Kathi LeSueur on sun 7 sep 03
For several years I leased a Ram press. I had two dies. From these I
made a a variety of products always altering the initial form. I learned
a number of things during this time. One, a good potter can beat a press
any day. The amount of time it takes to set up the machine, prepare the
die and clay, press the work and finish the work is just not time
effective for the average potter. Two, you can make a lot of seconds
real fast with a press. Three, not just any warm body can produce
quality product from a press. It is a skill to use it well just like it
is a skill to use any machine well. Four, a RAM press is not cost
effective for the average potter. A master die from RAM will probably
cost $1200 to $1500. Working dies are about $250. You can press any
where from 200 to 1000 pieces off of a die. That is, if you don't crack
it first. A common problem with beginners. If that piece you had the
master made from is flawed ( and the first one probably will be) you'll
either spend another $1500 for a new master or spend more time working
around the flaw than if you'd just thrown the piece. Project these costs
over all of the pieces you think you'll want to press and the cost
really rises. Yes, you can make your own dies. But most people I've
talked to ended up letting RAM do it. Five, it doesn't matter how many
pieces the press can spit out in a day. What matters is how many piece
you can fit in a kiln each week. That's the limiting factor in your
production.
That said, there are up sides to pressing. When I injured my shoulder
and had surgery, that press was a career saver. My surgeon had limited
me to centering one pound of clay for three months. I was probably at my
most creative with pressed pieces at that point as I tried to have lots
of variety in product from those two simple dies. Carving, combining,
altering. Just lots of things to do with those pieces. As more of us
age, it becomes harder to do the physical labor required to produce
pots. A press can help.
And finally, the most interesting things about pressing were: one, none
of my customers cared. They thought it was great that there was a
machine to take some of the physical strain. Perhaps if I'd just pressed
a simple bowl and put on a simple glaze they might have felt
differently. People never thought I pressed the pieces I did. They would
come up with two pieces and decide to "take this one because it's a
little bigger." But they often thought my slab work was pressed and it
never was. Someone would come into the booth (usually another potter)
and say to their friend, "See this is RAM pressed." I would tell them
they were wrong. And they would argue with me not believing that anyone
could get that consistancy without a press. Care and craftsmanship just
caused them to think I was "cheating".
I know a number of people who slip cast a portion of their work. They
feel it is "legitimate" because it's "hands on". I really don't care. I
know that at one time they could have thrown those large vases. But,
like me, their body is giving out. And if they want to continue with
their careers they have to compromise. Not a fun choice, but sometimes a
necessary one.
Kathi
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