Cindy on wed 1 oct 97
John,
I have the slump-hump system, and I could use some advice. My bats tend to
crack, tho I've been careful to follow the instructions (including the
reinforcing screen in the bat). Also, I have trouble getting the bats to
release from the key after I've thrown my platter or whatever. I finally
resorted to digging air tunnels from the channels to the edges of the bats.
That helps a bit, but I still have to be *very* careful or I end up with a
collapsed rim on my platters/large bowls. Any ideas?
Now, an idea for you. I made 12" masonite bats from 1/4" masonite. If you
can get this double-tempered, hurray for you, but more likely, one side
will be smooth and the other side will have a sporty cross-hatch pattern.
They will warp in such a way that the cross-hatches will have to be used as
the top of the bat, too. Bummer. But . . . . you can get 1/8"
double-tempered--that is, smooth on both sides. I cut a square hole in the
center of one of my 1/4" thick round bats, then cut square bats of the 1/8"
thick masonite to match the hole dimensions. I fill the hole with one bat,
then place a second on top and throw on the top bat. It's smooth, the outer
ring is thick enough to keep the bat pins from bruising my fingers, and the
inner, square bat can be easily lifted out.
Here's the kicker--I treat these thin, square bats just like plaster.
They're wonderful for throwing mugs, saucers, small bowls, goblet parts,
and whatever else you want to make that's small. I don't cut things off
with a wire--just let them dry right on the bat. When I'm ready to trim, I
set the bat back into its chuck and trim the bottom edge of the
cup/whatever, then cut it off with a clean fettling knife. If you wait
until they're just dry enough, they pop right off, leaving that wonderful,
smooth bottom.
The thing I enjoy most about these bats (other than the smooth bottom), is
that they take up so little space on my shelves. Being square, they fit
together perfectly. Hope this is of some help, and, BTW, hope you have some
answers for my questions as well,
Cindy in Custer, SD
Cindy on fri 3 oct 97
Su,
The 1/4" bat is 12" in diameter (more or less), because that's the easiest
size to fit on my wheel head. No magic in those measurements. The square
bats are about 5x5". They do have to be a very tiny bit smaller than the
hole, of course, or they won't fit in. My dad made mine for me, and he did
get the hole the smallest bit off-center, so when I replace the bats for
trimming, I have to keep turning them until the piece is centered. As often
as not, I'm lucky and get them in right the first or second try. Still, do
try to get your square hole smack in the center of your round bat if you
can. ;) If you're not an avid woodworker, it's probably worth your trouble
to have a skilled friend make this system for you.
Here's a hint for making round bats of whatever size you want. Let's say
you're making 12x12. Cut a 12x12" square of masonite. Drill a small hole in
the center. Drill a hole the same diameter in the platform of your band
saw, 6" (or the radius of your bat diameter) from the blade. Place your
masonite square on the platform of the bandsaw, and insert a nail through
the hole in the wood and on down through the hole in the bandsaw platform.
To cut a perfect circle, just pivot the wood clockwise. Works slick, and
you can cut 5 or 6 bats at once if you like. To truly appreciate this
system, you have to have tried cutting round bats with a saber saw. Ugh!
Hope this is of use to you,
Cindy
----------
> From: RubySuMoon@aol.com
> To: cstrnad@gwtc.net
> Subject: Re: Slump Hump
> Date: Wednesday, October 01, 1997 7:33 PM
>
> Hi Cindy --
>
> I've been following the bat thread for a while, and really like your
system
> as you've described to John. My questions are, what is the diameter of
the
> 1/4" thick bat, and what are the measurements of the 1/8" square that
fits
> inside the thick bat? Seems like a nifty idea to me. Thanks for sharing
it!
>
> TIA
>
> Su
> Potting in Piedmont CA
> RubySuMoon@aol.com
Beverly B Haas on sat 4 oct 97
Cindy,
Would it be possible to mark the bat and the "frame" on one side just
before removing it? Like drawing a line in some clay slop or such.
Then, when you go to put it back in, you can just line up the marks. It
wouldn't really matter if it was centered perfectly if it was put back in
the same way. Just an idea.
Bev in Iowa
On Fri, 3 Oct 1997 08:38:54 EDT Cindy writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>Su,
>
>The 1/4" bat is 12" in diameter (more or less), because that's the
>easiest
>size to fit on my wheel head. No magic in those measurements. The
>square
>bats are about 5x5". They do have to be a very tiny bit smaller than
>the
>hole, of course, or they won't fit in. My dad made mine for me, and he
>did
>get the hole the smallest bit off-center, so when I replace the bats
>for
>trimming, I have to keep turning them until the piece is centered. As
>often
>as not, I'm lucky and get them in right the first or second try.
>Still, do
>try to get your square hole smack in the center of your round bat if
>you
>can. ;) If you're not an avid woodworker, it's probably worth your
>trouble
>to have a skilled friend make this system for you.
>
>Here's a hint for making round bats of whatever size you want. Let's
>say
>you're making 12x12. Cut a 12x12" square of masonite. Drill a small
>hole in
>the center. Drill a hole the same diameter in the platform of your
>band
>saw, 6" (or the radius of your bat diameter) from the blade. Place
>your
>masonite square on the platform of the bandsaw, and insert a nail
>through
>the hole in the wood and on down through the hole in the bandsaw
>platform.
>To cut a perfect circle, just pivot the wood clockwise. Works slick,
>and
>you can cut 5 or 6 bats at once if you like. To truly appreciate this
>system, you have to have tried cutting round bats with a saber saw.
>Ugh!
>
>Hope this is of use to you,
>
>Cindy
>
>----------
>> From: RubySuMoon@aol.com
>> To: cstrnad@gwtc.net
>> Subject: Re: Slump Hump
>> Date: Wednesday, October 01, 1997 7:33 PM
>>
>> Hi Cindy --
>>
>> I've been following the bat thread for a while, and really like your
>system
>> as you've described to John. My questions are, what is the diameter
>of
>the
>> 1/4" thick bat, and what are the measurements of the 1/8" square
>that
>fits
>> inside the thick bat? Seems like a nifty idea to me. Thanks for
>sharing
>it!
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Su
>> Potting in Piedmont CA
>> RubySuMoon@aol.com
>
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