elizabeth priddy on sat 23 oct 99
I've wanted to ask a plaster bat user about
this for a long time, but have feared
offending...
in all seriousness...
I was never satisfied with plaster because
little chunks of plaster wound up in things.
I don't think I was being sloppy; if a metal
tool came anywhere near the plaster, there goes
one more chunk into the studio which eventually
wound up in my pots.
Do you think the studio I was in was using
inferior grade plaster, or is the "chunk"
problem just something you live with with the
plaster bats?
There were many people using them. If it is
just you in the studio, is it possible to keep
them in good shape for more than one year?
I went to throwing on tile instead of
plastibats, because I really liked the drying
and popping off feature of plaster. Masonite
warp if left wet and I am not that meticulous.
Plastibats are expensive and flex a little as
well. Plaster was good but chunk-prone.
---
Elizabeth Priddy
personal email: epriddy@usa.net
website: http://www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
On Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:28:49 Bill Campbell wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Jonathan-I really don~t like any system of bats that uses pins. I really like
>the randall type plaster bat. I bought a system from Steve Jepson that allows
>me to use those bats on my Brent and Soldner wheels. plaster is a really fine
>material for bats. I like the Randall system because ti is so easy to return
>the bat to the wheel and it is always centered. plaster will release the clay
>without the need of it being cut off while it is wet. I never liked the thin
>masonite bats because they can bend while you are moving them and it sets up
>a warp that you don`t see until the pot is fired.
>The folks that sell Randal wheels sell the molds to make the bats or Jepson
>sells them made up for you.
>This is not the cheapest solution to this issue but I believe it is the best.
>Bill
>
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Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Robert Marshall Simpson on sun 24 oct 99
I have been using Jepson's plaster bats for a year now. I reuse my clay
with the help of a Peter Pugger and have never had a chunk of plaster show
up in it. I did take a chip out of the side of one bat when I accidentally
wacked it on a shelf, but have never had chunks come of of the bat floor
due to a tool. I have 3 other types of bats in my studio and don't want to
ever use them again.-
Kayte----
From: elizabeth priddy
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Saturday, October 23, 1999 3:16 PM
Subject: using plaster bats...
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I've wanted to ask a plaster bat user about
>this for a long time, but have feared
>offending...
>
>in all seriousness...
>
>I was never satisfied with plaster because
>little chunks of plaster wound up in things.
>
>I don't think I was being sloppy; if a metal
>tool came anywhere near the plaster, there goes
>one more chunk into the studio which eventually
>wound up in my pots.
>
>Do you think the studio I was in was using
>inferior grade plaster, or is the "chunk"
>problem just something you live with with the
>plaster bats?
>
>There were many people using them. If it is
>just you in the studio, is it possible to keep
>them in good shape for more than one year?
>
>I went to throwing on tile instead of
>plastibats, because I really liked the drying
>and popping off feature of plaster. Masonite
>warp if left wet and I am not that meticulous.
>Plastibats are expensive and flex a little as
>well. Plaster was good but chunk-prone.
>
>
>
>---
>Elizabeth Priddy
>
>personal email: epriddy@usa.net
>website: http://www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
>
>
>
>
>
>On Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:28:49 Bill Campbell wrote:
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Jonathan-I really don~t like any system of bats that uses pins. I really
like
>>the randall type plaster bat. I bought a system from Steve Jepson that
allows
>>me to use those bats on my Brent and Soldner wheels. plaster is a really
fine
>>material for bats. I like the Randall system because ti is so easy to
return
>>the bat to the wheel and it is always centered. plaster will release the
clay
>>without the need of it being cut off while it is wet. I never liked the
thin
>>masonite bats because they can bend while you are moving them and it sets
up
>>a warp that you don`t see until the pot is fired.
>>The folks that sell Randal wheels sell the molds to make the bats or
Jepson
>>sells them made up for you.
>>This is not the cheapest solution to this issue but I believe it is the
best.
>>Bill
>>
>
>
>--== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
>Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
>
Debby Grant on mon 25 oct 99
I have had a Randall wheel with a bucket head for 39 years. I love
throwing on plaster and have never had a problem with chunks getting
into the clay. Of course I have never used metal tools near the bat.
I also have a Brent wheel wheel on which I have tried plastibats.
masonite bats and medex bats. By far the best bats are the medex
bats which are made by the Saltbox Pottery in Maine. I have never
even bothered to put wingnuts on the bat pins. If a hole enlarges
you can always drill new ones, except in the plastibats. Most of my
throwing, however is done on the Randall wheel in which the plaster
bat comprises the actual wheel head and for mugs, small bowls,
cylender shapes, etc. I don't bother to change bats - just cut them
off like you would from a metal wheel head. I find it difficult to under-
stand what all the hullaballoo is about as to whether to use a bat or
not. You should do what feels best to you.
Debby Grant in NH
John Rodgers on tue 26 oct 99
Have heard a lot of hullabaloo about plaster bats yeilding little plaster pieces
that wind up in the clay. I've used them quite a bit. Never had a problem.
A key element to keep things plaster chip free is (1) use a good grade of
plaster...I use USG #1 Pottery Plaster, and (2) trim any sharp edges to a bevel.
If any place on the bat will fail and make plaster chips for the clay, it will b
any sharp edge. So trim those edges.
John Rodgers
B'ham, AL
elizabeth priddy wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I've wanted to ask a plaster bat user about
> this for a long time, but have feared
> offending...
>
> in all seriousness...
>
> I was never satisfied with plaster because
> little chunks of plaster wound up in things.
>
> I don't think I was being sloppy; if a metal
> tool came anywhere near the plaster, there goes
> one more chunk into the studio which eventually
> wound up in my pots.
>
> Do you think the studio I was in was using
> inferior grade plaster, or is the "chunk"
> problem just something you live with with the
> plaster bats?
>
> There were many people using them. If it is
> just you in the studio, is it possible to keep
> them in good shape for more than one year?
>
> I went to throwing on tile instead of
> plastibats, because I really liked the drying
> and popping off feature of plaster. Masonite
> warp if left wet and I am not that meticulous.
> Plastibats are expensive and flex a little as
> well. Plaster was good but chunk-prone.
>
> ---
> Elizabeth Priddy
>
> personal email: epriddy@usa.net
> website: http://www.angelfire.com/nc/clayworkshop
>
> On Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:28:49 Bill Campbell wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Jonathan-I really don~t like any system of bats that uses pins. I really like
> >the randall type plaster bat. I bought a system from Steve Jepson that allows
> >me to use those bats on my Brent and Soldner wheels. plaster is a really fine
> >material for bats. I like the Randall system because ti is so easy to return
> >the bat to the wheel and it is always centered. plaster will release the clay
> >without the need of it being cut off while it is wet. I never liked the thin
> >masonite bats because they can bend while you are moving them and it sets up
> >a warp that you don`t see until the pot is fired.
> >The folks that sell Randal wheels sell the molds to make the bats or Jepson
> >sells them made up for you.
> >This is not the cheapest solution to this issue but I believe it is the best.
> >Bill
> >
>
> --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
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