marcey on sun 31 aug 03
I am looking for some feedback on the Randall wheel I just purchased. First of all, it has an off-set splash pan instead of a centered one. What is the advantage of this? It also has what I believe is referred to as a bucket head instead of a bat wheelhead or flat wheelhead. I have no idea what to do with this. Where does the bat go??? I have tried to contact the Randall Wheel and Pottery Co. (1.585.288.0982), but no one has returned my calls.
The wheelhead seems to have fused with the shaft, but I hope to use advice from previous threads to solve this problem.
The Randall wheel is where I spent a good deal of my college days and I'm excited to get back into it. If anyone has any advice or parts (centered splash pan, bat wheelhead, bats), I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Marcey
DEBBYGrant@AOL.COM on sun 31 aug 03
Dear Marcie,
You have an older model Randall wheel as do I. The newer models have
centered splash pans. The older ones were designed to slide into a cutout in a bench
instead of having a table next to it. Over the years I have found this very
handy. The wheel head should unstick if you spray it with a little W240 in the
center and then give it a couple of good whacks with a rubber mallet. The
bucket head was designed to receive a plaster bat and the Randall Comapany does
make a bat ring mold so that you can make your own bats. They also make a flat
head that you can use to replace the bucket head if you do not like throwing
on plaster. Unfortunately I do not know where to get Randall wheel products
anymore as I believe they are basically out of business. However, I think the
accessaries are still being made and sold by some other company.
Good Luck, Debby Grant in NH
John Rodgers on sun 31 aug 03
Bucket heads are designed to take plaster bats that are dropped into
place and held there by friction. This arrangement makes for very fast
change of bats. You can change the bat without even slowing down or
stopping the wheelhead from turning. This arrangement is very similar to
the bucket/mold arrangement used on jiggering machines. Again there is
speed/efficiency element that is involved. You do need to have a proper
mold to make the bats that fit the wheelhead.
I use plaster bats but they are made with the Pure and Simple batmaking
system. This system is designed for use with a keyed drive that fastens
to the wheelhead. A plastic disk with a key is fastened to my Brent flat
wheelhead. The bat is formed in a plastic mold and has a matching slot
that forms in the back of the bat. That slot matches the key that mounts
on the wheelhead. It works, but the bucket head type you have would be
lighter in weight if you can get the molds to make the bats.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Birmingham, AL
I'm not certain, but i think Jepson makes such a bat mold. Info I think
can be found in back issues of Ceramic's Monthly.
Regards,
marcey wrote:
>I am looking for some feedback on the Randall wheel I just purchased. First of all, it has an off-set splash pan instead of a centered one. What is the advantage of this? It also has what I believe is referred to as a bucket head instead of a bat wheelhead or flat wheelhead. I have no idea what to do with this. Where does the bat go??? I have tried to contact the Randall Wheel and Pottery Co. (1.585.288.0982), but no one has returned my calls.
>
>The wheelhead seems to have fused with the shaft, but I hope to use advice from previous threads to solve this problem.
>
>The Randall wheel is where I spent a good deal of my college days and I'm excited to get back into it. If anyone has any advice or parts (centered splash pan, bat wheelhead, bats), I would really appreciate it.
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Marcey
>
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Donn Buchfinck on sun 31 aug 03
Both jepson pottery and thomas stuart pottery wheels sell the forms to make
the bats out of plaster to fit into the wheel head cup.
I too used one for three years at the Kansas city art institute, I am looking
for one myself.
I think the offset ones are older.
Donn Buchfinck
http://www.geocities.com/clayincal/may_1_2003.html
Louis Katz on sun 31 aug 03
to get the wheel head off
borrow or by a wheel puller.
heat the wheel head gently with a propane torch.
remove flame
apply penetrating oil. If the head is hot you will get nasty fumes. If
you heated it too much it will catch fire.
let it sit
put the puller on the head, snug it up. apply some heat to the wheel
head about an inch from the shaft.
tighten the puller. Not too tight or you will bust it.
It should pop off. if it doesn't apply more penetrating oil and wait
until cool.
repeat until the cake is cooked.
If you are on the cheap build a flat topped wheel head that will fit
into the bucket head. Otherwise have one fabricated out of steel at
amachine shop or buy one from Randall.
Great wheel, worth the effort. Grease the bearings.
Louis
On Sunday, August 31, 2003, at 11:39 AM, marcey wrote:
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