ilene richardson on sun 9 jan 05
Here's a question that I've been asking around and can't seem to get an
answer so I'd like to post it here and see what any responses might come
along to enlighten me.
In need of a potters wheel, (isn't everybody?), spent the day =
researching
the lovely Leach treadle wheel and the one that Gary makes and the old =
plans
etc. I just adore it. I've been to the websites, a few of them that
spectacularly show you the arrival, putting together stages, and =
actually
throwing on it! If you build it yourself, and that would be easy to do,
the cost is minimal, not counting your own time/hours.
Negative factor: I am not that young anymore and have hip joints that =
ache
and on my right side I am struggling with trochanter bursitis (an
inflammation of the bursea over the trochanter bone on your upper leg =
bone)
its quite painful, makes walking difficult and it has been a struggle.We
won't talk doctors and stuff, just looking for some viewpoints. The
interesting thing is, I can no longer walk on my treadmill, too painful =
and
impossible, but... I can and do ride my bicycle which I can journey over =
an
hour on that with no ill effects, it feels great and is wonderful for my
spirit. I can't walk far, but I sure can bike. (I've got a great bike, =
yes
helmet, and stuff and love it.)
I thought if I built or bought a Leach treadle wheel that it would be
similar to riding the bike, no pounding or weight for my hips to bear =
and I
could throw on it just fine. My husband believes that I will have a
wonderful time building it, but will use it one day and then be in too =
much
pain to ever use it again. I should probably buy an electric wheel and =
be
done with it, but the soulful experiences people write about having and
their connection to the clay while using a treadle seem worth building =
one.
On the otherhand, the electric would take my foot and little else of my
lower body. Unfortunately, it will also take around $700 of my money.
What are the experiences of the group out there? I'd like to know.
Sincerely,
Ilene
Eleanor on mon 10 jan 05
At 12:00 AM -0500 1/10/05,Ilene Richardson wrote:
> but the soulful experiences people write about having and
>their connection to the clay while using a treadle seem worth building =
>one.
For around 30 years I used a kickwheel my husband, son and I built
from a Pacifica kit and it was good. Then both the wheel and I got
older and I had to decide on a replacement (for the wheel!).
I bought the Brent C, having used it and liked it in clay classes.
I had never had a soulful connection to the clay because of the
kickwheel and never had any kind of nostalgia for it.
My connection to clay is through my hands; whether the turning wheel
is powered by a leg or electricity makes no difference to me. The
foot pedal is very responsive; I can regulate the speed without much
thought.
I can't comment on wheel type and your health problem. I would think
the best bet would be for you to somehow try out the wheel you like
before you buy.
Connectedness to a foot-powered wheel seems to me akin to people's
(mostly men I think) identification with their vehicles; they see
them (forgive me, Lili) as extensions of themselves. My car is
merely a convenient device for getting me from one place to another.
Happy New Year
Eleanor Kohler
Centerport, NY
John Rodgers on mon 10 jan 05
Ilene, you will never know what you can do until you try. A dear old
Jewish friend told me once, when I ask a question about what to do -
said in broken Yiddish "do what you think will work ... and maybe it
will!!"
That being said, I fully understand your delimma. I have joint problems,
and I finally gave up my kickwheel in favor of the electric wheel. The
electric wheel simply doesn't stress me as much. After I got it, I often
wondered why in the world I took so long to make the change.
I think the thing to consider is the fact that when we are attacked by
these infirmities as we age, they usually don't get any better, only
worse. So, that given, my feeling is you would be ahead of the game long
term to get the electric wheel. Yes, the Leach wheel has a certain
romance to it, and yes the electrics are expensive, but once you have
made the purchase, you won't need to change wheel types any where along
the way just because of encroaching ailments that seem to pursue us all.
And the electric wheel will last a very long time - 20-30 years anyway.
Good luck,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
ilene richardson wrote:
>Here's a question that I've been asking around and can't seem to get an
>answer so I'd like to post it here and see what any responses might come
>along to enlighten me.
>
>In need of a potters wheel, (isn't everybody?), spent the day researching
>the lovely Leach treadle wheel and the one that Gary makes and the old plans
>etc. I just adore it. I've been to the websites, a few of them that
>spectacularly show you the arrival, putting together stages, and actually
>throwing on it! If you build it yourself, and that would be easy to do,
>the cost is minimal, not counting your own time/hours.
>
>Negative factor: I am not that young anymore and have hip joints that ache
>and on my right side I am struggling with trochanter bursitis (an
>inflammation of the bursea over the trochanter bone on your upper leg bone)
>its quite painful, makes walking difficult and it has been a struggle.We
>won't talk doctors and stuff, just looking for some viewpoints. The
>interesting thing is, I can no longer walk on my treadmill, too painful and
>impossible, but... I can and do ride my bicycle which I can journey over an
>hour on that with no ill effects, it feels great and is wonderful for my
>spirit. I can't walk far, but I sure can bike. (I've got a great bike, yes
>helmet, and stuff and love it.)
>
>I thought if I built or bought a Leach treadle wheel that it would be
>similar to riding the bike, no pounding or weight for my hips to bear and I
>could throw on it just fine. My husband believes that I will have a
>wonderful time building it, but will use it one day and then be in too much
>pain to ever use it again. I should probably buy an electric wheel and be
>done with it, but the soulful experiences people write about having and
>their connection to the clay while using a treadle seem worth building one.
>On the otherhand, the electric would take my foot and little else of my
>lower body. Unfortunately, it will also take around $700 of my money.
>
>What are the experiences of the group out there? I'd like to know.
>Sincerely,
>Ilene
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
>
>
>
>
Candace Young/Norman Czuchra on mon 10 jan 05
Electric please for joint issues, but know that you must take frequent
breaks, stretch all of your body and learn how to breathe differently on an
electric wheel. Getting old (not that I myself am aging) is the pits, but
to limit ourselves instead of learning where to go to find tools that help
us "check"out" fulfilled is more painful than joint issues. If anyone
tells you that there is only one way to go and kickwheel is it, RUN!
I miss my kickwheel because of the lovely rhythm of breath, the pull and
the pause to look and kick but my joints are so much happier. While you're
at it, if you can, grab a deairing pug mill to limit wedging. I was
looking at really bad wrist problems until I forced myself to spend the
money. Again its not the same but my wrists are going to give me more time
to play. My Dr. told me that "joints are like yards. You want yours to
look nice? Don't play football on it every day. Use it, but use it
wisely. Feed it, water it, thatch it etc. No polo."
My mother at 90 hates people to see her using a walker. I'm looking
forward to ordering mine in a fabulous electric neon red with wheels if you
please.
Candace
Candace Young Mailto:candace@bayriverpottery.com
Norm Czuchra Mailto:norm@bayriverpottery.com
(252) 745-4749
107 S. Water Street
PO Box 394
Bayboro, NC 28515
http://bayriverpottery.com
Steve Mills on tue 11 jan 05
Dear Ilene,
Get Electric, but get the quietest you can find.
I started and did more than 12 years production on a Leach Wheel (I
still have it and am loath to part with it), BUT it hurts now to use it,
and the first batch of pots is as much about getting through the pain
barrier as making them; I have knee problems. With hip problems I fear
your Husband is spot on.
What I DO miss is the almost total silence while working; only the quiet
click of the treadle and the feeling that the wheel is part of me (Yes,
perhaps it is a male thing!).
My current wheel is electric, it is not quiet, but it is not electronic,
so the sound is on one level only and eventually almost vanishes into
the background. Really quiet wheels are available; we sell one over here
in the UK which is virtually silent (sadly it wasn't about when I bought
mine). So take time and get the right piece of kit and enjoy it for a
LONG time.
Steve
Bath
UK
>
>ilene richardson wrote:
>
>>Here's a question that I've been asking around and can't seem to get an
>>answer so I'd like to post it here and see what any responses might come
>>along to enlighten me.
>>
>>In need of a potters wheel, (isn't everybody?), spent the day researchin=
>g
>>the lovely Leach treadle wheel and the one that Gary makes and the old p=
>lans
>>etc. I just adore it. I've been to the websites, a few of them that
>>spectacularly show you the arrival, putting together stages, and actuall=
>y
>>throwing on it! If you build it yourself, and that would be easy to do,
>>the cost is minimal, not counting your own time/hours.
>>
>>Negative factor: I am not that young anymore and have hip joints that ac=
>he
>>and on my right side I am struggling with trochanter bursitis (an
>>inflammation of the bursea over the trochanter bone on your upper leg bo=
>ne)
>>its quite painful, makes walking difficult and it has been a struggle.We
>>won't talk doctors and stuff, just looking for some viewpoints. The
>>interesting thing is, I can no longer walk on my treadmill, too painful =
>and
>>impossible, but... I can and do ride my bicycle which I can journey over=
> an
>>hour on that with no ill effects, it feels great and is wonderful for my
>>spirit. I can't walk far, but I sure can bike. (I've got a great bike, y=
>es
>>helmet, and stuff and love it.)
>>
>>I thought if I built or bought a Leach treadle wheel that it would be
>>similar to riding the bike, no pounding or weight for my hips to bear an=
>d I
>>could throw on it just fine. My husband believes that I will have a
>>wonderful time building it, but will use it one day and then be in too m=
>uch
>>pain to ever use it again. I should probably buy an electric wheel and b=
>e
>>done with it, but the soulful experiences people write about having and
>>their connection to the clay while using a treadle seem worth building o=
>ne.
>>On the otherhand, the electric would take my foot and little else of my
>>lower body. Unfortunately, it will also take around $700 of my money.
>>
>>What are the experiences of the group out there? I'd like to know.
>>Sincerely,
>>Ilene
>>
>>________________________________________________________________________=
>______
>>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@pcli=
>nk.com.
>>
>>
>>
>>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
| |
|
