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tap centering - vince's mentions...

updated mon 25 sep 06

 

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sat 23 sep 06


Hi Vince, all...


Lol...

Of course it is not that 'tap-Centering' is the
'ONLY' way to do it...

It is simply that there is no other means of doing
it which is as direct, fast, and
elegant...especially if going from one size or
shape, or scale to another.

Literally, it takes from one to three seconds
tops, to tap-Center something.

And no way is one going to stop, start,
re-position, start, stop, re-position their work
on the Wheel for multiple adjustments of
something, trying to 'center' it by the rings and
so on...

I am surprised there could be even the slightest
hint of controversy or mystery or doubt regarding
this...other than, many Potters do not in fact
know how TO tap-Center, or tried it with
frustration for 'thinking' their way into being
off-pace with it, and hence, the various
confusions and vieings in talking about something
they have not done, or felt frustrated by.

As far as building ' an intuitive sense of
center', tap-Centering is the essence of that
accomoplishment, or relies on it in fact, or is
the essence of that accomplishment's judgement,
when one understands just correctly 'where' on the
pitside of a Pot or what, one elects the 'Center'
to be defined by...and the 'rings' or the de-facto
perimiter obliged to be located by some device,
are not that correct center pre-se, except when
they are...

I am surprised I should be so passionate on this!

Best wishes...


Phil
el v

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vince Pitelka"

> It was never my intention to deny the benefits
of tap centering. It's a
> neat method that works very well for some
people. But like so many
> techniques, there are many alternatives and it
is up to the individual to
> choose the one that works best for her/him. My
point was that someone who
> is really good at eyeball centering, stopping
the wheel and moving the pot,
> can accomplish this just as fast as tap
centering, and over time will builds
> an intuitive sense of center. It gets easier
and easier, as I am sure is
> the case with tap centering. If the latter
works better for you, that's
> great. I just don't want to see anyone
proselytizing for tap-centering,
> claiming that it is the ONLY effective way to
center small pots on the
> wheel, because that's BS. As with almost all
things clay, each person must
> figure out which method works best for them.
It's wonderful to see reasoned
> opinions such as Craig Dunn Clark's or Paul
Herman's. That's what this
> discussion list is for.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee
Technological University
> Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
> vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
> http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
>
>
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