Margaret Shearman (The Canal House Studio) on fri 4 jul 97
Hi,
I just caught your post about your students 'losing' pin tools. I don't know
what they are doing with them, it takes me back to the first ( it may have
been the second) lesson that my husband and I took in pottery eleven years
ago. Our teacher instructed us to bring a wine cork to the next lesson. We
did as we were bid, thinking this must be some old pottery secret that we
were being initiated into. We were instructed to make a slit in one end, and
then insert our pin tool into it, it seems that many pin tools were lost in
the slop bucket, the cork enabled it to float, it seemed a little silly to us
at the time, but I must report that we both still have those same pin tools,
cork attached, and they are the ones we use, although we have other pin tools
as well now, they are very difficult to find! Thought you might be
interested.
Margaret Shearman
The Canal House Studio
Merrickville. Ontario
Sheron Roberts on sun 24 aug 03
I was taught to use the pin tool to even a
rim, if necessary. Makes trimming the
bottom easier. But I also use the pin tool
in beveling the bottom of the pot before
taking it off the wheel. First, while the wheel
is turning, I carefully run the pin or needle
under the bottom of the pot about an inch
or more. This loosens the pot from the bat.
Then I insert the tool at an angle about
1.4 inch or more into the clay as the pot=20
spins, sinking the tool all the way to the bat.
This cuts a nice clean wedge of clay from=20
the bottom of the pot, leaving a beveled edge.
I was taught this method, seems like a good
one and I don't feel the pot is finished unless
I do this. =20
Even now that I am throwing more loosely.
Sheron in soggy North Carolina, who thinks
Road Runner Pottery is a wonderful name.
Meep Meep
iandol on mon 25 aug 03
Dear Sheron Roberts,
You describe a perfectly legitimate use for a Pin Tool. Thrown pots =
completed this way seldom need any further work except for removal of =
any sharp edges. I use a piece of sharpened bamboo to make the same sort =
of bevel fillet and follow with a cut from the twisted cord.
>>But I also use the pin tool in bevelling the bottom of the pot before =
taking it off the wheel. First, while the wheel is turning, I carefully =
run the pin or needle under the bottom of the pot about an inch or more. =
This loosens the pot from the bat. Then I insert the tool at an angle =
about 1.4 inch or more into the clay as the pot spins, sinking the tool =
all the way to the bat. This cuts a nice clean wedge of clay from the =
bottom of the pot, leaving a bevelled edge. <<
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
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