How to make a bat gripper

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961789.post-77976722854205771172007-10-05T23:14:00.000-05:002007-10-06T00:25:18.692-05:00How to make a bat gripperI 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 <a href="http://potteryblog.com/labels/tools.html">tool section</a> of this blog. <div style="text-align: left;">A tool that I really dug was the <a href="http://batgrabber.com/">Bat Grabber</a>. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/bat_grabber-766397.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/bat_grabber-765687.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>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<a href="http://www.continentalclay.com/detail.php?PID=525&cat_id=193&sub_categoryID=211"> little square bats</a> 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... <div style="text-align: center;">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. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/trace_a_bat-743632.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/trace_a_bat-742978.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/use_a_sharpie-784135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/use_a_sharpie-783455.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> 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. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/draw_the_holes_for_bat_pins-709428.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/draw_the_holes_for_bat_pins-708690.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/cut_out_your_bat_gripper-733846.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/cut_out_your_bat_gripper-733180.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> 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 <a href="http://potteryblog.com/2007/08/how-to-make-foam-bat.html">foam covered</a>. They will all stay a little bit more secure with this do-it-yourself bat gripper. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/a_14_inch_gripper-757494.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/a_14_inch_gripper-756747.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/a_14_inch_pad-779910.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/a_14_inch_pad-779253.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/throwing_a_pot-792196.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://potteryblog.com/uploaded_images/throwing_a_pot-792191.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>(Don't forget to make pots when you're not making tools...) </div>Emily Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405853235523900054noreply@blogger.com