Polly Harris on fri 27 oct 00
Stand Up !!
When standing you are not putting so much strain on your lower spine. I
am a high production potter and simply could not sit for the length of time I
throw daily. While standing I may shift my weight, position, and suffer from
no stiff muscles at the end of the day. I have been standing for 17 years
after one just one weekend sitting that ended with an incredibly painful case
of tendentious. The wheel head is about belly button high. When centering
over 10-15 pounds of clay I divide it into several units. Try it you will
like it.
polly the potter
Lorri on fri 27 oct 00
I am reposting this as it didn't seem to make it to the list the first time.
I have read threads on various wheels, sciatica, and preferences on chairs.
My sister-in-law hand coils on a kickwheel. Her brother-in-law got her a
tractor seat which she made into her kickwheel seat. I told her that I
liked the idea, it looks so comfortable, and she said she'd have him look
for me a tractor seat as well. I am now interested in hearing thoughts on
what is considered the proper height to sit at a wheel. I have a Creative
Industries electric wheel at home. The chair I currently use is placed far
enough below the splash pan that I can lean over just a bit and place my
arms on the splash pan to center and throw. At my school, they use Brent
wheels and metal stools. The stools are quite low and I find that I must
prop my elbows on my legs (instead of the splash pan) to get high enough to
center the clay. At school they recommend placing the foot that isn't
controlling the wheel speed on a brick to equal out the balance of your
legs. The difference in the two wheels is the heighth of the chair as well
as the heighth of the wheel itself, the Brent being the shorter of two.
Don't know if the brick is a good idea or if the stools should just be
higher. When I make a chair for home, I'd like to make it ergonomically
correct, but am not sure exactly what that should be. I actually have an
easier time centering on my wheel at home, but it could be because I am just
more used to the Creative Industries wheel and have adapted myself better to
the setup I am using at home. Am sure that if a different setup would be
better physically or to throw better, I could get use to it as well. Hope
this makes sense. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lorri
Lenexa, KS
Rikki Gill on sat 28 oct 00
I recently started throwing while seated in an office chair with a thingy
that adjusts the height. I usually throw with the bottom of my butt level
with the base of the wheel head, or thereabouts, which is the highest level
the seat attains. When I trim, I usually go down to the lower levels, and
vary them as I feel discomfort. It has made a huge difference oin my back.
Hope this helps. Rikki
-----Original Message-----
From: Polly Harris
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2000 3:31 AM
Subject: Re: Wheel and Chair Height
>Stand Up !!
> When standing you are not putting so much strain on your lower spine.
I
>am a high production potter and simply could not sit for the length of time
I
>throw daily. While standing I may shift my weight, position, and suffer
from
>no stiff muscles at the end of the day. I have been standing for 17 years
>after one just one weekend sitting that ended with an incredibly painful
case
>of tendentious. The wheel head is about belly button high. When centering
>over 10-15 pounds of clay I divide it into several units. Try it you will
>like it.
>
>polly the potter
>
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