search  current discussion  categories  wheels - misc 

hand-controlled wheels

updated sun 5 apr 98

 

Janet H Walker on thu 2 apr 98

...The reason I need the hand controller is that I stand to throw...

I've been wondering about this issue as well. I'm in love with
the Soldner wheel (and foot pedal!) but I too want to stand to
throw (whenever I get around to relearning how to throw). I
talked with the folks at the Bluebird booth at NCECA. You can
order the Soldner pedal specially fitted with a "thing" that
takes a gear-shift-like handle. I forget how they described it.
Something about welding on a threaded thingie into which you
would put the handle.

So, knowing that such a thing is possible with one brand of
wheel, it now becomes a matter of finding out whether the
wheel you want to buy can also be fitted with the same kind of
thing. Or its equivalent. The other thing I haven't fathomed
yet is whether it would be possible to throw standing up using
a kickwheel or treadle wheel. All kinds of ways NOT to do it
occur to me...

Good luck with your quest. Let us all know what you find out.
Jan Walker
Cambridge MA USA

Cindy on fri 3 apr 98

Jan,

I haven't gotten around to finding out about the controls, but I do throw
standing up. My splash pan is at just below waist-level. It was important
for me to get just the right height--anything too low or too high hurt my
back.

As to re-learning to throw, it isn't that drastic. Took me about 5-10
minutes to get the hang of it. Maybe not that long. I think standing to
throw on a kick wheel might be difficult because the kicking would put you
off balance. The actual throwing wouldn't be a problem. A treadle wheel
would pose fewer problems, I would think, but I've never thrown on a
treadle wheel, so couldn't say for sure.

Standing is much easier on your body--you don't have that slow unbending at
the end of the day. Also, you have much more freedom to move around as
you don't have to get up and down, up and down. Plus, I can see out my
window. Blue sky and melting snow.

Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm

John H. Rodgers on sat 4 apr 98

-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Cindy, you said
>>I think standing to throw on a kick wheel might be difficult because the
kicking would put you off balance.<<

I have a potter friend who has an antique production kickwheel, tall,
designed for throwing standing up. Have no idea what manufacturer, but it is
very old.

John Rodgers
In Alabama
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

Date: Friday, 03-Apr-98 07:39 AM

From: Cindy \ Internet: (cstrnad@gwtc.net)
To: Clayart \ Internet: (clayart@lsv.uky.edu)

Subject: Re: hand-controlled wheels

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Jan,

I haven't gotten around to finding out about the controls, but I do throw
standing up. My splash pan is at just below waist-level. It was important
for me to get just the right height--anything too low or too high hurt my
back.

As to re-learning to throw, it isn't that drastic. Took me about 5-10
minutes to get the hang of it. Maybe not that long. I think standing to
throw on a kick wheel might be difficult because the kicking would put you
off balance. The actual throwing wouldn't be a problem. A treadle wheel
would pose fewer problems, I would think, but I've never thrown on a treadle
wheel, so couldn't say for sure.

Standing is much easier on your body--you don't have that slow unbending at
the end of the day. Also, you have much more freedom to move around as
you don't have to get up and down, up and down. Plus, I can see out my
window. Blue sky and melting snow.

Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm


-------- REPLY, End of original message --------