claybair on wed 25 jun 03
Bruce,
My Creative Industries wheel has an enclosed one piece
splash pan that is higher than the wheel head even with a bat.
Funny.... today I tried taking off the splash pan and using the sponge
method and wound up with several globs of flinging onto my pants.
The splash pan is back!
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Bruce Freund
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 5:04 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Kick Wheels For a Better Back
Kick wheels are positively easier on the back as you do not have to get
"scrunched" up as one does at an electric.
I have a randall wheel. The thing I LOVE about it is that it has a splash
pan that goes completely around the wheel head to catch the water. It is
also about 3/4 " above the wheel head when the bat is attached. Makes no
difference if the bat is plaster or masonite--whatever. Very important
because water does not sling anywhere, just like all of the electric wheels
manufactured.
None of the kick wheels that are now being manufactured have enclosed splash
pans and some of them have the wheel head higher than the splash pan if you
try to use plaster bats. If you notice they all have 1/2 a splash pan with
the front half totally open. Consequently the water slings forward and out.
When I called the companies they said that I should put some large sponges
in the front to catch the water. For me this is totally unacceptable. When
I asked why they made them this way they told me the cost to enclose the
splash pan made the cost of the wheel too high as the whole thing would have
to be redesigned.
If anyone knows of a currently made electric kick wheel that does not have
the above please problem tell me as I would be interested in buying one. My
research showed that none were available.
bruce
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Bruce Freund on wed 25 jun 03
Kick wheels are positively easier on the back as you do not have to get
"scrunched" up as one does at an electric.
I have a randall wheel. The thing I LOVE about it is that it has a splash
pan that goes completely around the wheel head to catch the water. It is
also about 3/4 " above the wheel head when the bat is attached. Makes no
difference if the bat is plaster or masonite--whatever. Very important
because water does not sling anywhere, just like all of the electric wheels
manufactured.
None of the kick wheels that are now being manufactured have enclosed splash
pans and some of them have the wheel head higher than the splash pan if you
try to use plaster bats. If you notice they all have 1/2 a splash pan with
the front half totally open. Consequently the water slings forward and out.
When I called the companies they said that I should put some large sponges
in the front to catch the water. For me this is totally unacceptable. When
I asked why they made them this way they told me the cost to enclose the
splash pan made the cost of the wheel too high as the whole thing would have
to be redesigned.
If anyone knows of a currently made electric kick wheel that does not have
the above please problem tell me as I would be interested in buying one. My
research showed that none were available.
bruce
Lee Love on wed 25 jun 03
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joyce Lee"
>thus due to life circumstances I'm thinking electric wheel rather
>than manual... see above re efficiency and back-saving considerations.
Hi Joyce,
I think a kick wheel is better for the back and legs than an electric
wheel. When I used my shimpo electric back in St. Paul, I always had back
and leg pains after a long session of throwing. Since I've been throwing on a
Korean kickwheel, I've not had these difficulties. On these wheels, I use
my left foot to pull and my right foot to kick. This exercise seems to help
the legs and back.
On an electric wheel, it is too easy to required the body to match the
machine's pace. On a kick wheel, you follow the body's pace. Not only is
it better for the body, but it also helps you put feeling and life into the
work.
Also, the traditional throwing platform and throwing off the hump really
helps the posture. I also have wooden blocks on the floor on each side of
the kick plate where I put my feet when I am not kicking.
Large things are no problem. I throw the base and then add thick
coils to the base and throw these to complete the form. On the whole, it is
easier to throw large things using this method, that are not too thick nor too
heavy. You also get some "life" from the variations created where the new
coil is added.
A compromise might be to use something like a kick Lockerbie with
power assist and use the motor just to center.
I'm not a Luddite. It is just that sometimes, the traditional way is
actually more humane.
~~~~~~~Lee In Mashiko, Japan http://hachiko.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* *
* Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming *
* adversity. *
~~~~~~~~~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
jnybravo2 on thu 26 jun 03
Bruce, I have a Shimpo Velocity 75, It has a two piece splash pan
that is about a half inch higher than the wheel head. Works great. I
am new to pottery and am still using a lot of water. (more than i
should, i know) My "studio" is in an extra bedroom in our home, and
it doesn't make a mess when I throw. Here is the website.
http://www.shimpoceramics.com/velocityseries.html
John in Saxapahaw, North Carolina <><
http://PawPawsPottery.freeservers.com
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