RoseHawke on fri 3 sep 99
> > We have a kiln and have been working with tiles and hand-made items (pinch
> > pots, etc.). I've never thrown anything and would like to try. I'm not ready
> > to invest several hundred dollars in a commercial wheel, and I've been unabl
> > find any courses (adult ed, etc.) available within a reasonable distance at
> > affordable price. Does anybody have any ideas or plans for
> > building a wheel from scratch? Sure would appreciate some help.
> >
> > Dee
Speak of the devil :^). After moaning about the absurdly (to me, I
realize it's a piece of equipment with a limited distribution) high cost
of electric wheels, I've finally taken the "plunge" and begun
constructing on my own wheel. I could've (should've) done this years
ago, but was put off by not having an easy source for the hardware. Like
where the devil to get a piece of round bar stock, and flanges, and
bearings to fit same without having to have all of this stuff made? I
can do many things, but welding is not in my repertoire.
Amazing how things come together each in its own time. My husband's
family are perennial pack rats, with a back area of their property that
serves as storage for things that are "too good to throw away" or "might
be useful someday." Rather like potters . On a recent trip the
husband pulled out an old boat trailer rear which he intended to use on
a non-functional trailer which *we* have sitting out in the yard (must
be genetic.) Wasn't quite right for that. However... There was this
nice, lovely, long bar of round metal going from fender to fender.
Hmmmmm. Measuring revealed it to be an odd size. 1 3/8" . Darn, I can
find 1" bearings. Then the Northern "big" catalog came. And they have
... 1 3/8" pillow block bearings! Yessss! It's meant to be! Along with a
1" two bolt bearing for the bottom, where that nice spindle that held
the tire comes out. Cutting the axle down to size revealed that it was
hollow (not unexpected, wasn't heavy enough for its size) with a 1"
core. How to fasten a wheelhead? The husband had also been hoarding a
couple of metal "brackets" meant to mount seats on a fishing boat. The
piece meant to go in the boat looks like a flange and had a reducing
bushing which when removed (another story) left a nice 1" pipe. So, I've
got two pieces of pipe with a 1" ID. Hmmmm. The dumbbells which I don't
use are (were ) mounted on 1" pieces of steel. Whack off about 6" of
that, pound it halfway into the end of the up-to-this-time axle, mount
the flange on top of that (theoretical up this point, I haven't actually
done this part yet) and the wheelhead itself (which will be laminated
well-varnished wood) and voila'! *There's* my hardware!
This is all meant by the way, for a continental wheel. I've spent the
last day or so building the frame; many pieces of wood I had on hand,
but did have to buy a few pieces. Also fasteners which was the single
most expensive bit, as I had none on hand that were long enough to go
through 4x4's (the base.) The flywheel will be about 35" in diameter,
and probably about 3.5-4" thick. It should take about two sacks of 80#
quikcrete to fill, which will give it a weight of about 150-160 lbs. Now
if my bearings would only get here. I will definitely have less than
$100 in it by the time I'm through, probably closer to $75.00 and that
includes the $30.00 spent on the bearings. If nothing else, I'm having
fun building it, whether it turns out to be truly functional or not, and
utilizing my second love, which is putting pieces of wood together.
--
Sl`inte,
Cindy in Alabama where in spite of the continued heat, is beginning to
feel like early fall.
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Cindy T. Riley (RoseHawke)
hawke@rosehawke.com
http://www.rosehawke.com
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