Lily Krakowski on mon 12 may 03
This is sort of like riding a bicycle. You don't believe it possible and
then, suddenly, you can't believe you ever had trouble.
1. Make a pot or ring that is really heavy. ( Most ttc problems come from
practice pots being too light.)
2. Let it dry to leather hard. Softer rather than harder.
3. Invert it on the wheel head, well OFF center.
4. Now either by flicking your middle finger at it or patting with the
outside of your right palm, "catch" the part that is most off center. And
GENTLY pat (not push) it towards the middle.
YOUR WHEEL SHOULD BE CRAWLING SLOW You can even practice on a banding
wheel. SLOW. Fast comes later.
It is ONLY a question of rhythm. I would guess that if you had a dripping
faucet and practiced patting or flipping to the sound of the drip you'd get
it quickly. The part that sticks out (most off center) on the pot is the
sound of the drip.
Now, as to bicycles...
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
Snail Scott on mon 12 may 03
At 07:13 AM 5/12/03 -0400, you wrote:
>4. Now either by flicking your middle finger at it or patting with the
>outside of your right palm, "catch" the part that is most off center. And
>GENTLY pat (not push) it towards the middle.
I learned a slightly different method of tapping to=20
center, using both hands. Lay one hand lightly against=20
the pot or chuck, to feel when the 'bump' of off-
centeredness passes by. The other hand is waiting to=20
pounce. As soon as hand #1 feels the bump, hand #2=20
taps the pot. The time delay between the feel and the=20
tap needs to be the same as the length of time it takes=20
the pot to rotate that far on the wheel. Obviously, the=20
speed of the wheel and the distance (angle) between=20
your hands are important, as is your personal reflex=20
time. If you are a fast-reacting person, placing your=20
hands 90=BA apart on a medium-speed wheel may work=20
for you. If you have a slower reaction time, slow=20
the wheel down, or put your hands on opposite sides=20
of the pot. A slow leisurely wheel speed and a relaxed=20
delay between feeling the bump and applying the tap=20
works just as well as doing it fast, just as Lili said,=20
so slow it way down and get the rhythm, nice'n'easy.=20
It will take a little practice to get the feel of the=20
pattern, but once you've got it, you can trim all day=20
using just a few taps on each pot (or chuck) to center.
Example: If I'm on a counter-clockwise wheel, I=20
usually have my left hand touching the front of the=20
pot as it comes around. Then my right hand is waiting=20
to swat it into place on the right side of the pot.
As soon as my brain registers 'there's the bump', from=20
my left hand, the pot has already moved on, just to=20
where my right hand is waiting for the signal. Tap!=20
-Snail
Cindi Anderson on mon 12 may 03
The part I never undersood about tapping center... I have never found it
difficult to get the pot center. The problem is that it slips once it is
centered and you start to trim. This is the reason I use the giffin grip,
because of this problem (and the lumps of clay you put around the edge don't
do squat.) So what am I missing? Someone said the pot had to be heavy. Is
this the problem, it doesn't work on small pots?
Cindi
Butch Welch on mon 12 may 03
Cindi,
I have a Giffin Grip that gets very little use since I purchased a grabber
pad. You can see it at the following link,
http://www.artclay.com/catalog.html# click on wheels, parts and supplies.
Go to page 88. It is a non stick pad applied to a plastic bat, that is
drilled to mounts on the wheel. You can center for trimming with the
concentric rings. Then finalize the centering by holding your finger out to
touch the pot. When it moves away from you I stop the wheel and bring it to
me, then it pushed my finger, I stop the wheel and move pot away from me. It
takes less than 1 min to center a pot on it. The pot will not move while
trimming. The pad is a sticky surface. It rarely gets dirty, but can be
washed and returns back to original.
Regards, Butch
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Cindi Anderson
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 1:53 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: tapping a pot to center
The part I never undersood about tapping center... I have never found it
difficult to get the pot center. The problem is that it slips once it is
centered and you start to trim. This is the reason I use the giffin grip,
because of this problem (and the lumps of clay you put around the edge don't
do squat.) So what am I missing? Someone said the pot had to be heavy. Is
this the problem, it doesn't work on small pots?
Cindi
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Craig Dunn Clark on mon 12 may 03
Cindi, no the pot does not have to be heavy. You may either use a couple
small coils of clay on opposite sides of the pot at the wheelhead or try
using what I believe are refered to as timming caps- though I may be
mistaken as to the name. The caps are small round jar tops, similar to the
tops on bottles, baby food jars, etc.... you pretty much get them where you
can find them. Collect sevral different sizes and they will work on
different diameter pots.
You place the cap in the center of the bottom of the pot that you are
about to trim and rest your pinky, or whichever finger you desire of the
hand not holding the trim tool, and apply a downward pressure. This will
keep the pot from slipping around.
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindi Anderson"
To:
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: tapping a pot to center
> The part I never undersood about tapping center... I have never found it
> difficult to get the pot center. The problem is that it slips once it is
> centered and you start to trim. This is the reason I use the giffin grip,
> because of this problem (and the lumps of clay you put around the edge
don't
> do squat.) So what am I missing? Someone said the pot had to be heavy.
Is
> this the problem, it doesn't work on small pots?
>
> Cindi
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
Snail Scott on tue 13 may 03
At 11:53 AM 5/12/03 -0700, you wrote:
>Someone said the pot had to be heavy. Is
>this the problem, it doesn't work on small pots?
Nope; it works just dandy on small pots. It's just
harder to LEARN on small pots. A thick pot or chuck
gives more resistance, and won't be as readily swatted
across the wheelhead by accident. Delicacy can be
attained with practice, but it's easier to start out
when you don't need to worry about subtlety!
With small pots, though, it's easier to center a
trimming chuck once, then trim all the pots on that!
-Snail
Steve Mills on wed 14 may 03
Lily,
That's interesting;
I do it with both hands resting at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock relative to
the wheelhead (wheel rotating counter-clockwise). right thumb sticking
out towards the pot to be centred as a gauge of off-centred-ness. Left
hand on its side, palm towards the pot, fingers (all 4) pointing roughly
towards the pot. I centre by following the offset visually from right
thumb to left finger positions and flick the pot in the direction of
rotation with the left fingers, all of them.
I am helped by having a tray round the wheel to rest my hands on!
A great deal easier to demonstrate than to describe!!
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Lily Krakowski writes
>This is sort of like riding a bicycle. You don't believe it possible and
>then, suddenly, you can't believe you ever had trouble.
>
>1. Make a pot or ring that is really heavy. ( Most ttc problems come fro=
>m
>practice pots being too light.)
>
>2. Let it dry to leather hard. Softer rather than harder.
>
>3. Invert it on the wheel head, well OFF center.
>
>4. Now either by flicking your middle finger at it or patting with the
>outside of your right palm, "catch" the part that is most off center. And
>GENTLY pat (not push) it towards the middle.
>
>YOUR WHEEL SHOULD BE CRAWLING SLOW You can even practice on a banding
>wheel. SLOW. Fast comes later.
>
>It is ONLY a question of rhythm. I would guess that if you had a drippin=
>g
>faucet and practiced patting or flipping to the sound of the drip you'd g=
>et
>it quickly. The part that sticks out (most off center) on the pot is the
>sound of the drip.
>
>Now, as to bicycles...
>
>
>
>Lili Krakowski
>P.O. Box #1
>Constableville, N.Y.
>(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
>
>Be of good courage....
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
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