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wobbly wheel, help please

updated sat 18 nov 06

 

Carl Finch on thu 16 nov 06


At 06:37 AM 11/16/2006, Annie D wrote:

>I purchased a wheel 2 months ago, a new one,... not sure i want to tell
>the make and model here just yet, you'll see why later.

I'm afraid I don't see why! Because by telling the make (and model) of
your wheel others with the same wheel might be able to offer some
adjustment suggestions or, if they've had the same problem, tell how they
solved it.

What you've written seems to me to be restrained and simply a statement of
your problem and what you've done so far. I don't see how anyone could
take offense at that.

--Carl
in Medford, Oregon,
with wobbly brain--beyond help

Annie D on thu 16 nov 06


Another noob question i'm afraid.


I purchased a wheel 2 months ago, a new one,... not sure i want to tell the make and model here just yet, you'll see why later.


It worked good for about 1 week, then i found i couldn't center and my arms and elbows were getting really painful... It got worse and worse and then the noise began. At first irregular, like a pinging noise, but then more and more it got louder and steadier. The wheel manufacturer told me a few things to try to fix it (adjust the strap on the pulley which was off a bit) but nothing worked and i was of a mind that it was wobbling! Well, they told me it couldn't be wobbling, these wheelheads and shafts were digitally lathed and it was near impossible. So, after showing my husband one night when he got home, we made a video of the "wheelhead wobble" and emailed it to them. They sent me a replacement wheelhead and shaft which took 2 weeks to get here. We installed them and lo-and-behold the thing still wobbles, just as much if not worse than before.... Meanwhile i have been 4 weeks
with an unuseable wheel because with this much wobble, i learned a few valuable lessons... first being that no matter how hard i try, i cannot make nice even pots on a wobbly wheel and the wear & tear on my body is just not worth it, so no wheel work for now...


My husband thinks its a bearing problem and we told them that a month ago.


At this point i feel like i should send it back... I bought a brand new wheeel and i feel like i got a lemon... I am a mite discouraged about all this and sadly disappointed because the XMas projects i had are no longer feasible... and all this time i've been off work and supposed to be working on the wheel to improve my skills and make stuff and i can't...


What would you do? I welcome the voices of experience here because i am at a loss as to what should be the next step


Thanx sicerely,


Anne






 




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Sam or Mary Yancy on thu 16 nov 06


No question - send it back - and tell them to send you a new wheel immediately, and you will send back the bad one in the same packing - at their expense!!!. BTB - if you paid by credit card, you can get the C.C. company involved and get your $$$ back if you need to.Something is mis-machined or a bearing is bad... P.S. if you get a stall, perhaps let us know who to e-mail to and we can all make a comment... Sam in Daly City.

Annie D wrote: Another noob question i'm afraid.
I purchased a wheel 2 months ago, a new one,... not sure i want to tell the make and model here just yet, you'll see why later.
It worked good for about 1 week, then i found i couldn't center and my arms and elbows were getting really painful... It got worse and worse and then the noise began. At first irregular, like a pinging noise, but then more and more it got louder and steadier. The wheel manufacturer told me a few things to try to fix it (adjust the strap on the pulley which was off a bit) but nothing worked and i was of a mind that it was wobbling! Well, they told me it couldn't be wobbling, these wheelheads and shafts were digitally lathed and it was near impossible. So, after showing my husband one night when he got home, we made a video of the "wheelhead wobble" and emailed it to them. They sent me a replacement wheelhead and shaft which took 2 weeks to get here. We installed them and lo-and-behold the thing still wobbles, just as much if not worse than before.... Meanwhile i have been 4 weeks with an unuseable wheel because with this much wobble, i learned a few valuable lessons...
first being that no matter how hard i try, i cannot make nice even pots on a wobbly wheel and the wear & tear on my body is just not worth it, so no wheel work for now...
My husband thinks its a bearing problem and we told them that a month ago.
At this point i feel like i should send it back... I bought a brand new wheeel and i feel like i got a lemon... I am a mite discouraged about all this and sadly disappointed because the XMas projects i had are no longer feasible... and all this time i've been off work and supposed to be working on the wheel to improve my skills and make stuff and i can't...
What would you do? I welcome the voices of experience here because i am at a loss as to what should be the next step
Thanx sicerely,
Anne











---------------------------------
Find a local pizza place, music store, museum and more…then map the best route! Check out Live Local today! ______________________________________________________________________________ Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/ Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.

Judy Wilson on thu 16 nov 06


I had the same thing happen when I got my wheel. Right around the
holidays too! I can't believe the similarity. They sent me a new belt;
that helped some but the wobbling continued. I called the company and
told them that about it and after a bit of discussion they sent me a new
wheel and paid all expenses back and forth. I don't know what brand you
bought but I would definitely send it back. Those things aren't cheap!

=20

Judy

=20

=20

=20

________________________________

From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Annie D
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 9:38 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: wobbly wheel, help please

=20

Another noob question i'm afraid.=20

I purchased a wheel 2 months ago, a new one,... not sure i want to tell
the make and model here just yet, you'll see why later.=20

It worked good for about 1 week, then i found i couldn't center and my
arms and elbows were getting really painful... It got worse and worse
and then the noise began. At first irregular, like a pinging noise, but
then more and more it got louder and steadier. The wheel manufacturer
told me a few things to try to fix it (adjust the strap on the pulley
which was off a bit) but nothing worked and i was of a mind that it was
wobbling! Well, they told me it couldn't be wobbling, these wheelheads
and shafts were digitally lathed and it was near impossible. So, after
showing my husband one night when he got home, we made a video of the
"wheelhead wobble" and emailed it to them. They sent me a replacement
wheelhead and shaft which took 2 weeks to get here. We installed them
and lo-and-behold the thing still wobbles, just as much if not worse
than before.... Meanwhile i have been 4 weeks with an unuseable wheel
because with this much wobble, i learned a few valuable lessons... first
being that no matter how hard i try, i cannot make nice even pots on a
wobbly wheel and the wear & tear on my body is just not worth it, so no
wheel work for now...

My husband thinks its a bearing problem and we told them that a month
ago.=20

At this point i feel like i should send it back... I bought a brand new
wheeel and i feel like i got a lemon... I am a mite discouraged about
all this and sadly disappointed because the XMas projects i had are no
longer feasible... and all this time i've been off work and supposed to
be working on the wheel to improve my skills and make stuff and i
can't...=20

What would you do? I welcome the voices of experience here because i am
at a loss as to what should be the next step

Thanx sicerely,

Anne





=20




________________________________

Find a local pizza place, music store, museum and more...then map the
best route! Check out Live Local today!
=20

________________________________________________________________________
______ Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org You may look at the
archives for the list or change your subscription settings from
http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/ Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson
who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.

Anne Doyle on fri 17 nov 06


I want to thank everyone who responded on and off-list...
This has been a difficult time for me as it seems to be the month where
everything breaks and is wonky! (the wobbly wheel, LOML's computer, the
camera, kiln held back 9 days by Canada customs red tape, etc, etc...)
My husband was on the phone with them for 2 evenings and last night they
agreed we could return the wheel. They said they didn't think the wobble
was that bad and that some of their competitor's wheels wobble more than
that. Also something to do with that type of wheelhead, some wobble is
apparently inevitable.
So, saturday morning we're going to buy me a new wheel, locally, so if
there's a problem, we'll be just 45 minutes away...
Valuable time has gone by, but even more valuable lessons have been learned
in the process and i should be able to make up some of the lost time by
working longer hours.
If you lose, don't lose the lesson...
Thanx everyone, its so nice to have this great place to come to when the
clay world is askew on its axis!!
Anne, in Saint-Sauveur, where a kiln full of bisque downstairs awaits
opening and glazing begins in earnest today!!

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on fri 17 nov 06


Hi Annie,


Well....for one thing, if this Wheel has a tapered
shaft-end for the Wheel Head to fit on, even a
small bit of debris or crud can interfere with the
fit to make the Head untrue.

Have you removed the Wheel Head to see if the fit
on the shaft-end is perfectly clean?


Phil
Las Vegas

>
> >I purchased a wheel 2 months ago, a new one,...
not sure i want to tell
> >the make and model here just yet, you'll see
why later.

sacredclay on fri 17 nov 06


anne, Deespite being a transplanted New Yorker to the New south (North
Carolina), where I've learned to POLITELY tell some people off, I would
use that same tactics here. I woul politely but FIRMLY demand that the
company sned me a refund. Document them all in case you need to settle
this in court. Tell them that it doesn't work, that it has scweded up
your work sceduale and that you will no longer do business with a
company that sold you a lemon. go up the chain of command if you have
to. The key here is persistence. E-mail, fax and call mulitple times.
The squeeky wheel is what gets the grease. don't forget to remain
POLITE about it. That's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Good
luck! Kathryn in NC drinking her vanilla caramel tea. Yum!