Michael Wendt on tue 4 sep 01
The pancake method described below in Ivor's post ( I call it =
re-standing and I give classes and workshops that teach the method) =
parallels my own method and I realized from all the discussion about the =
price of things we sell that it might help to compare typical hourly =
rates of production. I realize this is a sensitive subject and most =
people are shy about how slowly they throw so I want to say up front =
that I don't consider speed or size to be as important as the "quality" =
of goods produced. Rarely will dollar signs in front of your eyes =
improve your work.=20
I like to throw and want to make pots. I am glad enough people like =
my work that I get to continue. Each day I am thankful for the chance =
to come to work... after 28 years behind the wheel, wow!
I just got off the wheel a few minutes ago and found that I can throw 20 =
12" plates per hour taking time to detail each one the way I want them =
and without hurrying.
Mine sell for $17.00 each so the throwing time is worth =
$340.00/hour. My work-up showed that it takes 4 additional hours to do =
all other operations so that reduces the yield 5 fold to 4 plates per =
hour X $17.00 =3D $68.00/hour. I find I get to keep about 1 of every 3 =
dollars in sold retail so that translates into $22.66/ hour. Loss rates =
on plates using my production methods run less than 2% so the numbers =
work out to around $48,000/ year.
Is that high or low? I don't know. What do the rest of you do? I =
realize my work is very plain and simple compared to the work I see from =
the rest of the group so it will no doubt be hard to make any kind of =
realistic comparison. Certainly the market you are in controls to a =
great degree how much you can charge for your work. I see now that I am =
very low priced compared to the rest of you. I never realized people =
would pay $30- $50 per plate. They squawked loudly enough when I went =
from $15.00 to $17.00 two years ago, but now they pay the new price =
without comment. An entire place setting of my dinnerware sells for =
$47.00 ( lg plate, sm plate, cup, bowl). Is that too cheap? Remember =
where I am, in a small town in Idaho, off the beaten track.
wondering...
Michael Wendt wendtpot@lewiston.com
Ivor wrote:
Dear Ron Mitton,
You describe Janet's work as follows;
<diameter of which is the approx. size of the desired cylinder. In the =
centre to the bat face she plunges a hole big enough for her hand. Then =
she lifts the clay from the bat and centre, forcing it upwards and =
outwards to form, first a conical shape and then eventually a =
cylinder.>>
I have a friend, Roger Klienig, who does something similar to this for =
all of his pots. In centring, he spreads out the clay to the edge of the =
bat. Then after opening the clay he gradually forces the clay from the =
outside to the centre, gaining height at each draught until he has =
created the preform of the pot he is about to create.
When you try it, perhaps you will let us know if the collar of clay =
starts to ripple as you collar it inwards from its conical form to the =
cylindrical shape.
By the way, I think I am well on the way to writing the abstract =
equation for relating height and diameter thrown to the mass of clay =
used.
All the best,
Ivor Lewis, Redhill, South Australia
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