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plates and platters and bats

updated wed 6 feb 02

 

WHC228@AOL.COM on tue 5 feb 02


I have been using plaster bats for a number of years and love them. Plaster
seems to be the ideal material to make bats from.
Randall used them on his kick wheels. I believe that the plastic molds to
make these bats are still availible from his company.
Jepson sells an adapter so that you can use them on most wheels
When throwing on one of the plaster bats, flood the bat wiith water,[not
slip] and put your clay down onto the water that is on top of the bat. The
water that is being absorbed into the bat will suck the clay down for a good
strong bond. When the pot is dry enough to trim the bat will release the pot
without the need of a wire to cut it off.
For trimming I glue a 2" thick piece of foam rubber to a bat. When a plate or
platter is on it it doesn't slide around. It is nice because the rubber
doesn't damage the rim. No clay is necessary to keep the plate in place.
Bill

Craig Clark on tue 5 feb 02


I like the sound of the foam rubber trick. I would like to try it, but
am concerned that the pressure on one side of the plate, and the subsequent
compression of the foam beneath the plate on that side, may result in an
unevern trim job. Have you ever had any problems like this? Thanx
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org

----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 8:25 AM
Subject: Plates and platters and bats


> I have been using plaster bats for a number of years and love them.
Plaster
> seems to be the ideal material to make bats from.
> Randall used them on his kick wheels. I believe that the plastic molds to
> make these bats are still availible from his company.
> Jepson sells an adapter so that you can use them on most wheels
> When throwing on one of the plaster bats, flood the bat wiith water,[not
> slip] and put your clay down onto the water that is on top of the bat. The
> water that is being absorbed into the bat will suck the clay down for a
good
> strong bond. When the pot is dry enough to trim the bat will release the
pot
> without the need of a wire to cut it off.
> For trimming I glue a 2" thick piece of foam rubber to a bat. When a plate
or
> platter is on it it doesn't slide around. It is nice because the rubber
> doesn't damage the rim. No clay is necessary to keep the plate in place.
> Bill
>
>
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Hank Murrow on tue 5 feb 02


Bill wrote in part;

>For trimming I glue a 2" thick piece of foam rubber to a bat. When a plate or
>platter is on it it doesn't slide around. It is nice because the rubber
>doesn't damage the rim. No clay is necessary to keep the plate in place.


Hey Bill;

I got onto stiff foam rubber for that too. I made a circle-cutting
jig which I take to the upholstery shop, and cut foam to the dimensions
that I need. Then I contact-cement the foam to a batt. You can see the
pulled rims on my plates @ http://www.murrow.biz/hank , go to the slide
show page. The foam really protects these rims, and it's easy to tap the
forms into center. Thanks for reminding me how effective foam is, and I'll
still stick to my wires for the beautiful patterns they make on my bottoms.

Cheers, Hank in Eugene

Hank Murrow on tue 5 feb 02


>Craig Dunn Clark wrote;

> I like the sound of the foam rubber trick. I would like to try it, but
>am concerned that the pressure on one side of the plate, and the subsequent
>compression of the foam beneath the plate on that side, may result in an
>unevern trim job. Have you ever had any problems like this? Thanx

Dear Craig;

I use a ball-bearing roller to trim my plates, and the plate
doesn't have to be accurately placed either in the horizontal or the
vertical planes on the foam. Works a treat, leaving a nice compacted rim
about 1/16" to 3/8" above the wirecut bottom. Since I am really displacing
the clay from one place to another, there is no problem of an uneven cut.
However, I have to dry these plates carefully, as differential drying means
that one side of the footring would roll up larger or skinnier, depending.
The footring just cleans up after the fire with a few swipes with wet/dry
emery paper too. I hope to get pics of this up on my website soon.

Cheers, Hank in Eugene

Dave Finkelnburg on tue 5 feb 02


Craig,
You can also try gluing a piece of rubber-type shelf liner to a bat.
It's a non-skid surface that also lets you trim flat pieces like plates
without them moving around.
Before you toss out Bill's method, though, you may want to test it.
Regards,
Dave Finkelnburg
From: Craig Clark

> I like the sound of the foam rubber trick. I would like to try it, but
>am concerned that the pressure on one side of the plate, and the subsequent
>compression of the foam beneath the plate on that side, may result in an
>unevern trim job.

>From:
>> For trimming I glue a 2" thick piece of foam rubber to a bat. When a
plate
>or
>> platter is on it it doesn't slide around.