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potters stool

updated fri 21 jan 05

 

ekohler on sat 20 nov 99

...the usual disclaimers...
I have been checking out Ikea. They have a number of stools, some on
casters and at least three which are not. One is RINGO (they have fanciful
names, don't they?)--all wood with a screw-type up and down adjustment. I
sat on the floor model in the store and it collapsed under me. Apparantly
the threads erode after a while. Another is MAT---all metal with a
button-in-the hole adjustment. The third is VITAMIN (!)---adjustable--can't
tell from the catalog how or what it's made of--seems to have a padded seat
which tilts when you lean forward. If you have an IKEA store nearby, these
might be worth looking into (my store is out of stock on the latter two).
They range in price from around $20 to $50.
Another possibility mught be an old-fashioned round piano stool. They
usually have a metal screw-type adjustment; the casters could be removed. I
found one in a local junk shop--very beat-up, but they wanted too much for
it and wouldn't budge on the price. Garage sales might be a good bet.
Eleanor K.
Centerport, NY

Randy O'Brien on wed 19 jan 05


Hi Ilene,
I've had one of these for a couple years now. Although it took a couple
weeks to get used to the change, I love it. The first thing I did was to
take the back off though. The narrow seat with no back makes it easy to get
on and off the wheel. It's very stable, and very comfortable.

Randy
Tucson, AZ
http://www.dakotacom.net/~rdobrien


Original message:
Is anyone using the funny looking potters stool from Creative Industries
that is blue and white and looks like a motorcycle seat?????? Its called
the.." ST1 Professional Potter's Stool ".

ilene richardson on wed 19 jan 05


Is anyone using the funny looking potters stool from Creative Industries =
that is blue and white and looks like a motorcycle seat?????? Its =
called the.." ST1 Professional Potter's Stool ".

It looks interesting and states that it angles to help with circulation =
so you are not sitting flat like in a regular chair.

Just wondering and looking at stools.

Snow in Maryland, finally,
Ilene

Maurice Weitman on wed 19 jan 05


Hi, Ilene,

At 7:20 PM -0500 on 1/19/05, ilene richardson wrote:
>Is anyone using the funny looking potters stool from Creative
>Industries that is blue and white and looks like a motorcycle
>seat?????? Its called the.." ST1 Professional Potter's Stool ".
>
>It looks interesting and states that it angles to help with
>circulation so you are not sitting flat like in a regular chair.

These decisions are quite personal, Ilene, but here's a data point for you.

Our school bought a number of them three or four years ago. They
were pretty pricey, as I recall.

The other stools, also Creative Industries, are model ST3. They're
plain round black kinda cushy, with a gas cylinder height adjustment
(just like daddy's office chair), and no back, and cost about half as
much.

Every class session there's a slow motion musical chairs kind of
process to claim a wheel and stool.

Guess which are the last to be picked? Yup... the ST1s.

I've used them both and can say that the ST3's cushion is soft enough
so that circulation isn't a problem, and that it is much more
comfortable (for me) than the ST3 which I found to be disconcertingly
narrow. Your anatomy and mileage may vary.

They're certainly not terrible but you owe it to yourself to try others, too.

Creative also makes a firmer stool which I believe is called the
Student model, and is cheaper still. It has a small (very) lower
back support, which a potter friend swears by (not at), and she
spends a lot of time in it.

I mostly throw standing up, so don't own any.

My advice is to get return privileges with whatever you buy and spend
some time with it.

Regards,
Maurice, just about completely recovered from carpal tunnel and
trigger finger surgeries, trying to get shoulders and elbows
strengthened so I'll be in something like no or little pain for the
first time in a while,back in sunny (for a change) Fairfax,
California, having sadly missed the Mendocino conference due to a
mandatory (well...) family (38 of us!) cruise through the south
Caribbean. I've skillfully avoided reading any of the glowing
reports of those in attendance, but I'm booked for NCECA to make up
for it.

Chris Schafale on thu 20 jan 05


This is not what you asked, but wanted to share that my favorite potter's
stool is a plastic "tub bench" sold for folks who have difficulty standing
to bathe or shower. It's wide and comfy for those of us with ahem,
"stable" rear ends, and it has adjustable legs so you can make it just the
right height and tilt the whole thing forward a few degrees to relieve
strain on your back. Strap on a cushion of some kind and you're good to
go. Sold at drugstores and medical supply places, and often available at
yard sales.

Chris

At 12:44 AM 01/20/2005, you wrote:
>Hi Ilene,
>I've had one of these for a couple years now. Although it took a couple
>weeks to get used to the change, I love it. The first thing I did was to
>take the back off though. The narrow seat with no back makes it easy to get
>on and off the wheel. It's very stable, and very comfortable.
>
>Randy
>Tucson, AZ
>http://www.dakotacom.net/~rdobrien
>
>
>Original message:
>Is anyone using the funny looking potters stool from Creative Industries
>that is blue and white and looks like a motorcycle seat?????? Its called
>the.." ST1 Professional Potter's Stool ".
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.

Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
www.lightonecandle.com
Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com

Jennifer Boyer on thu 20 jan 05


I did the same thing w/ mine: took off the back rest. I never think
about being uncomfortable at my wheel. SO I guess it works!
Jennifer 5'2 123 lbs Your mileage may vary

On Jan 20, 2005, at 12:44 AM, Randy O'Brien wrote:

> Hi Ilene,
> I've had one of these for a couple years now. Although it took a
> couple
> weeks to get used to the change, I love it. The first thing I did was
> to
> take the back off though. The narrow seat with no back makes it easy
> to get
> on and off the wheel. It's very stable, and very comfortable.
>
> Randy
> Tucson, AZ
> http://www.dakotacom.net/~rdobrien
>
>
> Original message:
> Is anyone using the funny looking potters stool from Creative
> Industries
> that is blue and white and looks like a motorcycle seat?????? Its
> called
> the.." ST1 Professional Potter's Stool ".
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT

http://thistlehillpottery.com

Maurice Weitman on thu 20 jan 05


Right, George... sorry about that. I guess my recovery still isn't complete.

I meant to say that the less-expensive, round ST-3 is more comfy than the ST-1.

Regards,
Maurice, wondering whether we should be called huperson beings, and
whether a female should be called a woperson or maybe perdaughter.


At 10:00 AM -0600 on 1/20/05, Koch, George wrote:
>In your clayart note you said:
>
>>>I've used them both and can say that the ST3's cushion is soft enough
>so that circulation isn't a problem, and that it is much more
>comfortable (for me) than the ST3 which I found to be disconcertingly
>narrow. Your anatomy and mileage may vary.<<
>
>My guess is that one of those ST3's was supposed to be ST1. Can you tell
>me which is which? Thanks.

Kathi LeSueur on thu 20 jan 05


I've always used secretary chairs at my wheel. I just purchased my most
recent one at Office Depot. Just $20.00 for a fake leather chair that
can be adjusted with a lever. I could take the back off but I find that
if I'm doing lots of throwing, being able to lean back in the chair from
time to time eases the strain. The padding on the chair is very good
which helps with leg pain and I can scoot around the studio in it when I
need a tool.

There are a number of places that I get things used for my studio and
I'm sure that people who live near a large city or university will have
the same sources.

Universities have places they usually call "property disposition". This
is where they sell used equipment. My first good chair for my wheel came
from there. Five bucks. I have steel case desks that I pack on. Ten
bucks. I have hospital bedside tables that I use to hold tools at
various work stations in the studio, they can be rolled anywhere. I have
nurse's work station cabinents on wheels that provide storage.

I have rolling racks from an auction at a supermarket. They were just
10" wide, but I cut the center supports and riveted aluminum angle so
that they would be 18" inches. I have glaze bins that hold about 40
gallons of glaze. They are galvanized steel with fiberglass liners. They
held cake batter. Supermarket auctions are great.

At our recycling center I get plastic peanuts and bubble wrap. I also
got a really sturdy work table 4 x 8 that came from Borders Books
distribution center. It was $15. They had lots of them so I called
Carolyn Palmer and she took about 5 for her studio. The plywood top
would have cost that much.

There are all kinds of sources for studio furniture and equipment. It
just takes a little creativity to adapt it to your use. And that's alot
cheaper than the prices for similar equipment in clay catalogs.

Kathi

Kate Johnson on thu 20 jan 05


> Maurice, wondering whether we should be called huperson beings, and
> whether a female should be called a woperson or maybe perdaughter.
>
AUUUUUUGH! I'm already cringing at "womyn." Ya know, I LIKE guys. I'm a
tomboy, not a tomwoman, er, tomwomyn.

Maybe I'm just too old to change. Men, women, all that's just fine with me
as long as we're communicating clearly...

I'd just call myself a potter, but I don't have my own kiln...

Best--
Jate