Lynspots@AOL.COM on mon 12 jun 00
Thanks to Diana Pancioli and David Hendley (I found your earlier article on
extruder dies in PMI, BTW) for their suggestions on using the zinc coated
u-bolts, which are at least a third the cost (I checked at the hardware store
and even you do even better if you buy the box lots) of the stainless steel
ones ($2.69), to support my hollow extruder dies. I will probably need 20 or
so for the various designs I am thinking of.
Elizabeth P. had a cute post on the internal discussions we go thru when
deciding whether to lay out the money for various tools. Sometimes we just
have to say "money be damned, I NEED this." But I still make tools whenever
possible and as cheaply as possible. Feel like I am beating the system some,
I guess. If David H. lived next door, I'd be on his doorstep at least once a
week to ask how to make this tool or that piece of equipment.
After a successful weekend fair, when I have a little breathing room, I
gather my latest ceramics magazines, find the marked pages and start making
tools. Some work great, others take a little time to get used to, some I make
with substituted materials I have on hand, and others end up in the bottom of
the student tools box. But what fun and satisfaction to make them. I think
even if I won the lottery and could buy it all, I'd just buy better power
tools, so I could make pottery tools easier. Plus I'd hire someone to
organize the shop better, must be my husband who makes such a mess in there.
The studio, however, is, uh, neat as a pin.
Lynne Antone
Beaver Creek Arts
Olympia WA USA
Rain, rain, will it ever stop? The slugs are having a field day. Cucumber
plants are chewed down and one pepper plant gone. Made little mini greenhouse
covers out of used milk jugs today to maybe protect them. We'll see.
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