Janet Kaiser on sun 18 jan 04
Sorry... Had no idea someone would not know what a lath is!
Mostly because it was one of the first pieces of pot making
"equipment" I remember buying/owning!
Yes, a length of wood of whatever thickness you want the clay
slab to be. Usually fairly narrow, more by tradition than
necessity. I mean there is not really any reason why clay could
not be rolled out in the gap between two boards of equal
thickness... See if I can make an illustration:
o)))))))))))))o
##CCCCC##
Does that make sense? Perhaps I should explain in detail...
o))))))))))o is the "rolling pin" which can naturally be anything
smooth, solid and cylindrical
a ## wooden lath, dowel, board or whatever either side ##
and CCCCCCCC is the clay in the middle which will be rolled to
the thickness of whatever you chose to use as the ##
So not only will a narrow lath or dowel work, but any two flat,
solid "items" of equal thickness will too. For example two
cutting boards...
o[OOOOOOO]o
#########CCCCC########
The only problem being you can only roll out clay to a maximum
width equivalent to the length of the rolling pin minus the
overlap onto the two supporting laths/boards... For example a
household cookery pin is likely to be a maximum of 30 cm / 12
inches. So a rolled slab will be 11 inches absolute max. Much
less if you have a small / shorter pin or are a clumsy like me.
(I need a good inch or two overlap on both sides).
I would NOT like to work in Vince's workshop... Round dowels
rolling left and right whilst trying to roll the clay in the
middle, is not my idea of fun! OK... Little clay pellets would
keep them in place, but life is too short for that sort of
fussing!
It is highly unlikely I would personally use a harp for larger
slabs either, even though I have always advocated using a single
or multi-wired one for making tiles (especially for those who
have been having difficulty with tiles warping).
However, cutting slabs of equal thickness is still a learned
skill. Not everyone can manage to make even cuts right off and it
does need some strength in the arms and wrists! You beefy, brawny
people are really often not aware of your own strength! When you
say it does not take a lot of pressure, you may still be
expending two-three-four times as much as I possess IN TOTAL!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
***********************************************************
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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BOYCOTT COCA-COLA NOW!!
Make them stop stealing water for their
bottling plant in Southern India!!
"A world in perfect harmony"? So what happened?
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Elaine Ray on mon 19 jan 04
Maybe they can look at it as a type of assistance needed. Just like a ramp
may be needed to successfully and safely get into the building due to
physical limitations, these people may need centering assist to successfully
and safely throw a pot. Would this person "in charge" deny someone the use
of the wheels just because he/she couldn't walk up the stairs on his/her
own?!?
Also, what right does this person have to demand that these students put
their joints at higher risk for damage when there is a very easy way to
protect their joints.
It sounds like there would still be 9 wheels without the centering device so
those interested in learning to center themselves would have plenty of
opportunity to do so on those wheels.
Feel free to e-mail me directly if you wish, the idea of denying anyone
anything due to physical limitations is crazy and it makes me nuts!
Elaine Ray
Raleigh, NC
eray@nc.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara Kobler"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 12:51 PM
Subject: rolling pins; getting an even thickness, clay slabs, harps
> Re Janet Kaiser's post. Go girl. 'bout time someone speaks up for us
weaker wristed short fingered gals. It always breaks me up when one of my
potter friends, ex firemen over 6 ft, tell me 'aw it doesn't take much
pressure'. "Hold up your hand." I say. They do. I do. When they see that
mine is half the size of theirs, they get the picture.
>
> WANT SOME INPUT HERE: What do you all think of the Axner type centering
assist they are selling. I and a many other ladies, as we've aged with our
small weakened wrists, arthritis and other limiting physical onsets, can't
center anymore because of the type of pressure exerted. I bought and
donated one of those centering aids to the retirement community studio. It
works great. Helped lots of people. The person "in charge" of the wheels
(10 of em) removed it saying we had to teach the members to center properly
with their hands.
>
> I agree that beginning wheel potters need to learn to center with bare
hands if we are training people in an academic setting or ones wishing to
persue a career. But our members are 55-75+ and they shouldn't be denied
the joy of throwing because of weakened wrists/hands and old ideas. They
just want to enjoy learning and doing clay work, not start a new career. I
say lets help them, in any way they can. I have been so angry about this
attitude. (It'd help me too. I can no longer use my right hand with the
type of pressure required for centering.)
>
> Do any of you have any "experts words of wisdom" I can submit in support
of using this centering assist in our studio. God the small mindedness just
burns me.
>
> Barbara Kobler http://www.claywoman.net
>
>
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Barbara Kobler on mon 19 jan 04
Re Janet Kaiser's post. Go girl. 'bout time someone speaks up for us weaker wristed short fingered gals. It always breaks me up when one of my potter friends, ex firemen over 6 ft, tell me 'aw it doesn't take much pressure'. "Hold up your hand." I say. They do. I do. When they see that mine is half the size of theirs, they get the picture.
WANT SOME INPUT HERE: What do you all think of the Axner type centering assist they are selling. I and a many other ladies, as we've aged with our small weakened wrists, arthritis and other limiting physical onsets, can't center anymore because of the type of pressure exerted. I bought and donated one of those centering aids to the retirement community studio. It works great. Helped lots of people. The person "in charge" of the wheels (10 of em) removed it saying we had to teach the members to center properly with their hands.
I agree that beginning wheel potters need to learn to center with bare hands if we are training people in an academic setting or ones wishing to persue a career. But our members are 55-75+ and they shouldn't be denied the joy of throwing because of weakened wrists/hands and old ideas. They just want to enjoy learning and doing clay work, not start a new career. I say lets help them, in any way they can. I have been so angry about this attitude. (It'd help me too. I can no longer use my right hand with the type of pressure required for centering.)
Do any of you have any "experts words of wisdom" I can submit in support of using this centering assist in our studio. God the small mindedness just burns me.
Barbara Kobler http://www.claywoman.net
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