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Old August 21st 03, 01:18 PM
psci_kw
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"Deborah M Riel" wrote in message
...
In article ,
psci_kw wrote:

Have you tried throwing the plate face side DOWN and forming the ring as

you
work?
That way, when leather hard you can flip it over, secure it to another

bat
as above, and only
have to use a stainless rib to smooth the surface of the plate. Some

find
that easier.

Good Luck!
Wayne in Key West



Wayne,

Can you explain this a little further? It sounds interesting, but I
can't quite picture how it would work. How would you get the concave
inside of the plate, and the rim, if you throw it face side down?


By trimming afterward. All you are really creating is the bottom thickness
and the foot ring(s)
and the outside (bottom side of the plate) bevel for the edge when you
throw.
Since the bevel (being upside down) is now "falling"
you needn't worry about it drooping, which is why throwing a plate upside
down
is an attractive method for more inexperienced throwers.

Do you trim the face side intead of the underside?


Yes. That is when you create any concavity you require. Remember that the
edge bevel
and the foot are already done, so only a rib and sponge is required. Of
course, if you want to get
fancy you can. And you can use a sponge or piece of chamois to true and
cleanup the rim.
Remember too that you are working with leather hard clay at this point.
Might need a bit of
moisture, but it's pretty tough stuff.

Do you throw the plate in sections by attaching a ring to the top surface

after doing
the underside and shaping it then? (I've done a large platter that way.)


I've never tried that. I've seen other potters use a coil ring for the
footring, but not for the edge.
Sounds like i have a bit of experimenting to do! Thanks for suggesting
that! :)
I tend to throw everything all at once, the trick of course being that you
are not going to
throw a 36 inch platter on a 12 inch bat. Use a bat at least the size of
the plate bottom. If you are going for an
extended bevel on the edge of the plate (say, more than 2 inches, use a bat
the size of the outside of the plate,
or even larger.
If you are trimming slowly enough, you can actually rest the handle of the
tool on the edge of the bat to steady it
while you shape the bevel.
No sense in having the clay (or your tools) wobbling about in space while
you're trying to shape the bevel and rim.

Throwing using a larger bat than the plate size means that basically, an
inexperienced thrower
need only really center the clay, and flatten and compress it. The bevel
for the outside edge is created easily, as its
resting against the bat. No worries about having to open or pull the clay.
Once the clay is leather hard, then it
gets flipped and trimmed. Leather hard is much more forgiving for the
beginner.
Hope that helps!
Wayne in Key West



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