Thonas C. Curran on wed 2 dec 98
Just came up from studio where I was trimming bottle forms. I have
chucks, I have Giffin Grip but I'm not sure about patience. For years I
was production potter and made mostly forms which needed no upside down
trimming, but now I'm having fun making bottles with small bases which
require a good bit of trimming. I would love to invent something better
but my little grey cells have not come up with anything. Any
suggestions? Am I the only one who hates to trim in a chuck? I have
tried non fired wheelthrown chucks, but they aren't too great if you
have a table full of different shaped bottles which require diff.
chucks. I have also used Giffin grip along with a little bisqued
wbeelthrown mini chuck which supports neck of bottle, but it's not a
perfect solution. Don't know if there IS a perfect solution but figured
someone out there may have a brilliant idea to share. Thanks again.
CNC
Craig Martell on thu 3 dec 98
Hi:
Try turning bottles while they are still upright. Don't undercut with a
wire until you've finished turning away the extra clay. If you don't throw
on a bat, you can recenter and stick them to the wheelhead with some water.
I do this when the pots are about cheesehard so I can feel the wall
resistance. Then invert them in a chuck and turn the footring if you need
to do this. No big deal because you've already done most of the work. For
porcelain, I usually need to turn away some of the clay from the bottom to
avoid those small irritating radial cracks that develop during drying. I
use a white stoneware sometimes for salt glazing and I don't invert the pots
after turning down the lower wall. I just pop them off the wheel and wait
till they dry and then glaze 'em.
When one turns these forms in the upright position, you can see the form
develop to completion without popping them out of the chuck for a quick
eyeballing.
turn and burn, Craig Martell in Oregon
Bonita Cohn on thu 3 dec 98
Dear Thomas, Here's a few suggestions. 1.When throwing the bottles, get the
outer profile clean and finished before you cut it off the wheel, If you can,
pat the bottom up, and trimming should be minimal.
2. For a more perfectionist way, make a chucks that nest inside each other as
adapters. Also, I trim on a foam bat, place the chuck on it, and the weight
seems to keep it down and centering is a cinch. Never used a giffen.
3. Emergency chucks can be freshly thrown, lined with plastic, and pot place
inside and squeezed to fit. Of course, this all requires PATIENCE. Good luck,
Bonita in SF
Thonas C. Curran on thu 3 dec 98
Just came up from studio where I was trimming bottle forms. I have
chucks, I have Giffin Grip but I'm not sure about patience. For years I
was production potter and made mostly forms which needed no upside down
trimming, but now I'm having fun making bottles with small bases which
require a good bit of trimming. I would love to invent something better
but my little grey cells have not come up with anything. Any
suggestions? Am I the only one who hates to trim in a chuck? I have
tried non fired wheelthrown chucks, but they aren't too great if you
have a table full of different shaped bottles which require diff.
chucks. I have also used Giffin grip along with a little bisqued
wbeelthrown mini chuck which supports neck of bottle, but it's not a
perfect solution. Don't know if there IS a perfect solution but figured
someone out there may have a brilliant idea to share. Thanks again.
CNC
Judith Musicant on fri 4 dec 98
I also hate using chucks, nor am I a fan of the Giffin Grip. Here are two
solutions I use for trimming any taller, narrow necked pieces, including
bottles, pitchers and vases. Try trimming wet, as soon as you have
finished shaping the piece and it is still attached to the wheelhead. Just
use your usual trimming tool(s). You can trim off quite a bit that way.
Another solution is to trim the piece right-side up when it's leather hard.
I attach it to the wheel by moistening the wheelhead and tapping the pot on
center. Then I press very small coils of clay around the very bottom and
securely fasten the pot to the wheel head by meshing the coils into the pot
with a wooden tool and/or a sponge and down onto the wheel head while the
wheel is turning. You don't even necessarily need the clay coils,
especially if the pot is not quite leather hard--just use a wooden tool to
press some of the clay from the side of the pot onto the wheel head to hold
it securely. Then trim as usual. When you're finished trimming, you can
get a nice clean line at the base by running a needle tool around the base
at the wheelhead before taking the pot off. The thing I like about
trimming right side up, either wet or leather hard, is that you have a
better view of the form of the pot as it is being trimmed, instead of
having to turn it over if you are trimming upside down.
Good luck,
Judy
Peggy Heer on fri 4 dec 98
I sent the following post to CNC but thought that begginners might want to
know another way to trim bottles.
As Always In Clay Peggy
--------
Hi CNC...I trimmed all my fine rimmed porcelain bottles right side
up....and do large work the same way.
Wet the bottom of your pot...just a little now...just so it is damp....then
place it on your wheel head upright...move it about just a little to create
some slurry and then quickly tap it into center. This has to be done
fairly quick coz the the slip will 'grab' your pot real fast. Toooo much
water and it will slide around forever.
I generally run a small wood tool around the base of the pot to furthar
adhere it to the wheel head...just a little insurance....then trim away.
If your actual bottom is thin to begin with...which I am sure it is if you
were a production potter and did not trim.....then you just have to wipe
the bottom when the pot is finished being trimmed.
Oh, nearly forgot...to take it off the wheel head, just give it a sharp
slap/pop, in a upward motion, at the base of the pot but make sure you
catch it. Then of course wipe up the bottom and your done.
I really enjoy trimming elegant shapes this way as one is able to see the
shape of the pot...as it will stand when finished. Of course, looking in a
mirror while doing the trim. helps with a fine shape. Have fun.
As Always in Clay Peggy
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Just came up from studio where I was trimming bottle forms. I have
>chucks, I have Giffin Grip but I'm not sure about patience. For years I
>was production potter and made mostly forms which needed no upside down
>trimming, but now I'm having fun making bottles with small bases which
>require a good bit of trimming. I would love to invent something better
>but my little grey cells have not come up with anything. Any
>suggestions? Am I the only one who hates to trim in a chuck? I have
>tried non fired wheelthrown chucks, but they aren't too great if you
>have a table full of different shaped bottles which require diff.
>chucks. I have also used Giffin grip along with a little bisqued
>wbeelthrown mini chuck which supports neck of bottle, but it's not a
>perfect solution. Don't know if there IS a perfect solution but figured
>someone out there may have a brilliant idea to share. Thanks again.
>CNC
Peggy Heer / Heer Pottery E-Mail p4337@connect.ab.ca
52120 Range Road 223
Sherwood Park, AB. Canada T8C 1A7
Phone (403) 922-6270
http://www.ffa.ucalgary.ca/artists/pheer/
http://www.connect.ab.ca/~p4337/
Stephen Mills on fri 4 dec 98
This may be of use, it's a variation on the "chuck" theme: when I worked
briefly at a country pottery we would throw a chuck, wind a strip of
muslin round it (rim and outside) put the piece to be turned in and trim
it. If you need to change the shape of the chuck unwind the muslin,
reshape, and replace it. Also to give added stability, put a plastic cap
upside down on the foot and put a wet finger in it (your spare hand) to
hold it steady while you work with the other hand.
Steve
Also a bottle nut
Bath
UK
In message , Thonas C. Curran writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Just came up from studio where I was trimming bottle forms. I have
>chucks, I have Giffin Grip but I'm not sure about patience. For years I
>was production potter and made mostly forms which needed no upside down
>trimming, but now I'm having fun making bottles with small bases which
>require a good bit of trimming. I would love to invent something better
>but my little grey cells have not come up with anything. Any
>suggestions? Am I the only one who hates to trim in a chuck? I have
>tried non fired wheelthrown chucks, but they aren't too great if you
>have a table full of different shaped bottles which require diff.
>chucks. I have also used Giffin grip along with a little bisqued
>wbeelthrown mini chuck which supports neck of bottle, but it's not a
>perfect solution. Don't know if there IS a perfect solution but figured
>someone out there may have a brilliant idea to share. Thanks again.
>CNC
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Steven Rushefsky on sat 5 dec 98
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
From: "Thonas C. Curran"
Am I the only one who hates to trim in a chuck? I have
tried non fired wheelthrown chucks, but they aren't too great if you
have a table full of different shaped bottles which require diff.
chucks.
-------------------------------REPLY----------------------------------
USE A PLASTIC BUCKET WITH A TRIMMABLE COIL OF CLAY AT ITS TOP:
My teacher, master potter Yuji Yasui, took a PLASTIC BUCKET (cylindrical) and
centered it upright on the wheel head, anchored down with clay outside the
bottom.
He took a big fat coil and basically added it to the top of the bucket.
He trimmed the first, smaller pot using the coil of clay as a chuck.
Next pot: take a big trimming tool, quickly remove some clay from the coil
while the wheel is turning. (If you hold the trimming tool steady, it happens
quickly, and keeps the coil "on center".) This is your NEW chuck for the
larger pot.
Repeat as needed. You can trim several pots this way, of increasing size. It
is remarkably quick and efficient.
You do have to get used to trimming with "fresh" clay touching the pot.
StevenRu@aol.com in NYC.
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