Brad Sondahl on tue 9 may 00
Do potters in most of the world weigh their balls of clay for throwing
on digital scales? I know using an English (pounds) scale determines
the size of everything I make, as it's easier to measure to whole or
half pounds. Actually for smaller pots, I usually measure twice the
weight I need and cut the ball in half using the wallmounted diagonal
wire, getting two balls shaped for the wheel from one weighing.
Anyway the scaling would affect the likely weights used. I expect many
American potters use 1 lb per mug as a standard--would metric potters
likely use 400g or 500g. Actually I use 3/4 lb, so would be likely to
choose 400 g. if I were metric.
Which raises the question of how accurately you control the size of your
clay balls. An experienced thrower uses the clay to the same amount per
weight, unless throwing to certain measured sizes. I don't measure
heighths and widths much anymore, allowing experience and eyeballs to
control the size, and also careful weight measuring. The spring scale I
use, like most, is a bit cranky, but I try to be within 1/8 lb on every
measurement.
Just a few thoughts on a seldom commented part of the profession...
--
Brad Sondahl
New Homepage: http://pages.about.com/bsondahl/index.html
New commercial pottery page http://sondahl.safeshopper.com
Original literature, music, pottery, and art
Cindy Strnad on wed 10 may 00
Hi, Brad.
Interesting post. I'd been wondering about that, too. I guess the best
potters don't weigh their clay at all, but I do--kind of. Since I got my
wonderful, beautiful, excellent new Peter Pugger, I measure my clay. I
really think I could have been doing this all along, as I pretty much formed
my clay into equivalent "logs" anyway.
But, back to the point . . . I've cut little strips of cardboard the length
of commonly used weights of clay. I just lay them on the pug, mark, and cut.
This is better for me, because otherwise, I tend to find myself adding
little smidgens of clay to make the scale's needle sit perfectly, exactly on
the line I want, and that's certainly not necessary.
I use grams, because all the fractions of pounds confuse me, and because my
spring scale has both scales printed around the dial. I use 300 grams for a
1-1/2 cup mug, and 350 grams for a 2 cup mug. I have yet to achieve the
accuracy of our seasoned production potters, but if I get any more humongous
mug orders like the last one, I'll be getting a lot closer.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
Hank Murrow on wed 10 may 00
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Do potters in most of the world weigh their balls of clay for throwing
>on digital scales?
>Which raises the question of how accurately you control the size of your
>clay balls. I don't measure heighths and widths much anymore, allowing
>experience and eyeballs to
>control the size, and also careful weight measuring. The spring scale I
>use, like most, is a bit cranky, but I try to be within 1/8 lb on every
>measurement.
> Just a few thoughts on a seldom commented part of the profession...
>
>--
>Brad Sondahl
Dear Brad et al; I decide the weight of the piece and multiply by 4, 8, 12,
16, or 20 to weigh (on a spring scale) a large lump which can be squared up
on the table, cut longways into quarters, and then wirecut into 1s, 2s, 3s,
4s, or 5s and then rounded up into balls. This takes the error of the scale
out of the picture. works well up to 30lbs or so. Also, I recommend the use
of a milk or dairy scale to weigh glaze and clay ingredients. They usually
do 30-60lbs and measure in tenths of #s so you can do 100% recipes without
converting ounces; ie, 5.45# instead of 5 lbs 7.2 ounces. they are very
accurate, hang from a chain or hook, and are cheap ($40). Hank in Eugene
Jean Cochran on wed 10 may 00
Dear Brad,
We use digital scales to weigh each item I throw. 1# mugs, 1-1/2# Monks
Mugs, bowls 1# to 6#, etc. When I sign my pots, I paint the foot (entire
area inside the foot ring), draw my Fox Hollow Logo on it, sign it, and draw
the thrown weight on it, logo and name at the top and amount of clay at the
bottom. Guess it's the old secretary in me coming out. A patron can look
at the bottom of a piece and order another the same size.
Jean Wadsworth Cochran
Fox Hollow Pottery (Kentucky)
Brad Sondahl wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Do potters in most of the world weigh their balls of clay for throwing
> on digital scales? I know using an English (pounds) scale determines
> the size of everything I make, as it's easier to measure to whole or
> half pounds. Actually for smaller pots, I usually measure twice the
> weight I need and cut the ball in half using the wallmounted diagonal
> wire, getting two balls shaped for the wheel from one weighing.
> Anyway the scaling would affect the likely weights used. I expect many
> American potters use 1 lb per mug as a standard--would metric potters
> likely use 400g or 500g. Actually I use 3/4 lb, so would be likely to
> choose 400 g. if I were metric.
> Which raises the question of how accurately you control the size of your
> clay balls. An experienced thrower uses the clay to the same amount per
> weight, unless throwing to certain measured sizes. I don't measure
> heighths and widths much anymore, allowing experience and eyeballs to
> control the size, and also careful weight measuring. The spring scale I
> use, like most, is a bit cranky, but I try to be within 1/8 lb on every
> measurement.
> Just a few thoughts on a seldom commented part of the profession...
>
> --
> Brad Sondahl
> New Homepage: http://pages.about.com/bsondahl/index.html
> New commercial pottery page http://sondahl.safeshopper.com
> Original literature, music, pottery, and art
Bob Hanlin on thu 11 may 00
I do it a bit differently. If I want to make 8 tooth brush holders, I weigh
out 10# of clay (not hard, i cut about 5" off the normal pug of commercial
clay...it's about 10#). Then I wedge this a bit and cut it into fourths,
split these and put 'em by the wheel and then start. If I want everything
the same size...I'm in trouble. I don't do that very well. could someone
shed some light on how to make one of those gizmos for the wheel that has a
pointer that tells you when you've got the height and diameter right?
BobH.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cindy Strnad
To:
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 9:56 PM
Subject: Re: Weighing clay balls digital and English
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi, Brad.
>
> Interesting post. I'd been wondering about that, too. I guess the best
> potters don't weigh their clay at all, but I do--kind of. Since I got my
> wonderful, beautiful, excellent new Peter Pugger, I measure my clay. I
> really think I could have been doing this all along, as I pretty much
formed
> my clay into equivalent "logs" anyway.
>
> But, back to the point . . . I've cut little strips of cardboard the
length
> of commonly used weights of clay. I just lay them on the pug, mark, and
cut.
> This is better for me, because otherwise, I tend to find myself adding
> little smidgens of clay to make the scale's needle sit perfectly, exactly
on
> the line I want, and that's certainly not necessary.
>
> I use grams, because all the fractions of pounds confuse me, and because
my
> spring scale has both scales printed around the dial. I use 300 grams for
a
> 1-1/2 cup mug, and 350 grams for a 2 cup mug. I have yet to achieve the
> accuracy of our seasoned production potters, but if I get any more
humongous
> mug orders like the last one, I'll be getting a lot closer.
>
> Cindy Strnad
> earthenv@gwtc.net
> Earthen Vessels Pottery
> RR 1, Box 51
> Custer, SD 57730
>
Cindy Strnad on fri 12 may 00
Hi, Bob.
I haven't made one, but this is what you need to do: Construct a (flat)
stick on a stand (you know, like the base for a tire jack). Get yourself one
of those little clamps that look like the ends on the jumper cables and
clamp it to your flat stick. Now all you need is something long, thin, and
rigid to clamp into your clamp--say a good broom straw. Set your new size
teller gizmo up just outside your splash pan and adjust the broom straw so
the end of it lands where you want the lip of your pot to be. Throw the pot
so the lip ends up where the end of your broom straw is. Simple, effective,
cheap.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
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