How to make a bat gripper
I went through a period of time early in my ceramics career where I was a tool minimalist. It's something that I think every potter should go through. I had 3 tools that I would use: a wire tool, a wooden knife tool, and a basic wooden rib. I was even flexible with what tool filled those 3 slots. I like the idea that it was really about how I moved the clay, not the tools or gadgets. And I also like the idea that wherever I was in the world, I would be able to throw a pot- regardless of the tools. This idea has also led me to using many different types of clay, and to throw on different types of wheels. It makes me a portable potter. So even though that's my philosophy on clay tools...
..I LOVE TOOLS! I know how to work with the fewest possible tools, but I really enjoy working with many tools. It can allow you to do something with greater ease, or achieve a new surface, or just make you happy because of its cleverness.
At some point over the last 5 or 6 years a little boom of new tools popped up, many as a side business from a potter who was making cool tools for themselves. I'm happy to be a potter during this period. I love trying out different things, and sometimes (many times) I get hooked on one. I am going to be sharing with you some tools that I really love, and some tools that I make myself in the tool section of this blog.
I loved it for teaching when I was working on a wheel that had worn holes for bat pins to stop the wobble. I also loved it under the little square bats that tend to lift a little when making a tall piece in my studio. But it had a problem where it would start to erode over time (you can see that from the pictures). And then they stopped being made (the material was no longer manufactured). So I had to do something to fill my need of a new Bat Grabber and here is what I did...
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/8eb8d187-e736-41f5-a233-7e5a46c6b7c0/trace_a_bat-742978.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/10dca990-587f-434a-b197-2e764d5ddc9e/use_a_sharpie-783455.jpg)
With a Sharpie, I used a bat to trace out the circle and to draw in the placement of the bat pin holes. I made both a 14" circle and a 12" circle. Just because.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/bce81994-0635-4cbb-8b90-b8f6242c5207/draw_the_holes_for_bat_pins-708690.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/9874745a-1c80-4fcf-9d55-076e487f6080/cut_out_your_bat_gripper-733180.jpg)
Then you cut it out, including the holes.
To use it: dip it in some water and squeeze out the excess. Then stick it on your wheel head, and use a bat on top. Circular, square, plastic, wood or foam covered. They will all stay a little bit more secure with this do-it-yourself bat gripper.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/53198aa0-a448-4900-8b87-58001041c1ee/a_14_inch_gripper-756747.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/29f38b69-9f28-4a1a-9017-89d843be34ae/a_14_inch_pad-779253.jpg)
(Don't forget to make pots when you're not making tools...)
..I LOVE TOOLS! I know how to work with the fewest possible tools, but I really enjoy working with many tools. It can allow you to do something with greater ease, or achieve a new surface, or just make you happy because of its cleverness.
At some point over the last 5 or 6 years a little boom of new tools popped up, many as a side business from a potter who was making cool tools for themselves. I'm happy to be a potter during this period. I love trying out different things, and sometimes (many times) I get hooked on one. I am going to be sharing with you some tools that I really love, and some tools that I make myself in the tool section of this blog.
A tool that I really dug was the Bat Grabber.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/1ff65ba2-1d18-4b47-8888-0fc0d89d0401/bat_grabber-765687.jpg)
I got a roll of rubbery shelf liner. The cheapest one I could find; but I think that any would work. You can probably use a rug pad too.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/8eb8d187-e736-41f5-a233-7e5a46c6b7c0/trace_a_bat-742978.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/10dca990-587f-434a-b197-2e764d5ddc9e/use_a_sharpie-783455.jpg)
With a Sharpie, I used a bat to trace out the circle and to draw in the placement of the bat pin holes. I made both a 14" circle and a 12" circle. Just because.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/bce81994-0635-4cbb-8b90-b8f6242c5207/draw_the_holes_for_bat_pins-708690.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/9874745a-1c80-4fcf-9d55-076e487f6080/cut_out_your_bat_gripper-733180.jpg)
Then you cut it out, including the holes.
To use it: dip it in some water and squeeze out the excess. Then stick it on your wheel head, and use a bat on top. Circular, square, plastic, wood or foam covered. They will all stay a little bit more secure with this do-it-yourself bat gripper.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/53198aa0-a448-4900-8b87-58001041c1ee/a_14_inch_gripper-756747.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/29f38b69-9f28-4a1a-9017-89d843be34ae/a_14_inch_pad-779253.jpg)
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/63124e9c56d33d2bd7ce3319/1196b28c-fbc7-429b-89fb-0d1b467962d0/throwing_a_pot-792191.jpg)