David Hendley on sun 6 aug 00
I switched from sitting to standing last year, as a pre-emptive
move to avoid back trouble. It only felt funny to be standing
and throwing for a few days. I'm completely sold now, and
will not go back to sitting.
My wheelhead is set at 'belly-button height'.
I don't really throw pieces taller than from finger tips to elbow,
so throwing above shoulder height is not a concern.
'Leaning' is probably a more accurate description than 'standing',
and back support, I suspect, is more important than the
actual standing.
There are two big reasons for this: leaning, with back support,
reduces the fatigue of standing. Since one foot has to be on the
wheel's foot pedal, your other foot will get mighty tired if it's
supporting all your weight. Second, leaning against a stable
support gives you a way to use your body weight to help
manipulate large pieces of clay.
I already had some heavy-duty industrial shelving next to,
just to the back-right of my wheel. The vertical support
post for the shelving has turned into my back support.
I've actually started standing a little to the side of the
wheel for both my back support post and to be closer to
the wheel's foot pedal.
Modifying and padding my 'back support pole' is on my
'to do' list, but it's not a big priority, as it's OK like it is.
In a detailed article in Studio Potter magazine, John Glick
includes plans with drawings for building back supports.
You can read the article on line at:
http://www.studiopotter.org/articles/art0008.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: Catherine Sherwood
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2000 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: potters stools/stand up throwing
| 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
|
Tommy Humphries on mon 7 aug 00
Another option regarding the operation of the foot pedal while standing at
the wheel is to wire in a simple interrupt switch either in the power cord
or the line between the control box and the motor. This will allow you to
set the wheel to a constant comfortable working speed, and still be able to
stop the wheel to remove the pot.
This setup will increase production a great deal, as well as teaching a
greater controll of the clay since you will not be constantly varying the
speed. I have used this setup or similar for allmost 20 years now and cannot
imagine going back to constantly fiddling with the pedal.
A simple solution to the bracing problem faced by many who are beginning to
throw standing is to build a framework to brace against to the front,
instead of trying to brace against yourself or the flimsy catch pan on most
wheels. This framework can be a simple construct (picture a hurdle or
sawhorse ) placed between yourself and the wheel at a hight that allows you
to rest your arms on the top for bracing.
Tommy Humphries,
"`You know, it's at times like this, that I really wish I'd listened to what
my mother told me when I was young.'
`Why, what did she tell you?'
`I don't know, I didn't listen.'"
(Douglas Adams)
Nils Lou on mon 7 aug 00
Mr. Hendley,
I, too, am an advocate of stand up throwing. It has saved my back.
One point I'd like to make is, as you mentioned, the "necessity" of having
one foot lifted and on the foot petal. It is a difficult position and I've
adjusted my wheel so it is no longer necessary to have one foot
unbalanced. You may want to try it.
It should work with any wheel having the pedal on an umbilical.
For instance, brent, pacifica, CI, etc. It is also simple to do. On the
side of the wheel you prefer to control fix a piece of strap steel (2" X
1/8" or so) to the wheel posts or legs with U-bolts. Attach an extension
to the footpedal with screws or bolts. Insert a compression spring under
the pedal so it will return like an accelerator in an auto. Mount the
pedal on the strap steel sidewise so control is provided by simply leaning
against the extension youv'e added to the pedal. I have mine at about calf
height. Both feet are on the floor. An additional advantage is the wheel
is now self contained and it is easy to mop the floor with no wires
dragging. What do you think? nils
On Sun, 6 Aug 2000, David Hendley wrote:
> I switched from sitting to standing last year, as a pre-emptive
> move to avoid back trouble. It only felt funny to be standing
> and throwing for a few days. I'm completely sold now, and
> will not go back to sitting.
> My wheelhead is set at 'belly-button height'.
> I don't really throw pieces taller than from finger tips to elbow,
> so throwing above shoulder height is not a concern.
>
> 'Leaning' is probably a more accurate description than 'standing',
> and back support, I suspect, is more important than the
> actual standing.
> There are two big reasons for this: leaning, with back support,
> reduces the fatigue of standing. Since one foot has to be on the
> wheel's foot pedal, your other foot will get mighty tired if it's
> supporting all your weight. Second, leaning against a stable
> support gives you a way to use your body weight to help
> manipulate large pieces of clay.
>
> I already had some heavy-duty industrial shelving next to,
> just to the back-right of my wheel. The vertical support
> post for the shelving has turned into my back support.
> I've actually started standing a little to the side of the
> wheel for both my back support post and to be closer to
> the wheel's foot pedal.
> Modifying and padding my 'back support pole' is on my
> 'to do' list, but it's not a big priority, as it's OK like it is.
>
> In a detailed article in Studio Potter magazine, John Glick
> includes plans with drawings for building back supports.
> You can read the article on line at:
> http://www.studiopotter.org/articles/art0008.htm
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Catherine Sherwood
> To:
> Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2000 7:48 AM
> Subject: Re: potters stools/stand up throwing
>
>
> | 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
> |
>
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>
JODO96@AOL.COM on tue 8 aug 00
Nils
I just read your post to David. I also throw standing and have for the last 4
years and it has saved my back. I appreciate your instructions on an
alternative to the foot pedal. My hip joints bother me at the end of the day
now. We have also added a heavy duty rubber mat under each wheel and wear
good shoes with arch supports.
Thanks
Dorothy Weber
Manakin-Sabot, Va.
| |
|
