Rogier Donker on sun 30 apr 06
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 15:35:15 -0700
From: Elizabeth Priddy
Subject: Re: Amaco wheel
$1000 dollars sounds kind of crazy to me too. They
are large, cumbersome, have heads that require plaster
inserts, and HEAVY. Everybody here seems to want only
electric.
And you can get clay boss types for $400 new. and new
yorks for $350.
Anybody else?
E
:-) Well now ....
Guess I'm old school....I like heavy wheels! The prototype of the one
I designed back in the sixties when I was a young upstart, the one
that was in the Amaco catalogue for many,many years back in the
sixties and seventies, is still sitting in my studio.... working fine
thank you... plaster bats and all! :-)
Rogier
See us on the web at http://www.donkerstudio.org
Rick Hamelin on sun 30 apr 06
Back in 1983 I built my first wheel, a standing treadle wheel, with help from my dad. He was a machinist and he made an incredible wheel head for this baby as well as several other pieces.
In 1987 the inner city studio where I taught was cut from the city budget and it was forced to close. I bought the whole pottery studio, kiln, two amaco electric and three homemade kick wheels with the glaze chems.
The amaco wheels were two speeds of slow and slower. Coincidentally, I had earlier salvaged a 1/4 h dc motor w/controller from the landfill and this replaced the ac two speed motor quite nicely. I got another 10 years out of this new set up.
Then the motor died so I rebuilt the gear box, installed another 1/4 h dc and new controller. Still going strong and centers 25 lbs. The other electric is waiting for the 3/4 h dc sitting in the box. I will use a dc hand dial controller as well. I got use to it versus the foot pedal and I don't consider it a problem.
I can't use the wheel yet until I get out of the basement and into the new building out in the back yard. I really look forward to doing larger work.
Picked up to two more kilns for free this year that were used for burning out wax at the foundry. Barely used. I will rebuild them and I am looking for a good software program that interfaces with the three kiln zones for absolute control. I have an older computer waiting to be put back into service to run the kilns. This will get me up to five kilns.
The studio runs well as it is but it will be excellent in the new building.
Just have to find the time to get it all finished
Rick
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