OWLPOTTER@AOL.COM on sat 26 jul 03
In a message dated 7/23/2003 1:19:54 PM, JBaymore@COMPUSERVE.COM writes:
<<
Funny how we use tools for different reasons. I use a propane torch to dry
my stretched pots because it will flash dry the surface leaving the wall of
the clay wet. The heat gun dose not generate enough heat to do this. I use
a
heat gun when I want the clay dried through the wall.
>>
Because of my advancing (whisper) age, I find I must use softer, wetter clay
for larger pots. --Just do not have the brute strength I used to have.
I found that I could center and throw them to a certain point, then dry them
out a bit, throw a bit, dry them out a bit, etc. until they are unbelievably
thin walled. But I didn't like the intense amount of heat of the propane
torch for stiffening up their walls. Too much heat concentrated on too small an
area.
So I bought two professional hand held hair dryers. They blow a lot of hot
air over a huge area, and have the advantage of several heat and air settings.
I use a couple of "welding arms" (a kind of positionable cable with a welding
clamp on both ends) to hold the hair dryers in position. I always dry the
pot in progress with the wheel slowly turning. I can position one hair dryer to
blow inside the pot, while the other hair dryer stiffens up the outside wall.
I have also found that stiffening up the rims of very wide thin bowls before
they are cut free of the bat and removed from the wheel head keeps them from
becoming distorted.
-Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
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