Randy McCall on thu 11 jan 07
I ordered 11 Hydro-Bats and one 14" Hydro-Bat plate mold from Bailey.
Based on my experience the Hydro-Bats do not live up to its advertisement.
First of all the clay does not always pop right off the Hydro-Bats even
after drying for two or three days. I have had some pieces stick to both
the bats and the mold.
I thought that I would just be able to throw clay as I normally do on any
bat and it would pop off after some drying based on the advertisements, but
that does not always happen.
The mold works best if you roll out a piece of clay to the thickness you
desire and then press it on the mold while on the wheel. If you use little
or no water it will usually come off. That works fine for the plate mold,
but that is not what I expected. I thought that I would be able to just
center a piece of clay like I normally do and it would pop off.
Also some of the pieces just do not pop off the bats. They will also stick.
I called the company and they just said not to press down so hard and not to
use much water????????
Also one of the plates seems to have a wobble and is not level. Had a hard
time centering a wide bowl. I am going to recheck it to make sure no clay
was underneath it.
If anyone has some experience with the Hydro-Bats that will help me work
with them better please let me know..............
Randy
South Carolina
Pottery Web site
http://members.tripod.com/~McCallJ/index.html
Randall Moody on fri 12 jan 07
I bought 2 the other day and love them. Yes, if you use too much water you
will saturate the bat and the piece will take longer to release, but I have
been more than happy with mine. I didn't use the mold but bought them ready
made.
Randall in Atlanta
On 1/11/07, Randy McCall wrote:
>
> I ordered 11 Hydro-Bats and one 14" Hydro-Bat plate mold from Bailey.
>
> Based on my experience the Hydro-Bats do not live up to its advertisement.
>
Chris Groat on sat 13 jan 07
I've got 12 of the 14" bats. I love them!! As a precautionary measure I
clean off both the head of the wheel, and the bottom of the bat before
each use. Also, when they told you not to use much water, they meant to
say... 'don't get much water ON the bat'. I use quite a bit of water when
I make my plates, but I don't let it drip all over the bat. If the bat is
saturated with water, it won't be able to suck the water out of the pot
and therefore, the pot will stick to the bat. Also, patience is key!! You
will want to try to pull the plate off the bat, and I have messed up
several plates by trying to yank them off, but just be patient. Wait for
the plate to release itself all the way around. It will be very stiff, but
still easy to trim. It's good for plates to be stiff when trimmed, that
way they want slump during trimming. Also, make sure that they dry evenly
or else trimming will be a PAIN. I put my freshly thrown plates on a large
shelf that is enclosed with pieces of plastic. Hope this helps! I swear by
these things. I just ordered a 20" bat for making large platters, and I
can't wait to use it.
Marilu on sat 13 jan 07
Hi I tried a new Bat product that just came out and it is wonderful. It
comes with a 30 day money back guarantee so you can't go wrong.
Most pieces dry in less then a day very evenly and without cracking. The
clay sticks and doesn't slide around when wet and the pieces really do just
pop right off- most don't even need finishing! The Bat is really light and
no worry and hassle like plaster has because it doesn't chip. Doesn't warp
like wood and plastic. Its made of a new material that apparently doesn't
wear out.
It attaches quick and evenly every time and stays put till you quickly lift
it off when you are ready. No wobble problem like you experienced with the
hydro-bat. It is a great system and there is a page on the website that
shows you in numbers and graphs how much you save by using it. It really
pays for itself quickly in the amount of pieces you end up not losing. There
is no need to wait for it to dry between uses either. You can use as much
water as you want. Anyway check it out It is href="http://www.MiracleBat.com">http://www.MiracleBat.com
Marilu
Lois Ruben Aronow on sat 13 jan 07
Okay, I can't resist adding my 2 cents worth....and I do realize that many
people here are "new" potters, so I will be gentle.
I have been using hydrobats since they first came out. I was tired of making
my own plaster bats and loved the idea that you could put them back on the
wheel. You should ALWAYS make an undercut when using a bat, regardless of
whether it is plaster, hydrostone, plastic or masonite. Just common sense.
This goes for the plate form bats too. You need to get under the lip a
little with a metal rib to let the air in.
The only tools that will improve your throwing skills are your hands, your
heart, and the your patience.
Lois Ruben Aronow Ceramics
232 Third Street - # B202A
Brooklyn, NY 11215
p: 917..561..2854
f: 718..246.0819
www.loisaronow.com
www.craftsofthedamned.blogspot.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Marilu
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 8:10 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Hydro-Bat Experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi I tried a new Bat product that just came out and it is wonderful. It
comes with a 30 day money back guarantee so you can't go wrong.
Most pieces dry in less then a day very evenly and without cracking. The
clay sticks and doesn't slide around when wet and the pieces really do just
pop right off- most don't even need finishing! The Bat is really light and
no worry and hassle like plaster has because it doesn't chip. Doesn't warp
like wood and plastic. Its made of a new material that apparently doesn't
wear out.
It attaches quick and evenly every time and stays put till you quickly lift
it off when you are ready. No wobble problem like you experienced with the
hydro-bat. It is a great system and there is a page on the website that
shows you in numbers and graphs how much you save by using it. It really
pays for itself quickly in the amount of pieces you end up not losing. There
is no need to wait for it to dry between uses either. You can use as much
water as you want. Anyway check it out It is href="http://www.MiracleBat.com">http://www.MiracleBat.com
Marilu
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Jennifer Boyer on sat 13 jan 07
A 12 inch bat for 30.00???? Who can afford these! I'm not sure what
you mean about losing pots with other systems.....
Jennifer, who makes plaster bats with the Lester PlasterBat System.
Affordable and easy to make with little grommity things to keep your
bat pin holes from chipping. I like bat pins. No need to try talking
me out of it....
On Jan 13, 2007, at 8:09 PM, Marilu wrote:
> Hi I tried a new Bat product that just came out and it is
> wonderful. It
> comes with a 30 day money back guarantee so you can't go wrong.
>
> It attaches quick and evenly every time and stays put till you
> quickly lift
> it off when you are ready. No wobble problem like you experienced
> with the
> hydro-bat. It is a great system and there is a page on the website
> that
> shows you in numbers and graphs how much you save by using it. It
> really
> pays for itself quickly in the amount of pieces you end up not
> losing. There
> is no need to wait for it to dry between uses either. You can use
> as much
> water as you want. Anyway check it out It is > href="http://www.MiracleBat.com">http://www.MiracleBat.com
>
> Marilu
>
Jennifer Boyer
http://www.vtpots.com
jennifer@vtpots.com
Montpelier. Vermont
Craig Clark on sun 14 jan 07
"Marilu", this is nothing but an advertisement so I will respond to the
add. I went to the site listed below and must say that those are some
pretty radically high prices!! Why don't you contribute to the list for
awhile before trying to sell your overpriced merchandise.
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 St
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
Marilu wrote:
> Hi I tried a new Bat product that just came out and it is wonderful. It
> comes with a 30 day money back guarantee so you can't go wrong.
>
> Most pieces dry in less then a day very evenly and without cracking. The
> clay sticks and doesn't slide around when wet and the pieces really do just
> pop right off- most don't even need finishing! The Bat is really light and
> no worry and hassle like plaster has because it doesn't chip. Doesn't warp
> like wood and plastic. Its made of a new material that apparently doesn't
> wear out.
>
> It attaches quick and evenly every time and stays put till you quickly lift
> it off when you are ready. No wobble problem like you experienced with the
> hydro-bat. It is a great system and there is a page on the website that
> shows you in numbers and graphs how much you save by using it. It really
> pays for itself quickly in the amount of pieces you end up not losing. There
> is no need to wait for it to dry between uses either. You can use as much
> water as you want. Anyway check it out It is > href="http://www.MiracleBat.com">http://www.MiracleBat.com
>
> Marilu
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
>
>
Chris Groat on sun 14 jan 07
Oh yes, that is one thing I forgot to mention. Maybe because I just
thought it was a given. Unless you like trimming pots with jagged edges,
you have got to make an undercut! I just use a needle tool, but don't
press it down into the bat. When the Hydro-bat gets moist it also gets
pretty soft and you could easily goudge the surface. They are still much
stonger than plain old plaster though.
Eleanor on sun 14 jan 07
I have 12" and 14" flat Hydrobats and they are good. Before throwing,
I make sure the throwing surface is clear of old clay and I run the
tip of a palette knife under the edge of the finished pot; after it
sets up, the pot comes right up. I throw relatively dry -- that may
be a factor.
Recently I bought the Hydrobat plate and very large bowl models --
the bowl thing weighs a ton and I haven't yet figured out how best to
use it.
As for the plate bat, I was unable to actually throw a plate on it
(I'm not good at plates) but I've had some success with putting a
slab on it, adding a coil for a footring and throwing the ring.
Plates release very nicely.
Plate rims are a problem for me. I like them to be slightly thicker
than the rest of the plate; I think it looks nicer and it makes the
rim less prone to chipping. I tried compressing the rim inwards while
the slab was sill soft; that distorted the rim. The best I could do
was to work around the rim with a damp sponge when the plate was
leather-hard. That made the rim smooth and rounded but didn't thicken
it.
I like my Hydrobats. They replace the bats I made over 30 years ago
using ordinary plaster and pie plates.
Hydrobats were a bit pricey in comparison but nothing like the $70
Miracle Bat kit for just one bat. Money is no object with me but my
Depression Mentality (my kids' term -- I was born in 1931) tells me
that $70 is a bit much.
Any tips/insights on plate formation would be appreciated and not
just by me, I think. And has anyone used that big bowl thing? I made
a planter on it, using slabs; it's firing as I speak. Can one throw a
big bowl on it?????????
Eleanor Kohler
Centerport, NY
Global Warming here. Two of my kids live in Colorado; no Global
Warming there!
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