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trimming your ware

updated mon 9 oct 00

 

Jonathan Kaplan on mon 2 oct 00


I've read all the posts regarding trimming:

1. Giffin Or Not
2. Grabber Pads
3.Wet the Wheel Head
4. Stale Donut
5. Chucky's in Love

All work. Some you like, some you don't. Some you have a prejudice
against. Some you can't live without. So what?

Am I missing the point here is there is a point? They all work and they
are all just different ways of working that appeal to each of us. In and of
themselves they are nothing more than that.

I don't think they have any other intrinsic value then just being different
ways of trimming. Its akin to "I like throwing standing up" or "I like
throwing sitting down" or I like throwing lying down." Perhaps I don't see
much relevance in likes and dislikes on this level and am just wondering if
this is just clogging the list?

I think the mayor may wish to ponder ending this thread at some point, but
thats just my opinion. Hey I could be wrong........

Best

Jonathan


Jonathan Kaplan, president
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
voice and fax 970 879-9139
jonathan@csn,net
http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesigin

Plant Location:
1280 13th Street Unit 13
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
(please use this address for all deliveries via UPS, comman carrier, FEd
Ex, etc.)

Joanne L. Van Bezooyen on wed 4 oct 00


I've used this technique, also, and found it important to use a very THIN piece of
foam so your pressure on the cutting edge doesn't press the piece down and wobble
the bottom.
Joanne in Tucson, AZ

June Perry wrote:

> Dear Joyce:
>
> Years ago I made an inexpensive trim pad by cutting a circle of 1-1 1/2"
> upholstery foam and gluing it to a bat, and then running concentric rings
> around it. It works really well for low, wide forms-- bowls, plates, etc. You
> can use a spray glue, or even the two sticky sides contact type paper, which
> I believe is available.
>
> Regards,
> June
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.

--
Joanne L. Van Bezooyen
520-749-1685
Art Gecko Designs
http://www.arteriordesigns.com/noname.html
voice & fax: 520 760-1584
11220 East Via Madre
Tucson, Arizona 85749 USA

Carrie or Peter Jacobson on wed 4 oct 00


Hi Jonathan et al, You know, I learned some stuff in the whole Giffen Grip
conversation. And it's the third time this subject has come up since I've
been on here. But this time, I got the hint about that bumpy shelf-paper
grabby stuff, great idea! I have a whole roll of it, and never thought to
use it for trimming.

I also learned that while a Giffen Grip may be a great thing, I have,
without realizing it, learned to center my to-be-trimmed pots in ways that
mean I don't need a Grip, and so, that's great, since I don't have the money
for one, anyways.

So, you know, these wandering, repetitive conversations do have things in
them for folks. I am even paying attention to the ITC conversation, again,
for the third or fifth, or fiftieth time. Maybe this time, I will actually
learn something from it. And then again, maybe not. But I would bet money
that the topic will come up again, and again, and one of those times, my old
brain will be ready for it, and the rest of my life will, too.

What does amaze me are these two things: First, many people on this list are
horrible spellers. And while that doesn't really matter, usually, many of
the people who are horrible spellers are educators or retired educators.
Now, that really worries me.

Second, (and my guess is, I am about to see another series of examples of
this) people take things way too personally. I mean, the angry private
responses I've gotten to some of my meant-to-be humorous posts... or even my
not-meant-to-be humorous posts. Sheesh, it makes me wonder how they get
through life. I mean, if a customer says, "Gee, this isn't quite the right
shade of purple for me," I wonder if these potters throw the customer out
for insulting them and their work? Feels like the equivalent to me.

So, wandering this morning. Emoticons? Not for me. Maybe people could just
stop taking every little comment as a personal attack. I hesitate to say Get
over it.

Cheers,

Carrie Jacobson
Bolster's Mills, Maine

Joyce Lee on wed 4 oct 00


In addition to the bumpy, rubbery shelf/drawer lining paper cut to fit
the wheel, with marker-pen circles added for correct placement of pots
while trimming... Nils Lou on one of his tapes suggests making a small,
centered round indentation on the bottom of a pot in order to more
easily hold it in place with one finger as one trims. Really helps the
process go more smoothly. It definitely works! I hope it was Nils who
said this......

Joyce
In the Mojave

Jonathan Kaplan on wed 4 oct 00


Hi Carrie:

Believe it or not I too always learn from all the posts I read, and even
from the Grip posts recently.

And yes, it will come up again,. as will other topics and I will also learn
from them.

My point is that for me it had just run its course. Nothing more and
nothing less.

And you are totally right in that where these issues really become a
nuissance is when they are taken so personally and then the personal
attacks follow. And follow.

I agree......get over it! TIme is too short. We all have better things to
do, like make pots.!!

Best, and thanks for your post! BTW...you are toally on the mark with spelling!!

Jonathan

Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design GroupLTD/Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
(970) 879-9139 voice and fax
http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign

UPS: 1280 13th St. Unit13
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Gayle Bair on wed 4 oct 00


Thank you Carrie!
I thought I should tell you that so you do not feel
bad when you get all the responses chastising and
labeling you as insensitive to Giffen owners,
poor spellers, ITC mavens, emoticon lovers, sensitive
posting readers, and people with old brains (of which I am one).

Gayle Bair- Got over it a while ago and no longer
feels the need to "get a "grip" Giffen or otherwise! - )


Snip>
I also learned that while a Giffen Grip may be a great thing, I have,
without realizing it, learned to center my to-be-trimmed pots in ways that
mean I don't need a Grip,
Snip>
So, you know, these wandering, repetitive conversations do have things in
them for folks.
Snip>

What does amaze me are these two things: First, many people on this list are
horrible spellers.

Snip>
Second, (and my guess is, I am about to see another series of examples of
this) people take things way too personally.
Snip>
So, wandering this morning. Emoticons? Not for me.

____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.

June Perry on wed 4 oct 00


Dear Joyce:

Years ago I made an inexpensive trim pad by cutting a circle of 1-1 1/2"
upholstery foam and gluing it to a bat, and then running concentric rings
around it. It works really well for low, wide forms-- bowls, plates, etc. You
can use a spray glue, or even the two sticky sides contact type paper, which
I believe is available.

Regards,
June

Martin Howard on thu 5 oct 00


Like Joyce, I often use foam rubber to trim.
But mine is just a circle to fit the wheel head.
Stick it down with slip. The weight of the pot keeps it in position.
A foam doughnut works for those items which have a knob on top.
It then doubles as a pad to wipe the bottom of pots free of glaze.
It also can be used to put wax resist onto the pots before glazing.

Other methods of turning ware used at Webbs Cottage are:-

two kinds of bisqe chuck, with or without a soft clay liner.

using a rectangle of metal, used by furnisher polishers for cleaning down
the surface. Use this quite hard down on the upturned ware and wear down a
flat bottom. It takes a little patience to master it, but it does leave one
with a really smooth bottom.

use a circular level with bubble. These are just right for making sure that
the bottom of a pot is horizontal in both directions. It simplifies
centring.

Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk

Gayle Bair on thu 5 oct 00


I use carpet underlayment foam which is pretty dense
(the solid foam not the shredded and glued stuff).
I don't even bother to glue it to a bat. If it slides
I put some slip in the wheel head or bat and that
keeps it in place. I've been cutting it and using it as
sponges too.
Gayle Bair


Dear Joyce:

Years ago I made an inexpensive trim pad by cutting a circle of 1-1 1/2"
upholstery foam and gluing it to a bat, and then running concentric rings
around it. It works really well for low, wide forms-- bowls, plates, etc.
You
can use a spray glue, or even the two sticky sides contact type paper, which
I believe is available.

Regards,
June

Steve Mills on sun 8 oct 00


In message , Joyce Lee writes
>In addition to the bumpy, rubbery shelf/drawer lining paper cut to fit
>the wheel, with marker-pen circles added for correct placement of pots
>while trimming... Nils Lou on one of his tapes suggests making a small,
>centered round indentation on the bottom of a pot in order to more
>easily hold it in place with one finger as one trims. Really helps the
>process go more smoothly. It definitely works! I hope it was Nils who
>said this......
>
>Joyce
>In the Mojave
>
OR............
A small plastic lid placed upside down on the inverted pot's bottom and
held in place with a wet finger does the same job.
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK