Lily Krakowski on sun 3 aug 03
When I started throwing standing up, I found that usingt he foot pedal on
the floor was as annoying for hips and back as throwing sitting down.
I moved the pedal to the table as I had seen a production thrower in
Seagrove do.
It takes some getting used to.
For one: when one used the footpedal on the floor it becomes rather like
the gas pedal on the car. One is almost unaware of creating speed changes.
A hand operated pedal turns the [electric] wheel into something much more
like a kickwheel. Speed changes are kept to few and far between.
I set the speed for centering and opening. This is a SLOWER speed than
generally used for electric wheels. (I still throw with as slow a wheel as
I used when I was using a kickwheel --most of my clay life) I change speed
a little for pulling up, almost not for bowls, more for plates and
cylinders. Still going slow. I raise speed for knobs, rims.
I think you need to practice releasing the pot so it does not go wobling.
Release gently, release slowly. I tell students: Imagine you have been up
with a colicky baby for hours and hours, carrying it in your arms, listening
to its deafening shrieks. Suddenly the little angel goes to sleep. Now you
are ready to put it back in its crib. Do you plunk it in, or do you gently,
gently ease it in? THAT is how gently you release a pot spinning on the
wheel....
And you soon will get used to using no more than two or three set speeds
when you throw.
Best of luck
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
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