Diane G. Echlin on sun 6 aug 00
Catherine asked:
> I was told, and it makes good sense, that it's
> not enough just to stand up. ......Do you lean against a wall or
> something else? How do you support your back?
I don't use any back support, as I am now using my arms to do the work of bringing
the clay into center. And boy did my triceps ache for a few days! The key is to
not be bending over the wheel head. I've adjusted the position of my hands during
centering to accomodate this drastic change of position.
> Can you center large
> amounts of clay without the body weight you are able to apply when seated?
I have successfully centered almost 12 pounds in the standing position, but I
generally don't work in large forms. It took a while, but I also need to baby one
finiky wrist.
>
> Did you have to "relearn" to throw? How about tall pieces, do you use a
> stool or something to stand on when the piece is taller than your arm
> length?
No, not really. It was about 2 days until I felt completely comfortable throwing
upright. I alsso found that low, wide bottomed bowls came very easily for me,
whereas they had not before. I stand on anything I can find when I need a little
added height. Bricks work well.
> At what height did you set the wheel head?
I have mine so the the surface of the wheel head is at belly-button level. Can't
remember where I heard that. It took some work to get everything leveled and at
the right height. It works just fine for me, and I am able to adjust the height if
I need to (not that I'm anticipating a mid-life growth spurt or anything!)
Good luck!
Diane in Cloudy again Connecticut
Catherine Sherwood on sun 6 aug 00
Hey all you stand up potters,
I recently purchased a new wheel that will allow me to stand up to throw.
(and I hate my old chair) I was told, and it makes good sense, that it's
not enough just to stand up. You need lumbar support in the form of
something to lean back against while throwing. To throw standing up
without this support is no better for the back than seated . ???
My question is for those of you who stand. Do you lean against a wall or
something else? How do you support your back? Can you center large
amounts of clay without the body weight you are able to apply when seated?
Did you have to "relearn" to throw? How about tall pieces, do you use a
stool or something to stand on when the piece is taller than your arm
length? At what height did you set the wheel head?
Catherine
Kenneth D. Westfall on mon 7 aug 00
After having a ruptured disk repaired and long discussion with my
orthopedic surgeon it is definitely better to throw standing. I find my
days are much more productive, and the end of the day far less painful.
One of the key things from my doctor's view was to take mini breaks. Being
able to step out from the wheel lets you change your position with ease.
For each throwing session, I prepare fewer pieces of clay to throw, mostly
for lack of room to stack them up next the wheel. This makes me walk to the
pug mill more often. When I was sitting, I would throw 15 to 30 balls of
clay one right after the other. During this time I didn't do anything but
throw, take the bat off and start a new pot with very little change in body
position. I found myself arched over the wheel throwing for hours on end.
As far as throwing larger piece of clay you learn to center by pulling
toward you- a technique I learned from a Val Cushing workshop, I
believe. I have no problem centering 35 to 45 pounds of clay using the
pull method. There is a problem when it comes to working on very tall
pieces and I usually use milk crates and a piece of 3/4" plywood to make
a scaffolding to get up high enough to work on the piece. They're light
weight and easy to move out of the way. Ideally, two wheels would be a
dream come true, one high and one low but I do okay with what I have. I
find that I lean against a wall for throwing but stand up for trimming
pots. A heavy fatigue mat is a must and good shoes for standing. I found
the Birkenstock rubber ones with the cork foot beds to work best for me and
they wash off. A lumbar support might be an asset, but I never seem to
have the time to make one. A closed-cell sleeping pad (type used for
backpacking) is a must for cold weather on concrete block walls. My studio
is a block building and I nearly froze to death the first winter. I just
duct taped a old pad to the wall behind the wheel. I have a Brent CXC
which has 2" black pipe for legs, threaded with a regular pipe threader
and you extend them with more black pipe. The factory leg extender would
be nice as it took several tries to get the height adjusted to fit me
correctly. They also give a wider stance and more stability than just
adding to the legs. I have to be careful not to push too hard and tip
over the wheel. It took about a day to relearn and change to standing up
and I would never go back to sitting down.
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
http://www.pinehillpottery.com
Russel Fouts on mon 7 aug 00
-----------------------------
Catherine,
>> Hey all you stand up potters, I recently purchased a new wheel that will
allow me to stand up to throw.
(and I hate my old chair) I was told, and it makes good sense, that it's
not enough just to stand up. You need lumbar support in the form of
something to lean back against while throwing. To throw standing up without
this support is no better for the back than seated . ??? My question is for
those of you who stand. Do you lean against a wall or something else? How
do you support your back? Can you center large amounts of clay without the
body weight you are able to apply when seated? Did you have to "relearn" to
throw? How about tall pieces, do you use a
stool or something to stand on when the piece is taller than your arm
length? At what height did you set the wheel head? <<
I have my Shimpo mounted on the hydraulic pedestal from an old barber's
chair. Up, down, spins around, little off the top, short back and sides. ;-)
Learning to throw standing up came pretty easily. I don't have anything to
lean against but can rest my foot on a bit of the pedestal about 1' off the
ground which makes me more stable and probably helps my back.
Also, I think I saw a strap-on milking stool at Lehman's Non-Electric
Catalogue http://www.lehmans.com/ that looked like a pretty cool idea. Just
what out behind you when you're walking around with it on. ;-)
Russel
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat
JCullen845@AOL.COM on mon 7 aug 00
I throw standing and it was a very easy transition. No, I don't have a back
brace. I know John Glick highly recommends something behind you, but he's had
back surgery and took to throwing standing after his back problems. I do have
a platform (about 18" x 18") which I stand on only for taller pots. I like
Russells idea of having something under one foot (I believe that's what he
said he does). I might try throwing a brick on the floor for one foot to rest
on. Sounds like something to try. My wheel head is at elbow level. Since
you're on hydraulic try this for a starter and adjust from there. What I like
best about standing to throw, is the ease of walking around the studio to
find a missing tool or another ball of clay without having to jump up and
down all day. Standing is Great.
Best of luck
KEEP CENTERED and upright
Cullen
Naperville, Illinois
KLeSueur@AOL.COM on mon 7 aug 00
What's important in this discussion of standing or sitting to throw is not
so much the standing or sitting, but changing position frequently. It's the
locking your body into one position for hours that strains muscle. You need
to get up and move around frequently. Vary your routine. Build stretching
exercises into your work routine. Any position held over time will cause a
strain.
Kathi LeSueur
J Conway on tue 8 aug 00
Hi Catherine:
I had lumbar surgery in March so the wheel was raised and I started to
throw in June. I don't lean against anything nor can see how leaning back
would give much support. I could be wrong but I think by strengthening and
stretching the muscles in the torso you'll have the support you need.
Tommy Humphries said that a frame to lean into would be good and that's
what I would like to have. I lean into the tray and I feel some sort of
support in front would be good, more to take stress off the tray.
I also like to be able to walk around the studio easily, that relieves any
discomfort.
I don't make big pieces but have no trouble centering 5-6 pounds, in fact I
think I'm throwing better than before. Have not thrown any tall pcs. but
I'm sure standing on a raised platform or stool would do the trick.
Try is you might just like it. I wish I'd tried it earlier.
Jackie
p.s. My wheel is also about belly button height.
J. Conway
150 Mile House, B.C.
V0K 2G0
CANADA
jconway@stardate.bc.ca
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