I hate hate hate the wonder bats!!!!! they were some of the first bats i bought and all mine are cupped and the rubber wheel pin grips litterly take my wheel pins off the wheel!!!! they are horrable. And i was told they were some of the best on the market when i bought them. I think they went out of busniess a month or two ago.
Hi Tim, I'm from UK and use bats made from 1/2inch thick marine plywood, 12" and 24" diam. 10 years old and still no warping. I have rarely seen anything else over here.
I use bats for large or thin pieces. I'm sold on masonite bats. They should always stored in the vertical position (like we used to store our LP records) to prevent warping. The plastic bats, even the little square ones, flex like crazy and in turn.. makes me crazy.
I made my bats out of aluminum plate in a machine shop. I have several sizes. The smallest is the size of my Shimpo wheel head and the largest just fits in the splash pan. I can lift the heaviest pot with no warping. Downside is that they are drilled to fit the pins I installed in my wheel. I have been using them since 1975 and they are as good as new.
I use CI squares a LOT and they are a breeze but I think the 12" rounds are warpy. Tim, you edited out your comments on the Amaco Plasti-bat. Pros/cons? I just bought one, have only used it once. Thx!
when i was using creative industries round bats, half of them were warped, the 12" ones were easy to put on and were a bit stiff but the 14" ones were always hard to put on even though i knew about the 3 dots, and when you lift those they would bend thus warping your piece and making it almost worthless of throwing on the bat in the first place haha
but as far as wood bats, i have a bailey bat and it was decently priced and has lasted me for the past year,deals well with water and stays on good
I am still using my Masonite bats made over 40 years ago. I do not use pins, but a doughnut of clay to hold the bats on the wheel. I oil the bats with motor oil a couple times a year. I also like the slight flexability for when the pot becomes firm leather hard, it helps to loosen it from the bat. If you buy a sheet of marine masonite at least 1/4" thick, cut your own bats, they should last your whole career. I tried the CI bats which warped and finding the pins became frustrating. .
Again having worked for a supplier I have used many of the bats out there. I am sure it is a personal preference. Small pieces I take the pins off my wheel head. Medium bowls I have around 20 square creative industry bats. They really do save space. For larger pieces I have both "plasti bats" and masonite bats. They both work fine. Masonite is way cheaper but I find I like them more. I used to anchor the masonite bats without pins but recently I found that using water and pins works great.
thanks for posting the video. the hydrobats work great especially for throwing plates and not having to worry about cutting it off, but they are way to expensive. i have the same problems with wonder bats. I would have to disagree with you about the wonder bat system being only for beginners. I use these for throwing mugs and small bowls because i throw them very thin and with a very porcelainious clay. Tom Turner does the same thing.
I have a brain block when it comes to putting those creative industry bats on the wheel. No matter what method I use, can't get the dang holes to line up with the pins. Plain old masonite works for me when I'm not working directly on the wheel.
At home I use a variety of bats depending on the item - I really like the hydrobats for plates and platters because they dont flex at all and they dont mold warp or spot.
At the community studio, we have some bats made from formica countertops. They are awsom for heavy pieces that would make the plastibats flex.
hy tim if you would like to find more of those bat with the ply on one side. look for mdo ( med density overlay) plywood core with a paper glue on one side or two. they are used in signs..john
I almost always use the black plastic ones, but I sometimes use the brown plastic ones with the ridges on the bottom. The problem with those is they are a pain to get on the wheel head. I typicly ise 14 inch with a couple larger ones for trimming.
the bats i use i cut from 1/2" (12mm) MDF and give them 2 coats of furniture oil. The oils seals them for longer use, but they're still absorbant enough so the pots comes of very easily in a shot period of time.
Interesting and useful video, shows some bats I've not seen. Personally I agree that making your own to begin with is a good idea. When I started (before I learnt to lift pots from the wheel head) I chopped a sheet of 6mm ply into squares and used them to throw mugs etc. great if you're a beginner as you get dozens from single sheet of cheap ply. Plus if they warp over time you'll only lose a small amount of cash (important if you're a potter!).
prices for all bats are listed on the store site, i.e. Baileys, Big Ceramic Store, Tuckers etc etc etc..do some research for the best price.
barbaraharvey 1 week ago
I hate hate hate the wonder bats!!!!! they were some of the first bats i bought and all mine are cupped and the rubber wheel pin grips litterly take my wheel pins off the wheel!!!! they are horrable. And i was told they were some of the best on the market when i bought them. I think they went out of busniess a month or two ago.
asuriai 3 weeks ago
"I will have the prices soon." 3 years later...
lkjhgfddfd 1 month ago in playlist More videos from timseepots
Hi Tim, I'm from UK and use bats made from 1/2inch thick marine plywood, 12" and 24" diam. 10 years old and still no warping. I have rarely seen anything else over here.
timytoad 2 years ago
I use bats for large or thin pieces. I'm sold on masonite bats. They should always stored in the vertical position (like we used to store our LP records) to prevent warping. The plastic bats, even the little square ones, flex like crazy and in turn.. makes me crazy.
Excellent video. Thanks!
DirtKickerStudio 2 years ago
I made my bats out of aluminum plate in a machine shop. I have several sizes. The smallest is the size of my Shimpo wheel head and the largest just fits in the splash pan. I can lift the heaviest pot with no warping. Downside is that they are drilled to fit the pins I installed in my wheel. I have been using them since 1975 and they are as good as new.
john81150 2 years ago
I use CI squares a LOT and they are a breeze but I think the 12" rounds are warpy. Tim, you edited out your comments on the Amaco Plasti-bat. Pros/cons? I just bought one, have only used it once. Thx!
ThatLynnGirl 2 years ago
They took issue with my Brent video and until I can straighten it out I will save my amaco reviews.
timseepots 2 years ago
when i was using creative industries round bats, half of them were warped, the 12" ones were easy to put on and were a bit stiff but the 14" ones were always hard to put on even though i knew about the 3 dots, and when you lift those they would bend thus warping your piece and making it almost worthless of throwing on the bat in the first place haha
but as far as wood bats, i have a bailey bat and it was decently priced and has lasted me for the past year,deals well with water and stays on good
ratmfan105 2 years ago
I am still using my Masonite bats made over 40 years ago. I do not use pins, but a doughnut of clay to hold the bats on the wheel. I oil the bats with motor oil a couple times a year. I also like the slight flexability for when the pot becomes firm leather hard, it helps to loosen it from the bat. If you buy a sheet of marine masonite at least 1/4" thick, cut your own bats, they should last your whole career. I tried the CI bats which warped and finding the pins became frustrating. .
claylady21 2 years ago
Again having worked for a supplier I have used many of the bats out there. I am sure it is a personal preference. Small pieces I take the pins off my wheel head. Medium bowls I have around 20 square creative industry bats. They really do save space. For larger pieces I have both "plasti bats" and masonite bats. They both work fine. Masonite is way cheaper but I find I like them more. I used to anchor the masonite bats without pins but recently I found that using water and pins works great.
Thepotterstone 2 years ago
thanks for posting the video. the hydrobats work great especially for throwing plates and not having to worry about cutting it off, but they are way to expensive. i have the same problems with wonder bats. I would have to disagree with you about the wonder bat system being only for beginners. I use these for throwing mugs and small bowls because i throw them very thin and with a very porcelainious clay. Tom Turner does the same thing.
thanks again for the vid!
Mtrueherz 2 years ago
Yeah I guess I hadn't used the square wonderbats for thin stuff I throw off the hump. I can see though how that would be helpful.
timseepots 2 years ago
I have a brain block when it comes to putting those creative industry bats on the wheel. No matter what method I use, can't get the dang holes to line up with the pins. Plain old masonite works for me when I'm not working directly on the wheel.
mudpuppy61 2 years ago
The three dots on the outside edge match 10 inch pins. if you get it close you can have your fingers under there to get it right on.... I think.
timseepots 2 years ago
At home I use a variety of bats depending on the item - I really like the hydrobats for plates and platters because they dont flex at all and they dont mold warp or spot.
At the community studio, we have some bats made from formica countertops. They are awsom for heavy pieces that would make the plastibats flex.
ChumleyWhiplash 2 years ago
hy tim if you would like to find more of those bat with the ply on one side. look for mdo ( med density overlay) plywood core with a paper glue on one side or two. they are used in signs..john
potteryworks 2 years ago
Thanks so much. do you know if they carry it at home depot or is more a specialized product?
timseepots 2 years ago
At my high school we also have plywood bats, I only use them if I cannot find an unused plastic bat.
kingcobradude 2 years ago
I almost always use the black plastic ones, but I sometimes use the brown plastic ones with the ridges on the bottom. The problem with those is they are a pain to get on the wheel head. I typicly ise 14 inch with a couple larger ones for trimming.
kingcobradude 2 years ago
the bats i use i cut from 1/2" (12mm) MDF and give them 2 coats of furniture oil. The oils seals them for longer use, but they're still absorbant enough so the pots comes of very easily in a shot period of time.
JacquesGuto 2 years ago
Interesting and useful video, shows some bats I've not seen. Personally I agree that making your own to begin with is a good idea. When I started (before I learnt to lift pots from the wheel head) I chopped a sheet of 6mm ply into squares and used them to throw mugs etc. great if you're a beginner as you get dozens from single sheet of cheap ply. Plus if they warp over time you'll only lose a small amount of cash (important if you're a potter!).
brookfieldpottery 2 years ago