Eleanora Eden on wed 22 oct 03
I've been meaning to mention this. My most useful studio tool has been an
old two-blade swiss army knife and it has been my favorite for so long that
the case finally wore out and split off. Well I had just seen some crochet
hooks covered with fimo to make them easier to handle and I took some fimo
and made a gorgeous new permanent handle for my precious old dull
knife. It is awesome! If you have a tool you like but the handle is too
skinny or worn out give this idea a try!
Eleanora
Eleanora Eden 802 869-2003
Paradise Hill Road eeden@vermontel.net
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 www.eleanoraeden.com
Catherine White on fri 24 oct 03
I searched out "fimo". Google results show it as a polymer clay. How is it
used as a handle or rib? I've not used polymer clay. Your results sound
as though it's sturdy, flexible or hard(?), and permanent.
Thanks,
Catherine in Yuma, Arizona
----- Original Message -----
> Interesting that you mentioned the idea of using fimo. I have been using
fimo to make stamps for marking my pots with my signature. Because fimo is
no fine and not at all porous, it can make a very clear stamp.
> I have also used fimo to make ribs with notches for rounding off rims.
(The stuff that sells for $16+). It has lasted me forever and still hasn't
shown any signs of wearing out.>
> Charan
>Well I had just seen some crochet
hooks covered with fimo to make them easier to handle and I took some fimo
and made a gorgeous new permanent handle for my precious old dull
knife. It is awesome! If you have a tool you like but the handle is too
skinny or worn out give this idea a try!
>Eleanora
Susan Setley on fri 24 oct 03
In a message dated 10/24/03 8:05:06 PM, madronaartistsguild@YAHOO.COM writes:
<< Interesting that you mentioned the idea of using fimo. I have been using
fimo to make stamps for marking my pots with my signature. Because fimo is no
fine and not at all porous, it can make a very clear stamp.
I have also used fimo to make ribs with notches for rounding off rims. (The
stuff that sells for $16+). It has lasted me forever and still hasn't shown any
signs of wearing out.
Charan
>>
WOW -- what a great idea!!
Susan Setley on fri 24 oct 03
I have very broad hands (great when I was playing the piano) and one of my
favorite tools is a throwing stick. I have "real" throwing sticks but use other
things as well if the opening is narrow, such as a chopstick, but anything
that lets my fat hands get indirectly into narrow spaces, from a chopstick to a
throwing stick to a sponge on a stick, is very useful for me.
Madrona Artist on fri 24 oct 03
Interesting that you mentioned the idea of using fimo. I have been using fimo to make stamps for marking my pots with my signature. Because fimo is no fine and not at all porous, it can make a very clear stamp.
I have also used fimo to make ribs with notches for rounding off rims. (The stuff that sells for $16+). It has lasted me forever and still hasn't shown any signs of wearing out.
Charan
Madrona Artists Guild
3612 Center Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
http://www.madronaartistsguild.com
madronaartistsguild@yahoo.com
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Madrona Artist on sat 25 oct 03
Fimo is polymer clay. After kneading it very well it gets warm and soft. It can then be modified to whatever shape one needs. You can then bake it in your home oven to hardness as per directions mentioned on Fimo. It takes only a few minutes.
Wait till it has cooled to see how hard it is.
Charan
Catherine White wrote:
I searched out "fimo". Google results show it as a polymer clay. How is it
used as a handle or rib? I've not used polymer clay. Your results sound
as though it's sturdy, flexible or hard(?), and permanent.
Thanks,
Catherine in Yuma, Arizona
----- Original Message -----
> Interesting that you mentioned the idea of using fimo. I have been using
fimo to make stamps for marking my pots with my signature. Because fimo is
no fine and not at all porous, it can make a very clear stamp.
> I have also used fimo to make ribs with notches for rounding off rims.
(The stuff that sells for $16+). It has lasted me forever and still hasn't
shown any signs of wearing out.>
> Charan
>Well I had just seen some crochet
hooks covered with fimo to make them easier to handle and I took some fimo
and made a gorgeous new permanent handle for my precious old dull
knife. It is awesome! If you have a tool you like but the handle is too
skinny or worn out give this idea a try!
>Eleanora
______________________________________________________________________________
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.
Madrona Artists Guild
3612 Center Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
http://www.madronaartistsguild.com
madronaartistsguild@yahoo.com
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Catherine White on sat 25 oct 03
Thanks for the info. I'd been thinking of trying a liquid plastic sold in
hardware stores. I'd thought that multiple dips might form a handle but
your method is much better.
Catherine in Yuma, Arizona
Life is what happens while you're making other plans
----- Original Message -----
> Fimo is polymer clay. After kneading it very well it gets warm and soft.
It can then be modified to whatever shape one needs. You can then bake it in
your home oven to hardness as per directions mentioned on Fimo. It takes
only a few minutes.
> Wait till it has cooled to see how hard it is.
> Charan
ASHPOTS@AOL.COM on sat 20 nov 04
As i was trimming bowls today , i was thinking how ive tried lots of trimming
tools. Just to remind myself how much i like my Bison trimming tool i tried
all the ones ive used before.. I have a lot of my tools on a board that has
nails on it hanging on my shelf next to my wheel,,, I was amazed how much more i
like my Bison tool.. Its cuts so nice. If you havent used one , you are
missing a super tool.
I also bought
a heavy loop from Phil thinking i would like it for bigger stuff , but i
really like my original loop tool from Bison. I did break it once and Phil fixed
it..good as new
Just really had to share this because it is such a great tool
Mark on Lookout Mountain where the leaves are the most incredible colors,,
awesome ,awesome awesome
I
Chris Schafale on sun 21 nov 04
Dianne,
I had the same experience at first, but eventually got over it, at least
when I trim pots at a somewhat drier stage than I used to. I still get
chattering on soft leather-hard pots, and for them I use my old
Kempers. Beyond the issue of dryness, I found that playing with the angle
of the blade against the pot was most effective in learning to use them
well. I'm very happy with them now, especially the fact that they don't
wear out. I have at least a dozen of the old Kemper ones that I used to
rely on, in different stages of wear.
Chris
At 04:14 PM 11/21/2004, you wrote:
>sure wish i had the same results you all seem to have with bison
>trimming tools!
>all it did was make me feel completely inept! could not use the
>blankety-blank thing without chattering and destroying the surface of
>every pot!!
>i read all the recommendations about how to use it and tried all degrees
>of dryness of the clay with no success. (the thing finally broke...
>can't say i was sorry!)
>i wonder, am i the only one bison-challenged??
>dianne
>from denver, colorado
>
>
>On Saturday, November 20, 2004, at 05:30 PM, ASHPOTS@AOL.COM wrote:
>
>>As i was trimming bowls today , i was thinking how ive tried lots of
>>trimming
>>tools. Just to remind myself how much i like my Bison trimming tool i
>>tried
>>all the ones ive used before.. I have a lot of my tools on a board that
>>has
>>nails on it hanging on my shelf next to my wheel,,, I was amazed how
>>much more i
>>like my Bison tool.. Its cuts so nice. If you havent used one , you are
>>missing a super tool.
>>I also bought
>> a heavy loop from Phil thinking i would like it for bigger stuff ,
>>but i
>>really like my original loop tool from Bison. I did break it once and
>>Phil fixed
>>it..good as new
>>
>>Just really had to share this because it is such a great tool
>>
>>Mark on Lookout Mountain where the leaves are the most incredible
>>colors,,
>>awesome ,awesome awesome
>>
>>I
>>
>>______________________________________________________________________________
>>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.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA (near Raleigh)
www.lightonecandle.com
Galleries of Pottery Forms by Clayart Potters: www.potteryforms.org
Email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
claybair on sun 21 nov 04
I now have 7 Bison tools.....
If everyone on Clayart listened to us
extol the virtues of Phil's tools
we would have a lot of happy potters
and Phil could find/build his dream work shop!
I wrote a while back how much $ I was spending on
tools that wore out....... Phil's tools just do not wear out!
So a year's worth of inferior tools cost as much as one Bison.
Now after that year I still would have to buy another 6-8 of them.
Seems silly when one Bison tool will last as long as I do!
I use them for trimming, carving, sgraffito, decorating.
His catalogue is a work of art....craftsmanship of his tools and even
his calligraphic handwriting is a dead giveaway ... this man is an artist
and master craftsperson.
OT.... A friend sent this site to me as he knew I missed them in Oct.
Some fabulous shots of the Aurora.
http://www.extremeinstability.com/04-11-8.htm
Gayle Bair - doesn't covet much BUT don't mess with her Bison tools!
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: ASHPOTS@AOL.COM
As i was trimming bowls today , i was thinking how ive tried lots of
trimming
tools. Just to remind myself how much i like my Bison trimming tool i tried
all the ones ive used before.. I have a lot of my tools on a board that has
nails on it hanging on my shelf next to my wheel,,, I was amazed how much
more i
like my Bison tool.. Its cuts so nice. If you havent used one , you are
missing a super tool.
I also bought
a heavy loop from Phil thinking i would like it for bigger stuff , but i
really like my original loop tool from Bison. I did break it once and Phil
fixed
it..good as new
Just really had to share this because it is such a great tool
Mark on Lookout Mountain where the leaves are the most incredible colors,,
awesome ,awesome awesome
Earl Brunner on sun 21 nov 04
You must be bison-challenged, 'cuz they are the best trim tools I've ever
used.....
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Dianne Kirwin
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 1:15 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Favorite Tool
sure wish i had the same results you all seem to have with bison
trimming tools!
all it did was make me feel completely inept! could not use the
blankety-blank thing without chattering and destroying the surface of
every pot!!
i read all the recommendations about how to use it and tried all degrees
of dryness of the clay with no success. (the thing finally broke...
can't say i was sorry!)
i wonder, am i the only one bison-challenged??
Dianne Kirwin on sun 21 nov 04
sure wish i had the same results you all seem to have with bison
trimming tools!
all it did was make me feel completely inept! could not use the
blankety-blank thing without chattering and destroying the surface of
every pot!!
i read all the recommendations about how to use it and tried all degrees
of dryness of the clay with no success. (the thing finally broke...
can't say i was sorry!)
i wonder, am i the only one bison-challenged??
dianne
from denver, colorado
On Saturday, November 20, 2004, at 05:30 PM, ASHPOTS@AOL.COM wrote:
> As i was trimming bowls today , i was thinking how ive tried lots of
> trimming
> tools. Just to remind myself how much i like my Bison trimming tool i
> tried
> all the ones ive used before.. I have a lot of my tools on a board that
> has
> nails on it hanging on my shelf next to my wheel,,, I was amazed how
> much more i
> like my Bison tool.. Its cuts so nice. If you havent used one , you are
> missing a super tool.
> I also bought
> a heavy loop from Phil thinking i would like it for bigger stuff ,
> but i
> really like my original loop tool from Bison. I did break it once and
> Phil fixed
> it..good as new
>
> Just really had to share this because it is such a great tool
>
> Mark on Lookout Mountain where the leaves are the most incredible
> colors,,
> awesome ,awesome awesome
>
> I
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
>
william schran on sun 21 nov 04
Dianne from Denver wrote: >all it did was make me feel completely
inept! could not use the
blankety-blank thing without chattering and destroying the surface of
every pot!!<
>i wonder, am i the only one bison-challenged??<
I was Bison challenged. Phil sent me a prototype angle shaped tool
some time back - experienced the same chattering problem. Phil and
others folks told me I simply had to slow down. After years of having
the wheel going as fast for trimming as I would for centering it was
hard to make the change.
After one of my students gave me another Bison tool for my birthday,
I knew it was time to to start thinking differently. I simply had to
slow down. Now that I've reached that mid 50's mark, I'm finally
slowing down - in more ways than one.
It also helped to read the comments Phil wrote in his catalog - loop
tools for wetter clay, angle trimmers for harder clay.
Bill, Fredericksburg, Va, where I'm gearing up to try and get all of
my students' work finished by the end of the semester.
L. P. Skeen on sun 21 nov 04
Dianne, you jest ain't holdin' yer mouth right. ;) To keep from chattering,
you must slow the wheel down when you trim, and a Bison likes clay the
consistency of a Hershey bar. I say, send that sucker back to Phil and let
him fix it, then try again!
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dianne Kirwin"
> sure wish i had the same results you all seem to have with bison trimming
tools!
> all it did was make me feel completely inept! could not use the
blankety-blank thing without chattering and destroying the surface of
> every pot!!
wjskw@BELLSOUTH.NET on sun 21 nov 04
Diane:
Phil should probably answer this, but I love my Bisons. I will part
with them only when someone pries them out of my cold dead hands.
SLOW that wheel down. You are trying to trim too fast. The wheel
will be rotating much slower than you are accustomed to in order to
trim properly. Possibly slower than you would think possible to
trim. Varying the angle of the tool where it meets clay will help
also.
Most trimming tools may be thought of as a chainsaw.
Think of your Bison as a delicate scalpel.
Gently, slowly.
Try it, it works.
Best Regards,
Wayne Seidl
sure wish i had the same results you all seem to have with bison
trimming tools!
all it did was make me feel completely inept! could not use the
blankety-blank thing without chattering and destroying the surface
of
every pot!!
i read all the recommendations about how to use it and tried all
degrees
of dryness of the clay with no success. (the thing finally
broke...
can't say i was sorry!)
i wonder, am i the only one bison-challenged??
dianne
from denver, colorado
Lee Love on mon 22 nov 04
Dianne Kirwin wrote:
>
> i wonder, am i the only one bison-challenged??
> dianne
Hi Dianne,
The old saying goes, "If your only tool is a hammer, all the
problems look like nails."
I find that sharp tools are only good on clay that is
dryer. On soft clay, a dull tool is better. The sharp tools have
a tendency to bite into the soft clay. Hard trimmed has more of a
machined look. Soft trimmed leaves a less uniformed surface.
The wonderful feet on tradiional tea bowls are made from
bamboo knives.
--
in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!
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