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wheels for kids

updated thu 8 dec 11

 

Paul Haigh on mon 5 dec 11


Probably been answered
I have a friend who wants to get her daughter (maybe 6-7 yrs old?) a wheel.=
She doesn't want to invest in a $500 model, but she doesn't want the cheap=
, probably useless, kids wheels that you see advertised. Is there a good in=
termediate? maybe one of those travel sized dealios- table top demo wheel.

Rec's please and thank you


Paul Haigh
Wiley Hill Mudworks
Web: http://wileyhill.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wiley-Hill-Mudworks/108145139230652
etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WileyHillMudworks

Vince Pitelka on mon 5 dec 11


Paul Haigh wrote:
:I have a friend who wants to get her daughter (maybe 6-7 yrs old?) a =3D
wheel. She doesn't want to invest in a $500 model, but she doesn't want =3D
the cheap, probably useless, kids wheels that you see advertised. Is =3D
there a good intermediate? maybe one of those travel sized dealios- =3D
table top demo wheel."

Hi Paul -=3D20
$500 is a pretty inexpensive wheel, but for an even better deal, the =3D
Speedball (formerly Creative Industries) Artista portable wheel is on =3D
sale at www.clay-king.com for $339 delivered, and that is a hell of a =3D
deal. It's a nice little wheel, and not a toy at all, and it comes with =
=3D
a free tool kit. Shimpo's table-top wheel, called the Aspire, is on sale =
=3D
at Clay King for $351.88 delivered. I have not used either, so I do not =
=3D
have a recommendation as to which would be better. =3D20
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/

Dick C on mon 5 dec 11


Paul, Vince;
I have never used one of these wheels but I notice that the Shimpo
Aspire has a 7" wheel head and needs special bats to fit, while the
Speedball Arista has an 11" wheel head and standard bats can be used.
If I was buying one of these wheels that would give the edge to the
Speedball for me.
Dick

On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 12:53 PM, Vince Pitelka wrote:

> Paul Haigh wrote:
> :I have a friend who wants to get her daughter (maybe 6-7 yrs old?) a
> wheel. She doesn't want to invest in a $500 model, but she doesn't want t=
he
> cheap, probably useless, kids wheels that you see advertised. Is there a
> good intermediate? maybe one of those travel sized dealios- table top dem=
o
> wheel."
>
> Hi Paul -
> $500 is a pretty inexpensive wheel, but for an even better deal, the
> Speedball (formerly Creative Industries) Artista portable wheel is on sal=
e
> at www.clay-king.com for $339 delivered, and that is a hell of a deal.
> It's a nice little wheel, and not a toy at all, and it comes with a free
> tool kit. Shimpo's table-top wheel, called the Aspire, is on sale at Clay
> King for $351.88 delivered. I have not used either, so I do not have a
> recommendation as to which would be better.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft
> Tennessee Tech University
> vpitelka@dtccom.net
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
>

Rudy Tucker on mon 5 dec 11


You ask what is the best potters wheel for a 6 or 7 year old child?
I know that I am not answering your question but......... I think that you
should tell her to come back in 6 or 7 years for your answer.

I believe that it is more important for kids of this age to be involved
in a more creative endevor than training themselves to turn a symmetrical
pot
on the wheel. Let them just explore the soft pliable clay and allow it to
speak to
their imaginations. They can bring terrific expressions of their inner
thoughts and fantasies to life by hand building, pinching or whatever. Give
them
clay and a little encouragement and let them go at it. 12 to 14 year olds
will be physically more suited to wheel work.

There will be plenty of time for them to hone their technical skills later
and hopefully they will retain their creative energy (but only if they are
allowed to explore it early on) to apply those skills to.

just my two cents,
Rudy


----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Haigh"
To:
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 8:11 AM
Subject: wheels for kids


> Probably been answered
> I have a friend who wants to get her daughter (maybe 6-7 yrs old?) a
> wheel. She doesn't want to invest in a $500 model, but she doesn't want
> the cheap, probably useless, kids wheels that you see advertised. Is ther=
e
> a good intermediate? maybe one of those travel sized dealios- table top
> demo wheel.
>
> Rec's please and thank you
>
>
> Paul Haigh
> Wiley Hill Mudworks
> Web: http://wileyhill.com
> Facebook:
> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wiley-Hill-Mudworks/108145139230652
> etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WileyHillMudworks
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2102/4658 - Release Date: 12/05/11
>

"Lynn Barnwell @ Hinkle Creek Pottery" on mon 5 dec 11


I have the Shimpo Aspire wheel that I bought to take for demos. LOVE IT!
Sometimes I just set it up on my slab roller and stand and throw mugs,
bottles, small things but it can handle much more. I have the foot pedal
with mine. As to bats, I modified a bat from Euclid's that holds 6" tile=
s
to fit the Aspire and it works great. If set on a lower surface a child
could use it. When my grandchildren were that age I had a small wheel
called a clay devil? It had legs and you could sit in a standard chair to
use. Sold it when the kids got older. I agree that 6 or 7 year olds don't
really need a wheel. They have a short attention span and would rather jus=
t
squeeze the clay into figures.

Lynn Barnwell
Hinkle Creek Pottery
Corinth, MS
www.hinklecreekpottery.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vince Pitelka"
To:
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: wheels for kids


Paul Haigh wrote:
:I have a friend who wants to get her daughter (maybe 6-7 yrs old?) a wheel=
.
She doesn't want to invest in a $500 model, but she doesn't want the cheap,
probably useless, kids wheels that you see advertised. Is there a good
intermediate? maybe one of those travel sized dealios- table top demo
wheel."

Hi Paul -
$500 is a pretty inexpensive wheel, but for an even better deal, the
Speedball (formerly Creative Industries) Artista portable wheel is on sale
at www.clay-king.com for $339 delivered, and that is a hell of a deal. It'=
s
a nice little wheel, and not a toy at all, and it comes with a free tool
kit. Shimpo's table-top wheel, called the Aspire, is on sale at Clay King
for $351.88 delivered. I have not used either, so I do not have a
recommendation as to which would be better.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/

David Woof on tue 6 dec 11


Buy the wheel=3D2C slow it down=3D2C don't let them throw while wearing loo=
se o=3D
r
dangling anything that may get caught and snarled up in the clay or=3D20
wheel head.=3DA0 Soft clay=3D2C slow turning wheel!!!



If in time the interest idles=3D2C potters wheels always retain their resal=
e
value. (Try to find a good used one for sale of all that are sitting in
the dream of someday "I'll get to it again" storage.)
Estate sales are where I occasionally find one. I pick up used wheels and k=
=3D
ilns for financially stressed but dedicated students when I can find a good=
=3D
deal.



I used to have a dealership with Creative Industries=3D2C primarily to give=
=3D20
my students at "Earth and Fire School of Clay Art and Craft" a discount=3D2=
0
price on a good solid wheel.=3DA0 The proof of the Clay Boss wheel came fro=
m
their stand up to class room use in my school which used Clay Boss=3D20
wheels from 1997 until 2009 when I closed to begin teaching at Yavapai=3D20
college.=3D20



I do not know the Clay Boss wheels since Speed Ball bought out Creative Ind=
=3D
ustries=3D2C but if Vince says they are good I believe it from him=3D20
because he keeps up on things like potters equipment and he puts his=3D20
name and reputation on what he says.



I still have four old Clay Bosses still humming along with no down time in =
=3D
my high school art class for New Visions Academy.



Be well=3D2C=3DA0 Misneach=3D2C=3D20



David Woof

___________________________




=3D

Steve Slatin on wed 7 dec 11


Lynn -- I suspect it depends largely on the child involved.=3DA0 Last winte=
r =3D
a studio-mate=3D0Abrought a granddaughter and grandson to mess around -- th=
e =3D
grandson (11, I believe)=3D0Awas throwing on her wheel (having fun, going t=
op=3D
speed, not staying on center)=3DA0and I =3D0Awas glazing so the granddaugh=
ter=3D
=3DA0(age 7, I think)=3DA0took mine.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AShe wasn't getting too f=
ar so I ce=3D
ntered for her and started to open when she insisted=3D0Ashe could take it =
fr=3D
om there.=3DA0 She did, forming a rather nice bowl about 6" across (when=3D=
0Awe=3D
t) and just under 3" high.=3DA0 I trimmed the excess clay off for her, she =
pu=3D
lled a wire=3D0Aacross separating the bowl from the bat, and the bowl (whic=
h =3D
I trimmed for her, she=3D0Awasn't there when it was ready) was perfectly sa=
ti=3D
sfactory.=3D0A=3DA0=3D0AThe next time the granddaughter came to the studio,=
she b=3D
ecame absorbed with=3D0Ausing a moist sponge to bend the lip of the pot dow=
n,=3D
so she didn't complete another=3D0Apot.=3DA0 If she decides to pursue it, =
thou=3D
gh, she'll be a fine craftsperson -- very attentive=3D0Ato what her efforts=
d=3D
o to the material.=3D0A=3D0ASteve Slatin -- =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AN48.0886450=3D0A=
W123.1420482=3D
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A________________________________=3D0A=3D0A=3D0AI =3D0A=3D0AO=
n Mon, Dec 5, 20=3D
11 at 10:08 PM, Lynn Barnwell @ Hinkle Creek Pottery =3D
ontier.com> wrote:=3D0A=3D0A=3DA0 I have the Shimpo Aspire wheel that I bou=
ght to=3D
take for demos.=3DA0 LOVE IT!=3D0A=3DA0 Sometimes I just set it up on my s=
lab ro=3D
ller and stand and throw mugs,=3D0A=3DA0 bottles, small things but it can h=
andl=3D
e much more.=3DA0 I have the foot pedal=3D0A=3DA0 with mine.=3DA0 As to bat=
s,=3DA0 I =3D
modified a bat from Euclid's that holds 6" tiles=3D0A=3DA0 to fit the Aspir=
e an=3D
d it works great.=3DA0 If set on a lower surface a child=3D0A=3DA0 could us=
e it.=3D
=3DA0 When my grandchildren were that age I had a small wheel=3D0A=3DA0 cal=
led a =3D
clay devil? It had legs and you could sit in a standard chair to=3D0A=3DA0 =
use.=3D
=3DA0 Sold it when the kids got older.=3DA0 I agree that 6 or 7 year olds d=
on't=3D
=3D0A=3DA0 really need a wheel.=3DA0 They have a short attention span and w=
ould r=3D
ather just=3D0A=3DA0 squeeze the clay into figures.=3D0A=3D0A=3DA0 Lynn Bar=
nwell=3D0A=3D
=3DA0 Hinkle Creek Pottery=3D0A=3DA0 Corinth, MS=3D0A=3DA0 www.hinklecreekp=
ottery.com=3D