mel jacobson on tue 12 jul 05
on a trip to seagrove, i met tom gray...a full time production
potter. his studio was as clean as a hospital operating room.
(more so, i think.)
he placed his wheel in a rubbermade stock tank.
set the height so he stood at the wheel.
all the trimming went to the bottom of the tank.
he cleaned it about three times a year.
re/cycled the entire mess.
not a drop of clay on the floor.
i have found that immediate recycling of scrap clay
is the best way.
i actually let a great deal fall to the floor...and then
pick it up with a shovel..and right back into the pug mill
before it dries too much. a cup of water on top...and
the clay comes out ready for a last two pots.
keeping after scrap is very important. it does not pile up,
your studio is cleaner and you can pay for the entire days
studio work by making two big bowls from the scrap, at the end
of the day...sell them for fifty bucks each and your bottom line is better.
it takes some discipline to keep after studio maintenance...but it pays
off in a big way. i work alone, so it is up to me to do those tiny
chores each day. that is how i warm up each morning...work the pug
mill for a few minutes, make sure scrap is re/cycled, clean the floors
and wheel a bit.
i have never washed my wheel. it stays ready to work.
i know some wash everything, every day. i think that is a big waste
of time. a bit too compulsive for me. but keeping your studio in working
order is important.
each potter finds ways of working scrap/doing what is necessary for
you. no wheel fits all of us...it is up to the potter to make that wheel
area or work area fit you. concrete blocks, foot pedal elevation, plastic
containers...they all help. just keeping a five gallon pail near your wheel
to dump scrap clay in...is a good idea. then get that five gallons of clay
back into production.
a large plaster bucket/container works like a dream.
i have the plans in my book. just dump the five gallons
of scrap clay into the plaster bucket...three days later...ready
to wedge and throw.
it never has to age over again. keeps its aging property.
and, that is really important...if you do not let the scrap get dry...
it will always be aged clay. i hate short clay...so i avoid it.
small things to think about...but it pays off in a big way.
a great many production potters throw away scrap. mountains of
it. and that is fine...as long as they are making money and the
books balance. it may be too expensive to have the potter doing dog
work...re/cycling clay. just the way it is...each has to find their
own solution.
since i adjust all the clay i use...wether it is adding iron, grog and sand
or `lake superior iron sand`, i have to use the pug mill for every pot i
make...
so scrap is important to me. ( i actually have trouble throwing boxed,
de/aired
clay. it just is too tight for me. it has to come from my walker pug mill or
it does not feel right.)
if i just opened boxes of continental clay stoneware...made pots and
sold them...i would not consider keeping scrap. but, there is an old world
nordic system that makes my brain think...`don't throw away clay you
have just purchased.`...or, as my dad would say...`know how to save money..?
fold it and put it back in your pocket.`
it is the overwhelming pile of clay that drives potters crazy.
` gd it margaret, get that mountain out of the garage before the
neighbors start to practice climbing it.`
mel
from mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
http://home.comcast.net/~figglywig/clayart.htm
for gail's year book.
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on tue 12 jul 05
Hi Mel, all...
When I did have my little Potting Studio in the back here, my Trimmings were
never something that got a second thought.
I did tend to spin my Wheel slower than most, had Sharp Tools, so the
Trimmings did not fly off very far at all anyway, usually gathering on the
Wheel Head itself for me to gently coax off as it turned, whether damp or
Leather
Hard. Sometimes, Trimming bone-dry, what was comeing off was a narrow stream
of powder anyway.
All of the Trimings, of whatever kind, merely got scooped off of the Wheel
Station or floor, and there was not much to mention on the floor anyway (
either of which then got a wet rag wipe down when I was done for the day, )
and into
a 5 Gallon Bucket of Water, where, at liesure, they dissolved into what over
time, would be allowed to evaporate, with the occasional agitation, to be
thrown again when ready.
Same with incidental sweeping of sundry Clay bits or dust, a light sweep and
scoop to put into the Bucket, wet mop or wet rag wipe down, and that was
that...which was not much materal realy, a little handfull at most.
A slower Wheel and sharp Tools, tends to keep the Trimmings close, on the
Wheel Head or it's immediate surrounds, where they are easily managed.
Remember too, in the old days, practioners of either gender, often wore
proper normal day clothes, and merely rolled their Sleeves up...sometimes an
Apron maybe, and, overall, stayed 'clean'...
The days of the 'slower' Wheel Speeds did have everything to do with this I
think...
Love,
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
> on a trip to seagrove, i met tom gray...a full time production
> potter. his studio was as clean as a hospital operating room.
> (more so, i think.)
>
> he placed his wheel in a rubbermade stock tank.
> set the height so he stood at the wheel.
> all the trimming went to the bottom of the tank.
> he cleaned it about three times a year.
> re/cycled the entire mess.
>
> not a drop of clay on the floor.
>
> i have found that immediate recycling of scrap clay
> is the best way.
> i actually let a great deal fall to the floor...and then
> pick it up with a shovel..and right back into the pug mill
> before it dries too much. a cup of water on top...and
> the clay comes out ready for a last two pots.
<<<<<<<<< got snipped ! >>>>>>>>>
> mel
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