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wheel speed...turbo

updated tue 30 sep 97

 

Dan Saultman on thu 11 sep 97

My first potters wheel.
My first potters wheel was a kit that had a fiberglass flywheel that
you filled with sand. It was a kickwheel. After building a frame for
it; using a tractor seat, I tried it out. I kind-of overdid the frame
a bit and you climbed into it like an airplane. It was like a throne.
Very regal. Well after 15 minutes of kicking I knew that my right leg
would eventually become bigger than my waist. So, in true Tim Allen
style I designed a motor assist for it. I would get it going a little
with my foot and then kick in this rubber friction drive powered by a
2 horsepower electric motor and "lay rubber!". Well needless to say
that baby would hum. I would use about a teaspoon of water for
centering and just throw dry from there on...the rpms were whippin'.
When I finally got a "real" wheel I thought, "geez" what a pig". I
miss those days of turbo wheeling. When I finally shutdown my
operation I sold the wheel to a nun. Somewhere out there in Michigan
there is one wheel whippin' nun. Anybody ever try higher rpms?
Ooo ooo!
Dan Saultman