[Clayart] Bats with square inserts question

[Ken Chase]

I've seen potters use bats with removable square inserts. I like the idea and want to
Get one. A catalog search led me to a system
Called VersaBat. I'm not sure what I've seen
On YouTube demos were home made or these.
Any input will be appreciated.
Thanks
Ken

Sent from my iPad

[Mary White]

I have one of these although I don’t remember the brand name. For the inserts I bought 6” unglazed tiles from a flooring store, which were much cheaper. I had to buy a case of 100 but I split it with another potter.

Mary

[Barry]

Wonderbat and Dirty Girls both make bats with removable square inserts.

Barry

[David Woof]

Ken, just a cautionary note; stay away from plaster.. Some experienced folks swear by plaster, but unless one is neurotically meticulous about plaster chips and abrasions contaminating the clay, less experienced folks start wondering why they are getting pop outs and glaze blemishes.

I don't use the sort of batts you are asking about so will trust that others will have much to offer, pro and con.

David

*************************************************************************************

Sent from my iPad

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20170306/2c0b3132/attachment.html>

[Bryan Johnson]

If you still have access to wood working tools you could make it. I used
1/4" masonite for my first holder and bats, and then for some reason, that
I have forgotten, got a versa bat system.

Bryan

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...

URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20170306/ed087c52/attachment.html>

[KATHI LESUEUR]

Ken,
Buy a twelve inch plastic bat. Cut a square hole in the middle (or as close as you can get) of it the size square you want your bats to be. Put a notch on one side so you can lift out bats with a screw driver. Go on line to find ABS plastic and have them cut you bats to size. Very cheap.

KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com

[Ken Chase]

Thanks Mary:
Didn't know one could buy unglazed tiles.
Could they be used as catch plates?
I assume they've been fired.
Best,
Ken

Sent from my iPad

[Daryl Warner]

I purchased the wonderbat system for myself and our local public studio. I
don't think I use much water, but the system swells. After throwing several
pots, the next inserts don't fit. Despite the warning of their website I
sanded the edge and sprayed the whole system with an acrylic clear spray.
Now I have know issues with it. Daryl

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...

URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20170306/6dcf63a6/attachment.html>

[L TURNER]

with good woodworking skills and tools, it is easy to custom-make such a
'system'.

I have used terra cotta tiles from a garden center and limestone tiles from
a tile center.

LT

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...

URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20170306/47538b85/attachment.html>

[Robert Harris]

I second Mary's suggestion.

Get a bunch of bisqued tiles from either a ceramic supply store or a tile
store. Cut out a square of appropriate size from a plastic bat. The tiles I
bought were exactly the same width as the bat. Viola - you have a DIY
system. And unlike most of the bat systems I have see sold, you will never
have a problem with warping with bisque tiles, and even better they have
some of the same benefits as a plaster bat system in that they will dry
your pots a little from the bottom.

A few things - if the square you cut into the plastic bat isn't dead center
it's not a big deal but if you want to put the pot back on the wheel you
have to figure out which way round it goes. 2) When I cut the square out I
deliberately made it a little on the small side and then labouriously filed
the edges away so that the tile fit as perfectly as possible. Thirdly, I
recommend sanding the tiles with 240 grit paper (I used an electric mouse),
as even a smooth feeling tile will sand away your hand quite effectively!

Robert

--
----------------------------------------------------

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...

URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20170306/dce98199/attachment.html>

[li...@studio-etc.com]

Hi Ken,

I also have the Versabat system, bought at Sheffield Pottery. The square
inserts are made from 1/2" MDF, medium density fiberboard. One side of the
hard plastic circular holder fits a 6" square at its center. There are 2
sets of holes in the holder that will fit different bat pin spaceings.
Flip the holder over onto your bat pins and you can insert the larger 8"
square. The squares are precisely cut and when dry are the tinyiest bit
loose and therefore wiggle in place just a hair, enough to be disturbing
when centering your clay. The solution is to soak them in water for a few
minutes before inserting them into the mother holder.

After throwing the piece I remove the square by lifting it up at an
indented spot on the holder with a screwdriver, very easy to do. I don't
wire off the piece until it hardens up a bit, sometimes even leaving the
bat on the pot as I turn it upside down to keep the moisture loss even. I
am very happy with the system. If you need more, additional inserts can be
bought separately.

Best, Linda Skipper in New Marlborough, MA

> Hi Ken,
> I have the versabat system and like it a lot. I bought it from Sheffield
> Pottery last year,along with 30 8" bats.
> Several years ago, I did make a homemade version. The hardest part was
> getting the batpins aligned correctly. Luckily, my homemade bats fit the
> master as well.
> One thing I noticed, either home made or especially versabat made, the
> bats need a final fitting.
> They are really great when throwing a lot and need to get more pieces per
> shelf.
> Hope this helps, Steve Dalton
> Clear Creek Pottery
> Lake Stevens, WA

>
>
> From: Ken Chase <kcha...@gmail.com>
> To: cla...@lists.clayartworld.com
> Sent: Monday, March 6, 2017 10:42 AM
> Subject: [Clayart] Bats with square inserts question
>

> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:

> <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20170306/46813e28/attachment.html>
>
>

[Jacqueline Miller]

I was never able to master throwing on bisque tile. After a couple pulls, the clay would start slipping around on the tile. Could never get it to stick properly. Just me.
Jackie

Sent from my iPad

[Vince Pitelka]

No one has mentioned throwing on canvas. Doesn't work well for bowls or plates because they warp too much when removing them from the wheel, but it's great for vertical forms - cups, mugs, tumblers, pitchers, jars, vases, etc. Lay a finger swipe of gritless slurry, spread the canvas square over it, squeegee it down with a stuff rubber rib, throw your pot on the canvas, run a cutoff wire under the canvas, grab one corner of the canvas and pull it onto a concrete trowel, and from there onto a ware board. They take up no more room than if you lift the pot itself onto the ware board, but you don't have to touch the pot. Buy my book for a complete explanation. Use only waterproof canvas, either old-fashioned oilcloth canvas, or the plasticized canvas used in awnings.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpit...@dtccom.net
https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/