CTaylor174@AOL.COM on sat 20 oct 01
After hearing all of the grumbling about the Giffin Grip, I just had to
defend it.
I think that it is the greatest tool and would not live without it. Like
anything else it is just a tool but it is just so fast and I personally have
not made a chuck since I bought the Grip years and years ago. Granted, if
you do not have a pretty centered pot you are up a creek but this is an
enticement to center your pot and I am very careful to do so because I just
do not want to make a chuck. There are also small tools to put on the Grip
for unusual shapes, although I have not used it them and therefore cannot
comment on their efficiency.
I am sure that most production potters must use this fast way of trimming
also.
Just my opinion.
Chris from Sherman Oaks, Ca.
Dannon Rhudy on sat 20 oct 01
>I am sure that most production potters must use this fast way of trimming
>also.......
It may be surprising, but for many production potters, using
a Grip is much slower than just tapping to center and trimming.
I find the Grip slow, but use it for plates because I don't like
tapping plates to center - messes up the rim.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Les Crimp on sat 20 oct 01
Chris -
I hear you and views on the Giffen Grip.
What do you do if you know your pots are centered and when you put them on
the Grip they are a fraction off? Is this the wheel head not being
centered? Is this the manufacture of the Giffen Grip? Is it possible that
the Giffen Grips are not running true?
I bought one and put it away and went back to tapping my pots on centre and
using my bisqued chucks for the ones with the tiny necks.
I'd love to have a reason to get the Grip out again especially at the price
we hve to pay in Canada when we convert those huge big greenbacks you guys
have.
Les Crimp on that Island in the Pacific.
lcrimp@shaw.ca
CTaylor174@AOL.COM on sun 21 oct 01
Les, I have not found the Giffin Grip to be off center.
If the pot is not exactly on center I would just go with the flow and have a
little more trimmed off the one side that is not "true." We are making a pot
and not manufacturing a pot and to my mind this is perfectly OK.
By the way, they are just a great company to deal with. Once my Grip just
was not functioning properly and I had had it for at least five years. I
told them about it and they said send it back, which I did- low and behold
they sent me a brand new one in a couple of weeks. Now, that is customer
service.
Bye Chris
Anne Wellings on sun 21 oct 01
On Sat, 20 Oct 2001 11:12:47 EDT, CTaylor174@AOL.COM wrote:
>After hearing all of the grumbling about the Giffin Grip, I just had to
>defend it.
>
>I think that it is the greatest tool and would not live without it. Like
>anything else it is just a tool but it is just so fast and I personally
have
>not made a chuck since I bought the Grip years and years ago. Granted, if
>you do not have a pretty centered pot you are up a creek but this is an
>enticement to center your pot and I am very careful to do so because I just
>do not want to make a chuck. There are also small tools to put on the Grip
>for unusual shapes, although I have not used it them and therefore cannot
>comment on their efficiency.
>
>I am sure that most production potters must use this fast way of trimming
>also.
>
>Just my opinion.
>
>Chris from Sherman Oaks, Ca.
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
I agree with Chris, there is no reason to knock the Giffin Grip if it works
for someone and saves time and enhances productivity.
I use my Giffin Grip extensively for trimming, decorating, waxing, sanding,
applying treatments to finished pots and even for holding a trimmed lid on
center while I throw a knob on it. When making a lot of pots, it would be
truly aggravating for me to recenter each pot for each of these processes
without the Grip's convenience.
An advantage for beginners who are new to trimming and whose pots need a
lot of trimming is that they can easily remove the pot from the Grip, feel
and tap it for thickness detection, and put it back for more trimming,
several times if necessary. As a non-beginner, I still find myself doing
this.
Yes, the Grip will tell you if your pots are asymmetrical, and this is part
of the learning process. You can often put a little blob of clay between
the pot and the "hand" of the Grip to compensate for this, or you can turn
the pot to a different position to see if that helps.
It is not a perfect invention. For example, if your splashpan won't fit
around it, the trimmings will go all over the floor unless you devise a
catch system using a box or other container. And the parts do wear out or
get lost eventually and need to be replaced. But it is an invention that
helps me get my work done and I see no reason to stigmatize it.
Occasionally, I need to use another method for trimming a pot. But I really
do not have time to perfect the more traditional methods for their own sake
or in order to feel more like a "real potter".
Anne in Olympia, WA
clennell on sun 21 oct 01
Sour Cherry Pottery
>
> What do you do if you know your pots are centered and when you put them on
> the Grip they are a fraction off? Is this the wheel head not being
> centered? Is this the manufacture of the Giffen Grip? Is it possible that
> the Giffen Grips are not running true?
>
> I bought one and put it away and went back to tapping my pots on centre and
> using my bisqued chucks for the ones with the tiny necks.
Les:
I have to agreee with Dannon that speed of trimming is not a defense of this
thing. I rarely stop my wheel when trimming so a giffen is just a royal
pain.
those that like them, seem to like them alot.
since you don't need one sell the thing. It will spread bad plastic charma
in a wood firers workshop.
Put the money towards a nice old kickwheel or treadle wheel- this is the
trimmers absolute best friend. My old wheel is yellow oak. I cringe to think
of that plastic dodad ruining the aesthetic of my trip back in time.
You have learned well ole boy. Process, process, process. As Dawg so rightly
put it- "everything matters".
Cheers,
tony
P.S If it doesn't sell, center a whale turd in it and see if Garth Clark
will sell it as conceptual art. Titles anyone??????
Tony and Sheila Clennell
Sour Cherry Pottery
4545 King Street
Beamsville, Ontario
CANADA L0R 1B1
http://www.sourcherrypottery.com
clennell@vaxxine.com
Susan Otter on sun 21 oct 01
In a message dated 10/21/01 2:09:59 PM, clennell@VAXXINE.COM writes:
<< P.S If it doesn't sell, center a whale turd in it and see if Garth Clark
will sell it as conceptual art. Titles anyone?????? >>
You're filted. I do not need to read such trash in my email, and it certainly
diminishes the value of your opinion in my eyes.
Dai Scott on mon 22 oct 01
Kathy said "Your's may not be off center. Mine is. just a hair. "
Hi, Kathy - if you have closely checked the three plastic "legs" underneath
the Grip that hold it onto the wheel, and you are sure that all three are at
exactly the same distance from center, and it's still not "true", then I'd
contact the Giffin Company, and I'm sure they will replace it. They seem
very easy to deal with.
Dai in Kelowna, BC
"There is no right way to do the wrong thing."
potterybydai@shaw.ca
KLeSueur@AOL.COM on mon 22 oct 01
In a message dated 10/21/01 8:51:57 AM, CTaylor174@AOL.COM writes:
<< Les, I have not found the Giffin Grip to be off center.
If the pot is not exactly on center I would just go with the flow and have a
little more trimmed off the one side that is not "true." We are making a pot
and not manufacturing a pot and to my mind this is perfectly OK. >>
Your's may not be off center. Mine is. just a hair. The wheel head is true. I
took it back to the place I bought it. We put it on several of their wheels.
It was off on everyone of them. Impossible to adjust. For most forms it
doesn't matter. But of other things I just tap on center and go. I still
think it's a great tool and maybe at sometime I'll get a different one.
Kathi
Christena Schafale on mon 22 oct 01
Les,
The Grip is adjustable to your wheelhead -- incorrect adjustment could
cause the problem you describe, I believe.
Chris
At 03:29 PM 10/20/01 -0700, you wrote:
>Chris -
>
>I hear you and views on the Giffen Grip.
>
>What do you do if you know your pots are centered and when you put them on
>the Grip they are a fraction off? Is this the wheel head not being
>centered? Is this the manufacture of the Giffen Grip? Is it possible that
>the Giffen Grips are not running true?
>
>I bought one and put it away and went back to tapping my pots on centre and
>using my bisqued chucks for the ones with the tiny necks.
>
>I'd love to have a reason to get the Grip out again especially at the price
>we hve to pay in Canada when we convert those huge big greenbacks you guys
>have.
>
>Les Crimp on that Island in the Pacific.
>lcrimp@shaw.ca
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
Consultation and Referral Specialist
Resources for Seniors
christenas@rfsnc.org
www.resourcesforseniors.com
Phone: (919) 713-1537
FAX: (919) 872-9574
1110 Navaho Dr, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27609
Russel Fouts on tue 23 oct 01
Tony!
<< P.S If it doesn't sell, center a whale turd in it and see if Garth
Clark
will sell it as conceptual art. Titles anyone?????? >>
It has to be clay for Garth to be interested. Slip cast one or spray it
with paperclay like Lowell and you're on the right track.
See? Even you can do conceptual art. ;-)
Ru
--
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat
"There is a theory which states that
if ever anyone discovers exactly what
the universe is for and why it's here,
it will instantly disappear and be
replaced by something even more bizzarly
inexplicable."
"There is another theory which states
that this has already happened!"
Douglas Adams' The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Gerard Carriere on tue 23 oct 01
I believe my Griffin Grip is well centered. But if a piece is slightly of=
f
center because of the piece and not the Griffin Grip, one can use a small
piece of wood or rubber between the pot and one of the tabs to recenter.
Also if the base of the pot is off center, sometimes putting a thin piece=
of
metal or plastic under the edge of the pot will recenter the bottom for
turning. Also, if turning a higher piece with small top, using the
extensions, I set a thin sponge or other soft material like a piece of
carpeting on the Grip to protect the lip of the pot. Let us be ingenious.
G=E9rard in No=EBlville
Jean Cochran on thu 25 oct 01
Dear Les,
Look at your grip from the bottom. You pull off the rubber ring, take the bottom
loose from the top, and re-set your little screw "thingies". You have guides to
show your wheel head sizes. It just may be that dealing with this just using my e
mail could cause you to pull out your hair, but read your grip directions and it
will be clear.
Jean Wadsworth Cochran
Fox Hollow Pottery (in the woods of Kentucky where the sky is BLUE and the wind is
BLOWING)
Les Crimp wrote:
> Chris -
>
> I hear you and views on the Giffen Grip.
>
> What do you do if you know your pots are centered and when you put them on
> the Grip they are a fraction off? Is this the wheel head not being
> centered? Is this the manufacture of the Giffen Grip? Is it possible that
> the Giffen Grips are not running true?
>
> I bought one and put it away and went back to tapping my pots on centre and
> using my bisqued chucks for the ones with the tiny necks.
>
> I'd love to have a reason to get the Grip out again especially at the price
> we hve to pay in Canada when we convert those huge big greenbacks you guys
> have.
>
> Les Crimp on that Island in the Pacific.
> lcrimp@shaw.ca
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
| |
|
