Ergonomics and studio pics.

[Irakusa]

I just realized I've been avoiding the studio mostly because of back pain. I've read "To sciatica and back" but I'm having trouble visualizing how it's done. Does anyone have time and inclination to post pics of stand-up or other modifications of wheel setup and throwing postures? Just can't do that hard bend to see the side any more.

Thanks,
Eric

[Marvin Kitshaw]

I found a mirror helps that hard bend. If I'm understanding you. Use it to see the side of the lot when throwing. And Ibroprofen or anything to ease the inflammation and lots of stretching in between pots. I hope that helps you. 

Marv 

Muddy Fingers Pottery .com

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[Jon Singer]

Hi, all.

On Mar 11, 2013, at 11:09 AM, Irakusa wrote:

I just realized I've been avoiding the studio mostly because of back pain.

Uh-oh.

I've read "To sciatica and back" but I'm having trouble visualizing how it's done. Does anyone have time and inclination to post pics of stand-up or other modifications of wheel setup and throwing postures? Just can't do that hard bend to see the side any more.

I don't think I have photos of my wheel setup, and I just took it

down because I'm moving, but I can easily describe it. (I don't,

alas, have any photos of postures; hope someone else can provide

those. If not, I will get my wheel set up again and have someone

photograph me.)

So:

1) Find a place where you have a few feet of wall. (If you aren't

near a wall and you lean into the clay, you are likely to send the

entire assembly crashing to the floor. This is deprecated.)

2) Take three cinderblocks. Stand them on end, with the flat face

on top, as 3 legs.

2A) If that adds enough height, fine. If you are as tall as I am,

though, you'll want to add another half-block on top of each.

If you need a smaller height increment than that you may be

able to use bricks on their sides, or some other handy hefty item.

It has to be strong and stable, whatever it is.

2B) You could easily sidestep the entire cinderblock issue by

using 6"x6" wood, cut to the appropriate length, for the legs.

If I did that I'd want to waterproof them, but that's easy enough.

3) Position the legs so that when you stand the wheel on top of them

it is touching the wall, and when you throw you are facing the wall.

Notes:

A) I mostly throw porcelain. I have made only a very few

smallish-to-midsize stoneware pieces on this setup, so I can't

speak to the issue of how well it would work for that kind of

thing on an ongoing basis, but I will say that although I found it

slightly awkward to do a 3-piece assembly that ended up being

about 16 or 18" tall and weighed about 22 lbs buck naked and

sopping wet, I did manage, and my back did not hurt. I had to

reach up & over to get my hand inside when I made the join

between the middle piece and the top one, much as I would have

if I'd thrown the thing in one piece, but I will admit that I spent

less time in that position just making a join than I would have

if I'd been throwing. (I will also admit that a righteous stoneware

potter could almost certainly do it with a lot less clay than I was

obliged to use. Stoneware isn't any harder to throw than a good

throwing porcelain, but I'm not used to making large pieces.)

B) I must also note that I don't throw on a production basis,

and on the rare occasions when I have to sit down in order to

throw on someone else's wheel my back doesn't hurt, so I'm

not the best test subject in the world.

C) I am just learning to weld, and I'm thinking about making

a stand out of steel. That would, if I do it right, let me put the

wheel essentially anywhere I want to. OTOH, I've been using

cinderblocks and keeping the wheel up against a wall for about

a decade, and have been quite happy that way.

Thanks,
Eric

Best --

jon

[Lee]

Eric,

         Not directly addressing your question, but I have found that the traditional Japanese throwing platform is easier on the back.

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 Lee 李 Love in Longfellow,Minneapolis, MN USA

 "Ta tIr na n-óg ar chul an tI—tIr dlainn trina chéile"—that is, "The land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent within itself." -- John O'Donohue

[rickma...@comcast.net]

Eric,

at school we have a couple of wheels set up for standing while throwing.  One is a Rehab wheel made by Brent it cost $1800 several years ago.  The more cost effective solution is the kit sold by Brent that has three legs with adjustable settings for wheels with pipe legs. 

 

As for not being able to bend to the side try a mirror in front of your wheel to see the form.   Hank Murrow showed us how to put a two by four under the back legs of a stool to give it a slight tilt which can put your pelvis at a better angle and will put a slight curve into your lower back. 

I recommend that you drill holes about 3/8" deep for the legs of your stool to sit in so that your stool is less likely to come off the two by four.

 

YMMV,

Rick

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[Eric Hansen]

Lower Back Pain? I suggest a regimen of ab crunches, half-cobra, boat
pose, cat/cow, pirformis stretch, and hamstring stretch. The first
thing I do when I have back pain (mine is at L4) is the hamstring
stretch: that usually eliminates most of the strain immediately.

Anyone have suggestions how to eliminate impingement shoulder or
rotator cuff please reply

h a n s e n

Eric Hansen
Hansen's Hermetic Garage
Stonehouse Studio

[jd.steveni]

Standing for a while helped me. I bought leg extensions for my TS Legend. Also use a mirror.  Also walk daily, take aloe vera juice supplement. All calm with sciatic past year + 1/2. Throwing standing up is no big deal. Unless you want tall work.Use softer clay for big 15# + pots. Or plan for composite pieces. It's a bummer when it flairs up. I was desperate too, until I bought extensions. Several weeks on feet worked, and importantly, I didn't feel beleaguered by twinge affecting work. I felt something had been accomplished  and  didn't feel useless and depressed. 

Hang in there. 

Dinah Steveni

Sent from mya Samsung Epic™ 4G Touch

[Timothy Hutchinson]

I also use a mirror,  saves on bending and give a better perspective.  People have stood at treadle wheels  for many years.  I need to adopt the same method for the same reason.

[Irakusa]

Thanks everyone, as always a great bunch.

---

From: jd.steveni <jd.st...@comcast.net>
To: clay...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 4:53 PM

Subject: Re: *ClayCraft* (Irakusa) Standup wheel query