Londraville,Richard L on wed 12 nov 03
Hi-
New to the list so sorry if this is a stupid question. I have a Giffin
Grip-less than 2 yrs old and relatively light use. I set it up on my
old wheel according to instructions that came with it (bought it new)
and used it as I had others in many pottery centers along the way. The
weird thing is that, the foot I trim on bowls is distinctly
off-center-in that the rim of the bowl and the bottom are two offset
circles. If I use the stilts for a longer form (vase)-not a problem.
If I trim the bowl without the grip on the same wheel-no problem. So
now I have a new wheel (traded up for different reasons)-using same grip
and having same problem. The settings on the bottom (brackets that
screw in place to hold the grip on the wheel) are all spot-on the same
number. I tried moving those around to compensate for the problem but
that does not seem to work. The sponges on the grip do not seem to be
worn. I am not a pro but I have been throwing for 10 years and I know
how to center and how to tell if something is centered. The bowls are
thrown on bats and are not warped when removing bat from wheel.
And ideas out there?
-Richard
=20
Dr. Richard Londraville
Associate Professor of Biology
University of Akron
Dept. Biology
Akron, OH 44325-3908
330-972-7151
http://www2.uakron.edu/londraville/rll.htm
=20
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on wed 12 nov 03
Hi Richard,
Set aside the 'grip' for ordinary Bowls and the like, and,
acquire the knack of 'tap-to-center' when intending to Trim.
Also, sometimes, things are not initially quite so so
concentric as one may have wished, so far as the relation of
the rim and the foot.
This may be oweing to matters having been a little off in
the final moments of throwing, or, in subsequent drying.
Never the less, eyeballing the Bowl as it rotates
up-side-down on the Wheel, should allow a sense of just
where the average center of it is, or should be, or will be,
and...one Trims accordingly.
You will be much happier not to attempt to rely on the
'grip' for routine matters as may be elegantly,
expeditously, tapped-to-center, and to save the device for
those odd shapes as do not tend to stand well by themselves
to be Trimmed.
Too, simple Chucks may be extemporaneously made up to suit
the odd form as needed; merely throw a sort of do-nut, as
deep and internally narrow or wide as need be, set some
handy-wrap or something gently on and in it, and nestle the
to-be-Trimmed form as needed, maybe squeeze the do-nut in a
little if need be, and...there ye go.
Best wishes!
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Londraville,Richard L"
Hi-
New to the list so sorry if this is a stupid question. I
have a Giffin
Grip-less than 2 yrs old and relatively light use. I set it
up on my
old wheel according to instructions that came with it
(bought it new)
and used it as I had others in many pottery centers along
the way. The
weird thing is that, the foot I trim on bowls is distinctly
off-center-in that the rim of the bowl and the bottom are
two offset
circles. If I use the stilts for a longer form (vase)-not a
problem.
If I trim the bowl without the grip on the same wheel-no
problem. So
now I have a new wheel (traded up for different
reasons)-using same grip
and having same problem. The settings on the bottom
(brackets that
screw in place to hold the grip on the wheel) are all
spot-on the same
number. I tried moving those around to compensate for the
problem but
that does not seem to work. The sponges on the grip do not
seem to be
worn. I am not a pro but I have been throwing for 10 years
and I know
how to center and how to tell if something is centered. The
bowls are
thrown on bats and are not warped when removing bat from
wheel.
And ideas out there?
-Richard
Dr. Richard Londraville
Associate Professor of Biology
University of Akron
Dept. Biology
Akron, OH 44325-3908
330-972-7151
http://www2.uakron.edu/londraville/rll.htm
____________________________________________________________
__________________
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.
Kathi LeSueur on wed 12 nov 03
rlondra@UAKRON.EDU wrote:
>Hi-
>
>New to the list so sorry if this is a stupid question. I have a Giffin
>Grip-less than 2 yrs old and relatively light use. I set it up on my
>old wheel according to instructions that came with it (bought it new)
>and used it as I had others in many pottery centers along the way. The
>weird thing is that, the foot I trim on bowls is distinctly
>off-center-in that the rim of the bowl and the bottom are two offset
>circles.>>>
>
I had the same problem with a grip and had to replace it. That was the
only solution.
Kathi
>
>
>
Susan Setley on wed 12 nov 03
It is possible that your rims are slightly off round. Put pieces on the
Giffin without using the supports. Hold your finger in one place, rigidly, and
close your eye. See if your finger touches the piece in all places. If a piece is
even slightly out of round it will throw the Giffin off.
It is possible that when you throw taller pieces they go out of round less.
If they're out of round at the bottom, you'll have to make mechanical fudges,
such as an extra piece of thin foam between one gripper and your pot. The
Giffin is great when a piece is perfectly round at all points, but many pieces
are out of round at one point or another.
A friend had me put a radius line from center to the edge on one section of
my grip. When I put a piece on, I lightly mark the rim with a fingernail to
line up with that line before I take it off (when I remember -- smile) so I can
return it to exactly the same place. On some pieces that makes a huge
difference.
If you don't do that and it's slightly out of round, you can end up with "two
centers" on your trimming.
I like the Giffin because when a piece is slightly off, it's a real pain to
anchor it with clay (or any other way) and then get it back on the wheelhead or
bat in exactly the same way.
If you're willing to fudge with the three points, you can use the grip to put
centered bottoms on deliberately distorted throwing. But you have to
undestand that the Giffin is designed on the idea that the piece is perfectly centered
at all points when thrown.
Tony Ferguson on wed 12 nov 03
Rotate the grip all the way out and remove the pads. Turn the grip on its
side and make sure there are no bits of clay in it. Making sure the grip is
dialated (opened up to receive the pads) reinsert the pads and twist. It is
possible, rare as it is, to set a pad in the wrong grove--so if you think
its off, check it with something perfectly round and make sure all points
are contacting evenly.
Susan described perfectly what you can do to fudge with odd shapes. Find
something to insert infront of the pad for odd shapes.
Contrary to Phil's feelings, and I do know how to tap on center, the grip
works very very well for more forms than you would think. If you know
someone who has one try it out. It has increased my speed for trimming,
eliminated clay wad usage, and "nearly" eliminated pots from flying off the
wheel.
Thank you.
Tony Ferguson
On Lake Superior, where the sky meets the Lake
Custom & Manufactured Kiln Design
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku and more
by Coleman, Ferguson, Winchester...
http://www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
Dep
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Setley"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 12:25 PM
Subject: Re: Giffin Grip troubles
> It is possible that your rims are slightly off round. Put pieces on the
> Giffin without using the supports. Hold your finger in one place, rigidly,
and
> close your eye. See if your finger touches the piece in all places. If a
piece is
> even slightly out of round it will throw the Giffin off.
>
> It is possible that when you throw taller pieces they go out of round
less.
>
> If they're out of round at the bottom, you'll have to make mechanical
fudges,
> such as an extra piece of thin foam between one gripper and your pot. The
> Giffin is great when a piece is perfectly round at all points, but many
pieces
> are out of round at one point or another.
>
> A friend had me put a radius line from center to the edge on one section
of
> my grip. When I put a piece on, I lightly mark the rim with a fingernail
to
> line up with that line before I take it off (when I remember -- smile) so
I can
> return it to exactly the same place. On some pieces that makes a huge
> difference.
>
> If you don't do that and it's slightly out of round, you can end up with
"two
> centers" on your trimming.
>
> I like the Giffin because when a piece is slightly off, it's a real pain
to
> anchor it with clay (or any other way) and then get it back on the
wheelhead or
> bat in exactly the same way.
>
> If you're willing to fudge with the three points, you can use the grip to
put
> centered bottoms on deliberately distorted throwing. But you have to
> undestand that the Giffin is designed on the idea that the piece is
perfectly centered
> at all points when thrown.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>
Marvpots@AOL.COM on wed 12 nov 03
Call Griffin! They are the most likeley ones to solve your problem.
All the best.
Marvin Flowerman
marvpots@aol.com
elca branman on wed 12 nov 03
No one seriously seeking information ever asks a "stupid"
question..(If this answer is stupid, don't let me knowLOL
Try using the stilts inside the bowl...turn the sliders around and put
them in backwards so that they are inside the upside down bowl...
this may or may not help, but with big bowls it is sometimes easier to
work that way
>
>
Elca Branman
http://www.elcabranman.com
________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!
Cat Jarosz on wed 12 nov 03
Might behoove ya to check the sponge foam on the arms to see if its not
worn out more on one than on others, make sure that they are all same size..
sounds funny but I had that problem and changing out the pads was the trick to
getting things back right. Those pads wear out faster than you think they
do.. Cat Jarosz
Tom Sawyer on wed 12 nov 03
Check to see if there is some clay in one of the holes on the "sponges" [for
want of a better word]; if one of these attachments don't fit tightly and
the others do you'll trim off center. The metal rods need to set all the way
in the holes of the attachments [sponges]. I had a problem like this a few
years ago - drove me nuts until I figured it out.
Tom Sawyer
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of
Londraville,Richard L
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 8:50 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Giffin Grip troubles
Hi-
New to the list so sorry if this is a stupid question. I have a Giffin
Grip-less than 2 yrs old and relatively light use. I set it up on my
old wheel according to instructions that came with it (bought it new)
and used it as I had others in many pottery centers along the way. The
weird thing is that, the foot I trim on bowls is distinctly
off-center-in that the rim of the bowl and the bottom are two offset
circles. If I use the stilts for a longer form (vase)-not a problem.
If I trim the bowl without the grip on the same wheel-no problem. So
now I have a new wheel (traded up for different reasons)-using same grip
and having same problem. The settings on the bottom (brackets that
screw in place to hold the grip on the wheel) are all spot-on the same
number. I tried moving those around to compensate for the problem but
that does not seem to work. The sponges on the grip do not seem to be
worn. I am not a pro but I have been throwing for 10 years and I know
how to center and how to tell if something is centered. The bowls are
thrown on bats and are not warped when removing bat from wheel.
And ideas out there?
-Richard
Dr. Richard Londraville
Associate Professor of Biology
University of Akron
Dept. Biology
Akron, OH 44325-3908
330-972-7151
http://www2.uakron.edu/londraville/rll.htm
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
jeff on wed 12 nov 03
There could also be clay on the outside of the wheel where the grip slips
onto the wheel head.
foxpots on wed 12 nov 03
Dear Tom,
I'm glad you talked about this. I, too, was just going absolutely bonkers
trying to figure out why everything was off center. Don't know how long it
took me to figure out, but I sure felt like a dummy when the solution
presented itself.
Jean Wadsworth Cochran
http://www.foxhollowpottery.com
Check to see if there is some clay in one of the holes on the "sponges" [for
want of a better word]; if one of these attachments don't fit tightly and
the others do you'll trim off center. The metal rods need to set all the way
in the holes of the attachments [sponges]. I had a problem like this a few
years ago - drove me nuts until I figured it out.
Tom Sawyer
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com
Bruce Girrell on thu 13 nov 03
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned yet is to check the lip of the piece
being turned. If the lip is uneven then the bottom will wobble when the pot
is inverted, even if the Grip holds it perfectly centered.
I don't understand why Mr. Giffin has not introduced a 4 jaw independent
chuck for holding those irregular shapes, though.
Bruce "and I have at least three other ideas for improving that thing"
Girrell
LJ GOMBAR on fri 14 nov 03
Hi All!
As luck would have it, as soon as someone wrote about their Giffin Grip,
I was dealing with another issue with this same tool. For some shapes,
large shouldered vases, are too big to use the tall prongs on the
outside, the smaller prongs are too short, and land on the curve of the
shoulder, leading the vase to pop off the wheel when spinning, and the
opening at the lip of the vase is too small to do a
reverse-prongs-on-the-inside-pressing-out deal. So I was trying to use
the taller to medium length prongs, and reverse the wheel, so when it
was spinning, it would not loosen itself, the (brackets?) being so close
to the edge of the griffin wheel head. As I usually throw counter
clockwise, with the wheel pulling away from me, I was now trimming the
opposite way. The wheel made a high pitched whine when going... Is this
just because it is not used to it? Or a bit "dry" perhaps?
LJ
Who- in trying to trim "backwards" remembered how hard it was in the
beginning to learn how to throw and trim... And remembered what it was
like to have uncertainty at the wheel. And one of the large vases met a
misfortunate end, and flung itself off center, helplessly taking a
Giffin Grip prong with it...and one of her extra lives, if she had one.
Susan Setley on fri 14 nov 03
In a message dated 11/14/03 1:34:28 PM, lj@THEURNSTUDIO.COM writes:
<< And one of the large vases met a
misfortunate end, and flung itself off center, helplessly taking a
Giffin Grip prong with it...and one of her extra lives, if she had one. >>
Oh there's nothing like a piece flying across the room to rivet your
attention on what you just did wrong. :)
| |
|
