Kathy Forer on tue 20 jan 04
questions!)
I use one of the surplus metal shelving units as a wedging table. It's
about 36" x 40" and about the right height for me, adjustable. I turned
the top metal shelf upside down, put in the nuts and threaded bolts,
plugged the corners and the poured plaster, adding some bone emulsion
as hardener. I added some extra cross braces and it's very stable. At
1-1/4" it's probably a bit thin for industrial use, but I haven't
broken it yet and it soaks up all the muck I can give it.
Kathy Forer
Hendrix, Taylor J on tue 20 jan 04
questions!)
William and others:
Someone suggested pouring plaster wedging tables with canvas tops, so I
tried one.
I used some handy 2 by 4 scrap to make a frame. I found some heavy
canvas duck like Vince has suggested and I stapled it onto the frame
making sure I stretched it tightly. I then turned it over onto a flat
surface (my garage floor). The canvas is now the bottom of the frame.
I mixed 50 pounds of plaster, yes you heard me right 50 pounds, and
poured it into the frame. The frame took all 50 lbs. When it finally
set I had a very nice wedging surface. The canvas is held fast to the
plaster and protects the clay from any plaster chips. Cleanup is very
simple: wet sponge. I just 'threw' some slabs the other day to make
test tiles and I saw no dust billows. The surface was a bit dirty too.
I think because the canvas and plaster are in such intimate contact, the
canvas doesn't have a chance to shake itself out as it were. I'm sure
there is some dust kicked up doing this on my dirty wedging table but
certainly not the amount seen on canvas covered tables. Though it is a
monster to move, it is a dream to wedge on. It is also very helpful in
firming up scrap or slurry.
I also poured up a smallish concrete wedging slab when I was doing some
concrete work in my back yard. I had just enough left over from my job
to pour out a 14 inch square slab about 1.5 inches thick. It is also a
very good surface on which to wedge. As Vince has mentioned, the
concrete does not absorb as much moisture from the clay as does the
plaster.
Taylor, in Waco
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of william
schran
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 7:35 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Wedging table and other studio related questions!
Maurice wrote:>So, how do you folks keep your canvas from becoming a
serious source
of silica dust?<
I was one of the folk that suggested canvas stretched over plywood as
an alternative to plaster.
We have a plaster wedging board, with cutting wire, at school and I
have one at home.The one at school is used all the time and has
developed quite a depression in the middle. I may decide to replace
it with cement when the time comes.
...
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