Donn Buchfinck on sat 11 sep 99
Hey I wanted to say that there is a place to purchase one of these wheels for
around 1700 dollars, that is a considerable savings on the doug gates model
that runs almost another thousand.
I looked into building one of these wheels myself, and the work that goes
into manufacturing just one is daunting.
they have some fancy milling that needs to be done, plus the metal work is
complex.
go to http://www.wavesofgrain.com/LeachWheel/LeachWheel.htm and they have
a picture of it,
when I was in Minneapolis a few weeks ago I stopped by this place and looked
at one of the wheels and they looked great, made from the original plans ,
Mark said that it has about a 8 week turnaround to get yours.
The difference between Douges and Marks is that Dougs has a whole lot more
mill work going into it.
He does it all himself and does all the copper work , Where as the wood
parts for Marks wheel are milled on a fantastic milling machine and the box
is coated with a waterproof coating and it does not have that wonderful mill
work or copper on the box. Ask about the seat. You can get one like the
original or a different kind, Mark will even make one that is padded if you
want.
Another difference I saw was how the kick bar was connected to the wheel, In
the original the kick bar moves back and forth, what this means is that in
the Mark version you foot moves the kick bar back and forth and the foot
slides over the board ever so slightly. With the Doug Gates model the board
has a slight arc it goes through. Your foot stays on the board, I think it
makes for a more pleasurable kick. But is it worth the extra thousand???
But what might make up for it is in Marks version there is a clamp that
slides up on the bar that the kick assembly is attached to, this supports the
leather that is wrapped around the bar, and mark has come up with an
adjuster for the leather strap, so when it streches you can tighten it.
On the Doug Gates model the leather housing has the tendency to hang down
creating a little drag but I am told there is a teflon sleeve that is around
the bar.
I have seen both of these wheels, and I do want a leach wheel at some
point, Both wheels have their strong points, and If you purchase one of them
you will own it for life.
I find the price for the Doug Gates Model excessive, and I do know that he is
a master craftsman and an artist, So when you purchase one of his wheels it
is an investment. One that will last a lifetime. But there is a question
about the copper lasting.
With Marks wheel, I find the price draws me to the wheel, The lining will
outlast the copper, and the wheel is true to the design of the original.
This is the wheel I am going to purchase as soon as I get the money.
Donn Buchfinck
San Francisco
Vince Pitelka on sun 12 sep 99
>With Marks wheel, I find the price draws me to the wheel, The lining will
>outlast the copper, and the wheel is true to the design of the original.
>This is the wheel I am going to purchase as soon as I get the money.
Donn -
Thanks for a really comprehensive comparison of these two Leach wheels.
Great information. Many of us dream of owning one of these wheels some day.
It is important to point out, however, that the copper on the Doug Gates
wheels will last forever. Copper, in a non-acidic environment, will develop
a layer of surface discoloration (shallow corrosion), and then will not
change much at all for centuries.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Don Goodrich on mon 13 sep 99
A non-clayarter recently built a Leach style wheel from plans in The
Self-Reliant Potter and notes on Lyla Kaplan's website. He has mentioned to
me that he'd be willing to advise anyone about building one. He says the
Polglase price of $1700 is realistic, all things considered. If anyone wishes
to consult about the technical aspects, Ted can be contacted at
ted2255@aol.com
He might even consent to build one as a spare time job.
Don Goodrich
Lyla Kaplan on tue 14 sep 99
the one my brother built cost us about US$300 for parts (we used treated
pine and had access to a well-supplied wood shop, so didn't have to buy any
fancy tools). good idea: 50 lb used bar bell weight for flywheel. it is
cheap, ideal weight, already level, and has a one inch diameter hole in it!
also, if you're building it yourself, you can choose a comfortable
placement of wheel head (lenght and height).
lyla
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>A non-clayarter recently built a Leach style wheel from plans in The
>Self-Reliant Potter and notes on Lyla Kaplan's website. He has mentioned to
>me that he'd be willing to advise anyone about building one. He says the
>Polglase price of $1700 is realistic, all things considered. If anyone wishes
>to consult about the technical aspects, Ted can be contacted at
>ted2255@aol.com
>He might even consent to build one as a spare time job.
>
>
>Don Goodrich
>
>
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