Jon Faber on tue 1 oct 02
I can understand why people would want a consumers
report rating system of potters wheels.
Originally in grad school for experimental psychology,
I can see how, despite drawbacks and flaws, a simple
survey would have given many potters some much
information.
Why is this information so needed? Because it is so
very difficult to get onto a variety of wheels.
When buying a wheel:
1. I do not want to spend $700 - $1200 on a machine I
have never used.
2. But, I also do not want to spend the money for a
particular machine because it is the only one that I
have used (brent seems fill just about every
classroom). There could be a sufficient or better
wheel for the same or less money.
3. So it is hard to limit myself to only the wheels
that I have used.
4. so that leaves me spending the money based on the
wheels that I have used and what others say.
It is still hard to make that kind of investment.
I am not actually in the market for a wheel right now,
just more comfortable using "I" instead of
assuming everyone has the same buying
experience/troubles as myself.
I am not going to even try to figure out why, but my
experience has been that wheels are not available for
testing without laying down some money.
It would seem that it would be in the best interest of
the manufacturer to make these wheels as available as
possible.
Possibly in the stores that will order them for the
customer.
Sure there are ceramic supply stores that are
considered suppliers of one wheel or another but
unless there is a wheel in the store that i can sit
at, turn on, and maybe even throw down some clay, it
is meaningless to me that this store is a supplier of
brand XXX.
The few times I have seem the wheels out - they
clearly were not for demo.
So that is my solution to the rating system.
The reason we want a rating system is because most
people have a hard time getting the experience to make
their own ratings (though i think they would prefer to
make their own ratings). So get the wheels to the
potters some how.
I can not even begin to imagine the costs in time,
effort, and money to make this happen.
I can assure you this.
If i had access to 2 different wheels, I would try my
hardest to be happy buying one of those before i even
considered looking to the experiences of others.
jon in ohio.
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Giles on tue 1 oct 02
All right, I'm a tool freak. I have dozens, no, hundreds of clays tools
(of
which I only use eight or nine on a regular basis, but ya never know, the
next one may be more perfect!) and at present am the proud owner of four
wheels, even though I only have space for one. The soldner is fabulous
under heavy loads, and has incredible control at very slow speeds. The
amaco has two speeds, is great for trimming, is what I learned on in the
dark ages, and was free. The pacifica I got this summer because it was in
great shape and was ridiculously cheap. Haven't thrown much on it, but it
works great (except for the chirp). The foot pedal is lighter than I am
accustomed to, I keep pushing it away. The brent c is in the studio (back
bedroom) because it fits into the wading pool that keeps me from tracking
clay through the rest of the house. Works well, even after having lived on
the patio for twelve years at a previous domicile. At work, we have
creative industries wheels, definitely not my favorites, but they may have
improved in the 20+ years since these were made (whoever designed those
splash pans never had to clean the floor at the end of the day after 30 or
40 students were through ). We also have a lockerbie motorized kickwheel
that is fun to use, but is definitely not designed for a fat lady. My
conclusion? If the motor is strong enough to handle the load that you put
on it, it doesn't matter what the name on the wheel is, you can make good
pots. So if you are ever in Dallas, Tx., stop by. I'd be glad to let you
try a couple out.
Kristen Giles
I forgot one.. I don't know what the brand is but I have this little wheel
that has a nice dayton(?) 1\2 hp motor connected to a wheelhead by an
uncovered belt, all of which is bolted to what looks like an ironing board.
Motor works, belts are shreds, board is crumbling, but if I ever get the
studio space I dream of, it will make a great motorized banding wheel!
> From: "Jon Faber"
>
> I can understand why people would want a consumers
> report rating system of potters wheels.
> Originally in grad school for experimental psychology,
> I can see how, despite drawbacks and flaws, a simple
> survey would have given many potters some much
> information.
>
> Why is this information so needed? Because it is so
> very difficult to get onto a variety of wheels.
> When buying a wheel:
>
> 1. I do not want to spend $700 - $1200 on a machine I
> have never used.
> 2. But, I also do not want to spend the money for a
> particular machine because it is the only one that I
> have used (brent seems fill just about every
> classroom). There could be a sufficient or better
> wheel for the same or less money.
> 3. So it is hard to limit myself to only the wheels
> that I have used.
> 4. so that leaves me spending the money based on the
> wheels that I have used and what others say.
>
> It is still hard to make that kind of investment.
> I am not actually in the market for a wheel right now,
> just more comfortable using "I" instead of
> So that is my solution to the rating system.
> The reason we want a rating system is because most
> people have a hard time getting the experience to make
> their own ratings (though i think they would prefer to
> make their own ratings). So get the wheels to the
> potters some how.
>
> I can not even begin to imagine the costs in time,
> effort, and money to make this happen.
>
> I can assure you this.
> If i had access to 2 different wheels, I would try my
> hardest to be happy buying one of those before i even
> considered looking to the experiences of others.
>
> jon in ohio.
L. P. Skeen on tue 1 oct 02
> Why is this information so needed? Because it is so
> very difficult to get onto a variety of wheels.
In Seagrove, NC the Pottery Center has a huge studio. In the studio are
several wheels; several different brands. I went down there for a demo
once; they let me use whichever I wanted. :) Since they din't have a
Pacifica, I used the new Shimpo with the table on it! Nice wheel.
So, if you are in NC or going to visit Seagrove, call ahead and talk to the
Pottery Center folks. I don't think it'd be a problem for you to try the
wheels there, as long as you clean up after yourself.
L
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