vince pitelka on thu 25 jan 01
> I'm looking for a way to extend the legs of a brent wheel so it
> is higher, but not as high for standing up and throwing. I don't
> want to stand up while throwing because I have a bad knee. But i
> found with the wheel up a little higher my leg can be straight,
> my knee doesn't hurt , and for some reason my back hurts less.
Kit -
What you describe above is a very healthy seating position for throwers. It
is appalling that wheels are so close to the ground. Your knees and your
thigh/hip joint are both bent so far that circulation is cut off. There are
possibly serious health problems resulting from sitting in this position for
long periods.
Ideally, your thighs should slope downwards slightly, and your knees should
be bent at less than a 90 degree angle. When seated this way, the wheelhead
should be approximately the same height as the seat.
Measure the pipe size on the legs of your Brent. It is a standard pipe
size. Go to a pipe and plumbing supplier, and have them cut three 8"
lengths (height of a concrete block) of the same diameter pipe. Also have
them cut three 8" lengths of pipe that will just fit inside the first size.
Have a welder weld the smaller pipe 2" inside the larger pipe so that it
sticks out 6". Lay the wheel on its side, apply some silicone bathtub
caulking to the surface of the pipe plugs (the 6" protrusion of smaller
pipe), and stick them into the bottoms of your wheel legs and stand the
wheel back up. The smaller pipe most likely will not fit perfectly, and
once the silicone cures it will keep it from wobbling. If you ever want to
remove them, just twist them with a big pipe wrench and it will twist the
silicone free.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
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