Throwing pottery while standing thanks to new table
New table for my wheel
Three weeks ago, Ben posted an image of a table that he built for his pottery wheel so that he could throw while standing, instead of sitting. After seeing his table, I knew I wanted one too so I saved the image to my computer to show to the perfect person for the job. No – not my husband – he’s not really into building stuff. My in laws flew into town from San Antonio, TX last Thursday and my father in law loves to make stuff out of wood and he is always looking for projects to do around our house.
I showed him Ben’s photo and handiwork and my FIL started designing, measuring and making a shopping list in preparation for building a table for me. He’s so good at improvising and winging it. I think the trickiest part was figuring out an ideal height for me to throw standing. I basically had to pretend I was air throwing at a comfortable place for my hands and arms so he could come up with a combined height of table and wheel. I think the rim of the splash pan stands about 35″ high – the wheel head is slightly lower. I’m not a tall person though – only 5’5″ tall.
Table has storage on 2 levels
What can I say? I love it – thanks Tig! I’ve never thrown standing up before, so I wasn’t sure I would like it. Since trying it out, I can’t imagine throwing sitting down ever again. I love being at eye level (almost) when working on the small finishing details. It’s so much easier on my back and neck to throw standing up. The only thing that is a little tricky is when the piece gets taller – I figure I’ll need a little booster for those instances.
I love my Thomas Stuart Wheel! After seeing a 4 page advertising spread in the new issue of Ceramic’s Monthly yesterday, I learned that the local Denver company just merged with Skutt and the wheels will soon be sporting a new name.
Original Maverick mug by Justin Rothshank
Meanwhile, I will soon receive a piece of Obamaware in the mail. The Obama/Biden fund raiser ended yesterday and I almost missed it because it was dinner time here in Colorado and with my in laws in town it’s been quite busy. I didn’t win my first choice which was also a mug by Justin Rothshank, but with minutes to spare, I was the winning bidder on another one of his pieces. I wasn’t able to do the “buy it now” for the one I really wanted – suffice it to say that end of the month finances didn’t support it, but, I was able to bid up 2 other pieces to my max price so I helped a little. 
My in laws left this morning, so I will be in the studio till 3pm today,
~Cynthia
Ben Stark
October 23, 2008 at 7:03 am //
The new wheel setup looks great! I really don’t ever want to go back to sitting and throwing either, but you are right about tall forms being hard to throw. My next plan is to make a hydraulic lift for my wheel so I can change the height at will
Oh yeah, another great addition is one of those padded mats like are in restaurant kitchens. I got one that is about an inch thick, and it makes throwing on concrete much kinder to my feet and legs.
Michael Kline
October 23, 2008 at 8:04 am //
I’ve been throwing standing for about 15 years. It always stumps me when I teach workshops and see all these folks hunched over their wheels. The freedom to step back from your work and size it up is so key to mking my forms.
I am going to be building a new wheel stand real soon and will post it on my blog.
My rule of thumb is that the wheel head should be at my crotch, no offense, but its the standard. I’ve talked to Kim Ellington about this and he told me that was the rule according to the late Burlon Craig, one of the last working folk-traditional potters here in NC. That makes sense if you are throwing large pots, gallonage. With smaller pots you may want it to be a little higher for the obvious reasons that you have mentioned. I’ve thought about the hydraulic lift, but find that I prefer to stand higher. I have a special stair step type thing that I can step up with
Anne W
October 23, 2008 at 8:06 am //
Be interesting to see how (or how you feel) your forms change with the adjustment. ..for the better or the worse.. of if they do at all.
A friend of mine made the switch a few years ago because of back problems. When I was trying throwing standing up while in her studio, she reminded me to be aware not to keep my weight on the footpedal. She had learned the hard way and bunged up a pedal that way and had to replace hers.
She also had her wheel positioned with her back pretty close to a wall. Used it for support and a little more stability.
Cynthia
October 23, 2008 at 8:49 am //
Ben – A padded mat is on my shopping list – I realized that on Monday when I threw for an extended period of time. Thanks so much for posting the image of your set up.
Michael – I can’t wait to see your new stand! I just checked how high my wheel is on the stand. The wheel head is at 35″ which is, you guessed it, crotch level. The splash pan is about an 1″ higher which would be just a tad too high. I do have a large wood step, it’s about 5″ high and is an extra form for a plaster slab that I haven’t poured yet. I’ll try that today.
Anne – From my experience the other day, I don’t think my forms will change dramatically. I’m not able to handle much more than 5lbs of clay at a time, but did some experimenting with throwing in sections and I am able to make larger forms that way. Interesting about the pedal – I actually set the speed for my pedal during different phases of throwing and remove my foot, until it’s time to change the speed. I’ve been doing that for awhile now, because I have a tendency to throw like I drive… fast
I don’t have an available wall support in my studio, though I looked for one. I don’t feel like I need one though, I like being able to step back and I also have my shelves where I put work waiting to be trimmed behind my wheel so that it’s close to my wheel.
Brian
October 23, 2008 at 12:49 pm //
Also, if you find yourself leaning your forearms on the splashpan, you might add some of that foam pipe insulation from the builder’s store to your shopping list.
Interesting about the height… the one I use has the wheelhead just shorter than my belly button. Not that I can really adjust it, since it’s the community studio, but I’ll keep it in mind when I get my own wheel.
Cheryl
October 23, 2008 at 2:42 pm //
Great idea! Does the wheel slide on the table at all when you are centering large chunks of clay?
Judi Tavill
October 23, 2008 at 3:47 pm //
Interesting… I don’t think throwing created my current back problem but I’ve heard mixed things…
I saw your post on my blog but you didn’t show up under recent visitors… WHY?
Judi Tavill
October 23, 2008 at 3:48 pm //
OH… and I lost all 4 Obamaware pieces I tried for…Bummer.
ang
October 23, 2008 at 4:12 pm //
me tooo, been throwing standing up for a couple of years now after stuffing up my hips, I tend not to get up and jiggle around enough so standing is great,. I also have a tall stool which i lean on when making small work, i’ve also found that i have more leverage when throwing and work very differently a little more ‘gung ho’ perhaps…
Undaunted
October 23, 2008 at 4:29 pm //
You’d think that with so many potters preferring to stand that wheels would already be made with a hydraulic lift to adjust the height!
LB
October 23, 2008 at 4:43 pm //
Hahaha! Maverick! LOL
Meredith Heywood
October 23, 2008 at 4:49 pm //
I have been throwing standing for about 28 years now and would not go back to sitting. In fact I feel awkward if I am sitting.
We do have a wheel we keep about 1 cinder block off the floor for larger pots. This allows Mark to start a large piece on the 1/2 wheel but move to the standing wheel to throw the joining pieces.
I also keep my foot pedal up and use my hand to adjust the speed. This keeps me from standing on one foot- which can be bad for the back and or knees in my case.
I use a stool when I am trimming pots and have a mirror on the side to look at in order to keep a check on my shape as I am throwing and trimming.
We have been rebuilding our studio after a fire in July. Mark has just finished the repairs to my wheel- we posted a shot of the mud box for my wheel on our Blog. We tend to put the wheel up on cinder blocks and build the mud box.
It is like driving a caddy- all that room and a drain hole for the throwing water.
If you are interested here is a link to post on stand and mud box is below.
I have enjoyed reading what others are doing- it has been a great distraction while we are getting our studio back in shape to work again. Waiting on electricians who did not show today…..
http://whynotpotteryblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/stand-for-your-wheel.html
M
Linda Starr
October 24, 2008 at 2:57 am //
Had heard about standing to throw, but never actually saw the set up before, thanks for a great post. I have a bad back and would like to have this type of set up as well.
Cynthia
October 24, 2008 at 7:56 am //
Brian – I’m not a leaner when I throw because I move around too much, but I have seen people put the foam on splash pans before. If I wasn’t so sloppy, I’d remove my splash pan
I guess the height issue is probably personal and dependent on your physiology -not one size fits all. When you do buy a wheel, you can play around with what works for you. I know when my fil was making this for me, we made it at probably the max height for my size figuring that it would be easier to remove height than add it.
Cheryl – The wheel doesn’t slide around for a couple of reasons: my wheel is fairly heavy and my fil used larger pieces of wood to construct the table and also worked hard to make it sturdy and level (leveling the table was tricky despite accurate measuring). I also don’t normally center more than 5 lbs of clay at a time.
Judi – I don’t know why my post didn’t show up, but I suspect that I had a recent feed problem that I just attended to the other day. You could try to throw standing up to see if it alleviates any back pain – I’ve seen people put their wheels on cinder blocks (like Meredith mentioned), so that would be an easy experiment without going through the hassle of making a table or the expense of buying leg extensions. I find that I move around a lot when I throw which helps me to not get so stiff. I almost didn’t get a piece of Obamaware myself – I had checked earlier in the day and then remembered to check on the auction with only 10 minutes to spare.
Ang – I feel like I have more leverage standing up to throw too since it seemed like I could never get close enough to the wheel when I threw sitting down. My back is already thanking me.
Linda U. – Wheel companies sell options such as , but I didn’t consider it when I bought my wheel since I had never thrown standing up. But, I have to say that I like my little homemade stand a little better since it has more functionality with the 2 shelves for storage. I suppose if I wanted to add casters with brakes, it would be even better since I could wheel it around my studio. I have never seen a hydraulic lift on a wheel, so I am anxious to see one.
In some ways, kick wheels are probably easier on the back because one is sort of in a stand/lean position. The guild has kick wheels, so when I transition to the guild after the fall sale in preparation for the winter freeze, I’ll get a taste of using a kick wheel. In college, I used a kick wheel to trim, but never to throw, so it should be interesting.
Diana
Isn’t the mug fun? I’m considering giving it to my husband, but I haven’t decided. He took his favorite mug to work so he needs one here at home.
Meredith – Welcome! I just added you to my blog roll since I’m always on the look out for other pottery/clay blogs. Interesting about keeping your pedal at arm’s height – never thought about that. So, do you and Mark tag team pot? That’s pretty cool – a few weeks ago, I posted a link to a show featuring Nan and Jim McKinnell who often worked on pots together.
I video taped myself throwing yesterday because I was having such a hard time staying centered and realize that I would benefit from having a mirror.
Oh my a studio fire – I’m so sorry to hear about that! I wish you a speedy studio rebuilding. I think about the possibility of a fire starting when I’m tempted to leave my space heater on overnight. I turn it off, but reluctantly, even though I know it’s the right thing to do. Thanks for the reminder – I’ll follow the link you’ve left…
Linda S. – Give throwing standing up a try – cinder blocks sound like a great way to try it. I do more hand building than throwing, though I enjoy both. I think it’s good to switch off every so often. I have a bit of carpal tunnel from my 17 year career as a flight attendant (doesn’t just happen to office folk) so hand building provides a bit of respite when my wrists get tired. It’s also one of the reasons I enjoy throwing with porcelain clay because it’s so much softer than stoneware.
So, you’re asking, how does a flight attendant get carpal tunnel? Repetitively pouring coffee to hundreds of people a day at 35,000 feet whilst juggling turbulence, crowded conditions and holding a tray filled with cream, sugar and cups steady while customers help themselves to beverage condiments.
Meredith Heywood
October 25, 2008 at 5:19 am //
Hi Cynthia- Mark and I do our own work and over the years the work has changed. We both use the same glazes and we both stamp and incise our work. We were in the process of building a new gas kiln this summer when the fire put a stop on that. We will get back to that soon.
The fire was a bolt of lighting out of the blue- it hit a tree and followed the copper pipe from the gas tank to the building and then into the wall up the wall and to the roof…. we were here and able to save two ajoining buildings. The building lost was our main work room- we had lots of damage to wheels and slab roller- but all is slowly being repaired.
Anyway- as a potter you always worry about fire, but somehow I thought if you were careful- never thought about lighting!
Thanks For adding me in- I have added you to mine as well. I have really enjoyed reading the blogs and the great support and networking going on.
The other thing about standing is being able to lean into the clay while centering and we make sure the wheel is level and snug against the building wall- no movment.
Meredith Heywood
October 25, 2008 at 5:22 am //
PS- there is a potter here with a wheel with a hydraulic lift- it is pretty cool.
But we just stand on a cinder block when we need to be taller for the pot.
M
Nancy
October 25, 2008 at 6:46 am //
You have the greatest father-in-law. What a generous person to make you a table. I love the idea of being able to stand. Although I have to admit now that I think about it, it all looks back breaking to me. Well, not really back breaking, but back aching.
ang
October 26, 2008 at 2:56 am //
hey cynthia, i’ve posted pics of those plaster carved slabs on my page..the flat ones were poured on a shiny surface to give that smooth finish….
Cynthia
October 27, 2008 at 8:27 am //
Meredith – very interesting about the lightening. My mom’s house was hit by lightening several years ago and blew part of her chimney off the roof. What are the odds of that happening that lightening struck your studio in the perfect spot?
I’m pretty low tech – so I can’t imagine using a hydraulic lift myself. I have so many other pieces of equipment that I would prefer to buy first.
Nancy – my fil is very generous! I switch on and off between wheel throwing and hand building, so I think that helps. But, in the past, I have thrown for hours at a time before which is not easy on my back at all. Standing up is pretty comfy for me. I think I’m used to it from my years working for an airline.
Ang – going to check it out now…