Tapping to center

I am new to clay and wheels and right now trying to learn to tap to center, this morning while practicing and somewhat struggling with it, I thought that tapping it with a stick in place of my hand I'd be able to better control the tapping force, like this:

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snipped-for-privacy@rogers.com/videos/tappingL.wmvI didn't have a real bowl to try it with, so I used a plastic bowl,wrapped a plastic glove around the stick to simulate the softness andthickness of my hand's side. The idea is to very slowly and graduallyslide left the stick configuration (on my left hand) while tapping thestick on the bowl, stopping once we deem the bowl centered, whiletapping keep your eyes on the bowl not the stick. Anyway, it may helpsomeone (or not). Guillermo

Reply to
pinhole
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I don't know what hapen with the link, here it is again:

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snipped-for-privacy@rogers.com/tappingH.wmv

Reply to
pinhole

Don't know why google groups change some letters on the URL into periods.

Here is a link to the video using TINYURL links:

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Reply to
pinhole

There are lots of options, I do not tap to centre I just gently move the pot, feel with my finger extended where it is too close and stop the wheel and move it gently in the appropriate direction. Tapping might work well, but it is not entirely necessary. The other method I use :o) is a griffin grip, does the centring for you. I cannot use the griffin grip when turning porcelain though, it damages the rim too much.

Reply to
Annemarie

One last try:

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Reply to
pinhole

Gotcha video this time. Did you notice that the lines on the wheel head easily marked where centre was. You could have done it by sight :o)

Reply to
Annemarie

That wheelhead is made out of iron, it'd stain brown with oxide any clay or pot placed right over it, have to use a bat.

Reply to
pinhole

OK so to help with the centring get an indelible pen and mark circles on a good bat at about one inch apart. Then you will have those to help with the centering for turning. Best to always make things easier for yourself. By the way your tapping seemed to work fine, I was just pointing out that you don't have to stress about tapping, there are plenty of ways to accomplise a well centered pot for turning.

Reply to
Annemarie

I use bats too - I have used a pencil in the past to mark the concentric circles - works just fine and certainly makes life a lot easier. JM

Reply to
J M

Never could get the hang of this tapping malarkey... Loooks sooo cool when real potters do it, but i always find by eye and then running finger and moving it to centre, takes a little longer, doesn't look anywhere near as cool, but i can DO it and it works for me (even on those 75 pots per day daze) Good Luck Muchly Hugs Eddie

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

Me neither, so I bought myself a Giffin Grip:

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Marianne

Reply to
Bubbles

Wow that is expensive! Given how easy centering is (without the tapping which has never tempted me since centering is so easy) I could never justify the cost (I'm cheap I guess - I even love using old credit cards for tools). It does look cute though - I have used one on occasion in studios but never been tempted to buy. Now I'm glad it never captured me.

Reply to
DKat

I was just starting out on the wheel and my teacher had one. Told hubby about it, and he thought the cost was worth it. Here in Switzerland, I think it is not (comparatively) so expensive.

What with "coping" with centering the clay just to get a decent piece, recentering it for turning wasn't tempting, and, as I have a darling husband who is very glad I have found a passion, we bought it, and I have never regretted it. Things are seriously centered in seconds and you don't have all the mess of the clay dabs and such.

Marianne

Reply to
Bubbles

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