clennell on mon 18 sep 06
Sour Cherry Pottery
> The main reason I don't like the Giffen Grip is that
> it cannot take
> into account uneven pots. Many pots are off-center at
> their tops,
> compared to their bottoms. Probably more than half of
> anything I
> throw that is more than 10" tall is like that. It
> doesn't matter and
> no one knows, but if you tighten a grip around such a
> pot it will
> not be properly situated for trimming.
> With a foam bat, a chuck, or 3 wads of clay on the
> wheelhead
> it is a simple matter to get the bottom you want to
> trim in perfect
> center, even though the top is far from perfectly
> centered.
>
> David Hendley
> ______________________________
> Ep wrote:
> I respectfully disagree, David. If you use the slider
> arms, the grip is the PERFECT tool for uneven and
> imperfectly thrown work.
Ep and David: In an all together excellent slide lecture at Sheridan by
academic potter Walter Ostrom today he outlined that as technology increases
skill decreases. As skill increases, technology decreases- an inverse
relationship. Yeah the GG was on my mind. those that have the skill don't
need or want a GG. 20 years ago we bought Sheila a GG to keep up with the
production we had to make to earn a living. Within a few months she
discovered it was painfully slow compared to what I was trimming in the same
time.
I'll spot ya and raise ya $20 in the trimming match for wings at Hooters.
And David thanks for the well wishes. At the time I was thinking of
appliying I read your article about Karen starting a school. I have the same
wish to design a curriculum, and I'll fund raise for specific projects like
kilns and trips to Nceca but i don't want to build the building.
Long live the dinosaurs!
Best,
Tony
PS. I trim jugs right side up on a bat with bat pin holes then cut it off-
holy tomoly!
Elizabeth Priddy on mon 18 sep 06
I actually wheel trim all my work before finishing it
the first time. Since I generally do not trim the
bottoms, but rather hand finish them with a soft form,
that part of it is not the real point for me, but the
rapid and "off" centering. I am really quick with it
because I have used it for 15 years.
You still have time to re-place your bet, now that you
know I am a seasoned ringer. And we all know those
wings are the reason that chain stays in bid-ness...
And congrats on your program/plan. It is good to know
that the system can accommodate reason as well as
tradition.
E
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
Lee Love on mon 18 sep 06
Beware of any kind of blanket statements about tools or techniques.
Have a big mind and think for yourself. A creative person needs to be
flexible.
Most of my work could have been done 500 years ago: no
pugmill, wooden korean kickwheel, wood kiln. But I get a big kick out of
putting a griffen grip on my keyaki, korean style kickwheel.
I don't use it for most trimming, but if you have
something irregular shaped, especially if it is not round, or with a large
attachment at the top, the grip is sometimes the only way to hold the piece.
Borrow one from a friend and give it a try!
And I have to dry my chuck before using. It depends on how soft
your throwing clay is and also its stickiness. A torch helps in a pinch.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
clennell on tue 19 sep 06
Sour Cherry Pottery
> I don't use it for most trimming, but if you have
> something irregular shaped, especially if it is not round, or with a large
> attachment at the top, the grip is sometimes the only way to hold the piece.
>
> Borrow one from a friend and give it a try!
Dear Lee: I have tried one. Remember we owned one and gave it away. The
image I have of you on a Korean kickwheel with a GG on top brings a huge
smile to my face. I can't help but think of something like a mule pulling an
Airstream trailer.
The GG comes up twice a year and scares off good potters that ought to still
be on the list but get tired of this thread.
As for you I think you limit the scale of your work by the "coolness" of
your Korean wheel and the "uncoolness" of your GG. Some fabulous Korean
potters can probably make Ongi on their wheels. this would take amazing,
amazing skill. For you and me if the electric wheel is the equivalent of a
GG then we need to use it.
One thing the electric wheel will do that a GG can't do is increase the
scale of our work. You will always be limited by the technology until your
skill develops to a very high degree.
My second years are to have 10- 10 lb bowls each ready for me to see when I
walk into school today. if they are thrown well they will not fit into a GG.
THis is week #2 and they are expected to throw 10 lbs. They couldn't do that
in many many years on a Korean wheel. I tried one in Japan and broke out in
a major sweat. Not intended for centering large amounts of clay- that's one
of the reasons for coil and throw- their technology.
One of the women in my class has a GG. I will have her demonstrate it today
to the other students. They will all want one for Christmas. It is the
largest selling piece of equipment at my pottery supply house at Xmas.
Hopefully I will teach them the skill of centering for trimming before my
gig is up and they can spend the $300 on tatooes, lip piercings or having
their ear lobes stretched. I'd hate to see them squander their money.
Best,
Tony
Tony and Sheila Clennell
Sour Cherry Pottery
4545 King Street
Beamsville, Ontario
CANADA L0R 1B1
How To Make Handmade Cane Handles, Taking the Macho Outta Bigware
and Get a Handle On It DVD's available at
http://www.sourcherrypottery.com
| |
|
