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misc: floating crystals; wax and alumina; throwing pains

updated fri 11 dec 09

 

lili krakowski on tue 8 dec 09


1. Yes, putting the crystals in hot water dissolves them. But do save =3D
some and put them on a plate with a dark glaze...rather nice star =3D
patterns, one around each crystal. Really cheap thrill!

2. Yes, well, arumph, hum. Before there was liquid wax one mixed =3D
alumina or similar with karo syrup and applied. Worked fine. As I do =3D
not have Karo right now I tried with some Sorghum, also Pomegranate =3D
syrup--worked. You also can use plain mucilage--that tea colored glue =3D
from the Dollar Store. (The last, a Bonnie Staffel suggestion a while =3D
ago.)

3. There are several causes for throwing pains. Bad position. This =3D
can be sitting too long, stiffening up, trying to center too large a =3D
lump, aggravating a back condition--or having the wheel head too high or =
=3D
low.

I throw standing up, have for years. It allows me to shift my weight, =3D
move my body, relax my back and shoulders between pots. =3D20

If your wheel needs to be raised: you can buy extenstions or fill 5 lb =3D
cans (as from a cafeteria)
with cement. Center an upside down canning lid into the cement to =3D
"hole" the legs. Adjust cement to the right height. Before you decide =3D
on a height get some pieces of board--stand on them and throw. Try one =3D
inch,. two, even three. Just find out what relationship your hands have =
=3D
with ideal wheel head height. THEN adjust height of legs.

4. Flexible clay. Yes there was an article in CM and I will look for =3D
it. GREAR PITY CM no longer runs and indxe of the year's articles in =3D
December. I did try that mix of silicone goop and clay--worked =3D
perfectly well, but was odious to work with.=3D20


Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage

Marian Parkes on thu 10 dec 09


Thanks for the great suggestions, Lili. May I add one of my own even tho=
=3D
ugh
I'm a fledgling potter?

To raise the height of the wheel when I first took classes at the Communi=
=3D
ty
College here, I used inexpensive bed risers that I purchased at Target fo=
=3D
r
about $8. Each is rated to bear about 300 pounds of weight so sturdiness=
=3D

wasn't a problem. And since the wheel that I used changed from class to
class, they were easy to set up, tilting the wheel and slipping them unde=
=3D
r
one leg at a time. Usually, one of the other students would give me a ha=
=3D
nd
with this. They nest, so they took up little of the precious room that I=
=3D

had on my storage shelf. As I recall, they raised the wheel about 6 inch=
=3D
es.
There are others available from other sources that are more adjustable o=
=3D
r
higher or lower. Typically they are found in the area of the stores wher=
=3D
e
closet organizers and such are located.

Hope this suggestion helps someone.

Marian