dinner knife at a
> thrift store, or at a flea market. Stainless steel is rust-free. Most
> dinnerware is made from this material. Or find a high-quality rigid
plastic
> knife (don't use the flimsy "fast food restaurant" variety).
>
> As far as the needle tool goes, one can buy a stainless steel ice pick, or
a
> knitting needle, to substitute for the high-priced tool your students buy.
> The ice pick can be found at the thrift store; the knitting needle can be
> found at a crafts store, or as in my case, from my great aunt's craft box
> (bequeathed to me some time ago).
>
> I hope this helps you.
>
> Milton NakedClay
>
> 102 degrees, F, in the Mojave Desert at this moment.
>
Mason Batchelder on sun 27 jun 99
According to Andrew Martin the best fettling knife is the one Kolher gave the
residents and he wishes to be their distributor.
Margaret Arial
Mason Batchelder on sun 27 jun 99
According to Andrew Martin the best fettling knife is the one Kolher gave the
residents and he wishes to be their distributor.
Margaret Arial
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