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wheel eating fingernails.

updated mon 15 jun 98

 

wallace myers on wed 10 jun 98

Hi Folks:
Does anyone have a way for me to prevent my fingernails from
being ground away while throwing?
Thanks, Wallace

Kris Baum on thu 11 jun 98

Ooh- this happened to me, too. I didn't even notice it until my
nails were almost completely worn through, either. I think it
wasn't helped by the fact that I use grogged clay. My only solution
was to try to make a point of not going so close to the wheel head
when pulling up and not turning my hand out so much but keeping it
more vertical (perpendicular to the wheelhead so the fleshy part of
the side of your finger touches the wheelhead, not the side of your
fingernail.)

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi Folks:
> Does anyone have a way for me to prevent my fingernails from
> being ground away while throwing?
> Thanks, Wallace
>
>
Kris Baum
Shubunkin Pottery
Gaithersburg, MD
USA

mailto:shubunki@erols.com

Cindy on thu 11 jun 98

Wallace,

I've never had this problem. Two suggestions: Eat more protein, calcium,
and phosphorous. Use less groggy clay.

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

Paula Sibrack on thu 11 jun 98

Dear Wallace, Even after 30 years of throwing, whenever I make a lot of
plates, I grind down my left thumb nail. It is quite painful and I always feel
real stupid after I do it. A colleague from CT Clay Artists told me about
finger cots. They are like little rubbers for your fingers, actually used to
protect wounds. Two of them, one over the other, is enough insulation to
buffer the result of the grinding. Of course that is only treating the affect
and not the cause. The cause is how I pack and recenter a large quanity of
clay. Looks like I'm too old to correct this flaw; the finger cots, when I
remember them, work. Give some a try and let us know if they work for you.
Paula Sibrack, who has moved her Mac into her studio so wedding guests have
some privacy.

Melissa Carpenter on thu 11 jun 98

I have succeeded in stopping this problem completely. I now wrap my
ring and middle finger of my right hand with a product called "Gauztape"
over the tip and nail up to my second knuckle BEFORE I throw. I realize
I should not push against the wheel head, but I like to cut under at the
base and this has solved all my problems of wearing my fingers down to
the quick. The great thing about this product is that it only sticks to
itself and it is relatively thin. It is impregnated with latex and has
to be put on dry hands, but holds up to the water well. It grabs the
clay a little differently at first but once it gets wet and the surface
fills with slurry I have no problem. I get it at CVS.
>
> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 09:29:12 EDT
> From: wallace myers
> Subject: wheel eating fingernails.
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi Folks:
> Does anyone have a way for me to prevent my fingernails from
> being ground away while throwing?
> Thanks, Wallace
>
Melissa Carpenter
Claytime Studio
State College, PA
claytime@vicon.net

Dale McCleskey on thu 11 jun 98






DALE MCCLESKEY
06/11/98 07:43 AM

You know the saying, Wallace, "misery loves company." Sorry to hear you are
having the problem with carniverous bats, but mine have the same tastes. My
suggestion is get a small, flexible rubber rib and begin to do your
throwing (at least close to the wheelhead) with that. I have found that
wearing the rib a bit beats the heck out of eliminating my fingernail.


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi Folks:
Does anyone have a way for me to prevent my fingernails from
being ground away while throwing?
Thanks, Wallace

Elca Branman on fri 12 jun 98

I build on my nail with adhesive paper tape.(regular adhesive is too
bulky).that is wrapping and layering till I get some protection. Then
over that I put a finger cot(looks like a tiny rubber condom)..you get
them in drugstores for cuts etc.
This I do whenever the nail is down to the quick and is hurting..I've
also tried fake nail build up stuff when I have enough nail to start
with..not as successful
Elca ..at home in Sarasota,Florida

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tmartens on sun 14 jun 98

Another way to save the nails.
Once the 'lump' is centered and before you start throwing, use a flat
bit of wood cut at a 45 degree angle ( Mel's 45 stick) gouge out a
bit of clay with this tool and thus create a little shelf on the
outside to start pulling up. You can use the stick several times in
the pulling up process and "save the nails" thusly.
Toni Martens