Tom at Hutchtel on thu 23 jun 05
One of the interesting effects I think I've seen, is that when a vase is
properly thin, there is a lightness to the piece when you pick it off the
wheel or pick up the bat. It almost seems top weighted. It kind of floats.
I assume that this is a hand eye trick the body is doing to us. Do others
experience this?
Also, I've seen no one mention this so far, but after the first couple of
pulls, for me, it pays to slow the wheel down to 30 or 40 rpm. If you count
it, you'll find this is quite slow....anyway most of you have your wheels
going way too fast anyway. You really don't need a wheel going faster than
the average kickwheel.
When I first got ahold of a Leach treadle, John Heck who taught me and
arranged for me to get the Leach wheel, said "Listen to this wheel. It will
teach you more about clay than I ever could." He was right.
I've tuned my CI electric down so its maximum speed is about that of a
typical kick. You will, however, have to learn to feel the clay move as a
fluid rather than as a solid. It drives other potters nuts when they try to
throw on the slow wheel. But you can throw just as quickly on a slow wheel
as a powerhouse electric one going a jillion rpm. I would guess a lot more
pots have been thrown on manual wheels than on electric.
Even Mel's wheel go too fast.
Tom
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