John Baymore on sun 16 may 04
I get no more satisfaction from a tool I make than one I buy. My feeling=
is that if
I wanted to work with wood/metal/etc then I would be a woodworker, metal
worker, etc.
Hummmmmmm........... have to ponder that thought for a while. Have to
really identify what it is that makes me "appreciate" the handmade tools
that I make. Because I do tend to appreciate them more than many
commercial tools. Maybe it is simply because they work better for what I=
want them to do than most commercial stuff does. Often when I buy a
commercial tool..... I then modify it. I want a tool to do what I want..=
.
not necessarily what it inherenty tends to do.
There is an aspect of this "make tools....don't make tools" discussion th=
at
I think is important to add into the mix here. I am assuming here.... an=
d
I know that assumptions are a dangerous thing ....... that most of us
who work in clay are looking to develop work that is somewhat personalize=
d
and unique and maybe a little "about" our own vision of what claywork is.=
So I think it is important to keep in mind that many of the specific tool=
s
you use can have a GREAT impact on the "look" of your claywork. Make a=
paddle with a specific pattern on it....and it is "yours". Shape a rib =
to
a specific curve....and it is "yours". Make a ladle for pouring glazes a=
nd
it pours them a certain way. Make a brush....and it has an inherent
character of mark. Twist/kink a wire a certain way...and it makes a uniq=
ue
mark when it cuts the clay. And so on.
If we all use Kemper throwing tools, Jepsen ribs, Laguna B mix, and Malco=
lm
Davis's shino ...... there is a great homoginization factor at play . =
It is hard enough to "find your own voice" without making it harder on
yourself. And making it harder.... often comes by taking the "easier"
route.
So to make (or modify) many of your tools helps move you in a process of
GROWTH toward a more personal look in your work. (Or you can also look f=
or
commercial tools that no one else really uses much......which is sort of
related to the concept of the "originality" of the work depends on the
obscurity of the sources .)
Another issue that I think is important is the TIMING of acquiring what
might be considered the higher tech or "gimmicky" type tools. A
sophisticated tool can be a helper to your production and development if
introduced at the right time. Introduce it too soon however.... and it c=
an
often become an impediment to real skill development
and growth.
In fact, how can one judge the appropriateness of using a specific "too=
l"
if one does not have good skill in the intended process =
to start with?
If you are looking for a tool to replace developing handcraft skills...=
.
then what is the actual goal of doing so? Will "skippinmg" those
skills.... actually further your work....... or will it only seemingly
APPEAR to do that because you don't have the skill base to objectively
assess the true natue of the decision at that time?.
To someone who has not taken the time needed to learn stuff such as as th=
e
inherent physics of the movements and responses of objects on a spinning
wheel, the ability of work with objects that are "off round", and the
importance of wheel rotational speed to accomplishing a given task
.....................
the good ole' Giffin Grip can seem like a miracle come true. It can at
that point "shortcut" =
the necessity to acquire the IMPORTANT knowledge that comes from =
spending the time with stuff like tap centering and clay wads, not actual=
ly
getting the object back on center, and so on. =
=
These developmental experiences for a potter that "The Grip" can quickly=
eliminate (which are often touted as an "asset") actually ARE important
skills to develop that relate not only to getting an object back on cente=
r
to trim......... but also to throwing objects to start with, to how one
conceptualizes the thrown objects to start with (symmetry and "that won't=
work cause the Grip won't hold that specific shape well"), and to
developing a skill base and a mind set that is up to expanding challenges=
in forming process (problem solving).
The Giffin Grip is a brilliantly concieved and well executed tool. One o=
f
those "why didn't I think of that" items. But I strongly feel that it's
use too ealry in their development has impeded the progress of far too ma=
ny
budding potters and made their course of learning HARDER, not easier.
This is true of many other tools also...... the Giffin is just a
"convenient target" . =
(See the archives for a MASSIVE past discussion on "The Grip". This ha=
s
been around before to the max.)
In regard to "The Grip".... I think other methods are more flexible and=
faster once you have the hand skills and the problem-solving mindest. =
" When all you have is a happem.... the world looks like a nail."
As they say....... just one man's opinion.
best,
.......................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086-5812 USA
JBaymore@compuserve.com
http://www.JohnBaymore.com
603-654-2752 (studio)
800-900-1110 (studio)
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop: August 20-29,
2004"
Earl Brunner on sun 16 may 04
I think one of the keys is (whether or not you make the tool or someone else
makes it) the overall quality of the tool. Kemper beginner kits, cheap
brushes, and other poorly made tools don't last as well, nor often do as
good of a job as custom tools. I prefer my Bison trimming tools (I can't
make them), my Sherril ribs and my Keith Lebenzon and other handmade brushes
to the cheap alternatives. Shoot, the brushes make me look GOOD.
Ribs especially are things that I think we need to tweak. I often buy
commercial ones, but alter the curve or shape. I buy Kemper stainless steel
rectangle ribs and custom cut my bowl ribs from them. I also make ribs from
flexible sheet plastic. This is not time consuming, it only takes a few
minutes.
I get a lot of satisfaction from GOOD tools, whether I made them or someone
else did.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John Baymore
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 7:41 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Personalization and skills: made/bought tools
I get no more satisfaction from a tool I make than one I buy. My feeling
is that if
I wanted to work with wood/metal/etc then I would be a woodworker, metal
worker, etc.
Hummmmmmm........... have to ponder that thought for a while. Have to
really identify what it is that makes me "appreciate" the handmade tools
that I make. Because I do tend to appreciate them more than many
commercial tools. Maybe it is simply because they work better for what I
want them to do than most commercial stuff does. Often when I buy a
commercial tool..... I then modify it. I want a tool to do what I want...
not necessarily what it inherenty tends to do.
Vince Pitelka on sun 16 may 04
"I get no more satisfaction from a tool I make than one I buy. My feeling
is that if I wanted to work with wood/metal/etc then I would be a
woodworker, metal worker, etc."
John Baymore's excellent response caused me to ponder this as well. I have
written about this in my "Tooltimes" column in Claytimes. If you just
purchase ready made tools, you are always adapting yourself to someone
else's idea of what the tool is and what it is suppose to do. In essence, a
ready-made tool is designed for the maker's hands and ways of working,
rather than the users. Many ready-made tools are designed and made by very
perceptive and skillful people, and thus tend to effectively anticipate our
needs and our ways of working, but altogether too often, when that is not
the case, we adapt our work and our ways of working to fit the tool, and
that should NEVER be the case.
In other case, as in Phil Poburka's beautiful Bison tools, the materials are
simply beyond the means of most of us. Anyone with sufficient skills and
experience can make beautiful custom tools, but as the writer said above,
"If I wanted to work with wood, metal, etc., then I would be a woodworker,
metal worker, etc."
There is a certain amount of logic in that, but it is all a matter of
degrees. When a commercially available tool will really do exactly what you
want it to do, then go for it. If it won't then for heaven's sake don't
waste your money. Make your own tool tailored specifically to your needs.
Tools that you make become objects of pride and enjoyment in your daily
studio ritual. It is a pleasure to see them hanging on the rack or in the
toolbox, and it is a pleasure to use them. I challenge anyone to honestly
deny that.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
logan johnson on mon 17 may 04
claybair wrote:So many of my favorite tools were designed without
clay in mind.......
sureform
cheese slicer
embossing tool
drill bits
lemon zester
guitar wires
fishing line
etc.etc.
I love walking through hardware, kitchen, paint, dollar stores etc.
hoping to be called by some tool that recognizes I need it!
Periodically I will go on a tool diet and get rid of the ones
I really don't need....which is a great excuse to participate in
Clay it Forward. Last time I even gave one of my 2 coveted
Bison tools.
Now do I really need so many tools... of course not... but it's fun
to experiment & find the ones that become keepers.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
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"Carpe Argillam!!"
Lee Love on mon 17 may 04
John Baymore wrote:
>The Giffin Grip is a brilliantly concieved and well executed tool. One of
>those "why didn't I think of that" items. But I strongly feel that it's
>use too ealry in their development has impeded the progress of far too many
> budding potters and made their course of learning HARDER, not easier.
>
>
I recently bought a Giffin Grip. Was almost finished with a
trimming cycle when it arrived, but was able to try it a a few pieces.
I thought, "Why did I wait so long!"
You should see it on my Zelkova kickwheel. A little like a
Model T with a GPS system on the dash. ;-) The wheel head is so
big it fits on the most extended position.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://potters.blogspot.com/ Commentary On Pottery
claybair on mon 17 may 04
So many of my favorite tools were designed without
clay in mind.......
sureform
cheese slicer
embossing tool
drill bits
lemon zester
guitar wires
fishing line
etc.etc.
I love walking through hardware, kitchen, paint, dollar stores etc.
hoping to be called by some tool that recognizes I need it!
Periodically I will go on a tool diet and get rid of the ones
I really don't need....which is a great excuse to participate in
Clay it Forward. Last time I even gave one of my 2 coveted
Bison tools.
Now do I really need so many tools... of course not... but it's fun
to experiment & find the ones that become keepers.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
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