Potters with physical challenges

Information

Potters with physical challenges

This is a group for anyone who has overcome (offering advice) or needs to overcome (asking advice) physical limitations in their pottery practise.

Members: 16
Latest Activity: Apr 28, 2020

Introduction

I am a potter first and someone with a neuromuscular disorder is way down on the list.  My hands are very weak and clawed but have enough grip to securely hold tools, I have scoliosis but with a comfortable chair can lose myself in creating with clay for hours on end, need braces to walk but have placed my banding wheel so that most of my work is accomplished from a sitting position, ...!  My idea for this group is that we talk about our challenges only in terms of how we've overcome them and ask for advice from others with the aim of getting advice on how they've overcome their physical limitations in working with clay.  If you have tools, techniques, inspirations, etc please share them as no-one is getting any younger and we will all have our own limitations eventually.  I, for one have found a job that I have no intention of retiring from!

Discussion Forum

pottery after back surgery

Started by Lana Weed. Last reply by Lana Weed May 13, 2016. 6 Replies

I signed up for main group way back when it was a start up. I have not been active until now. I first posted in the main discussion area and was notified I should post here! Any one out there with a…Continue

Glazing while visually impaired

Started by Rodney Allen Roe. Last reply by Rodney Allen Roe Jun 29, 2014. 4 Replies

As I've mentioned before I am considered blind for legal reasons.  I have some central vision and no peripheral vision.  The deficits that interfere with making pots are a lack of depth perception,…Continue

Tags: Techniques, Blindness, Liners, Glazing

Wedging and Hand Issues

Started by Kathy Ransom. Last reply by Karon Eaid Aug 21, 2013. 1 Reply

I just read an internet discussion where potters were talking about reconstituting dried clay and some suggestions were offered for ways to wedge the clay that were a little less taxing physically.…Continue

Tags: hand, slam, stack, wedging

Throwing Clay after a Stroke

Started by Ann Rodenberg. Last reply by Kathy Ransom May 14, 2012. 5 Replies

Sorry I was not able to retrieve the rest of the discussion I started.  At any rate, I taught 3 classes a week, 2 adult, beginning to intermediate class as well as a children's handbuilding class…Continue

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Comment by Kathy Ransom on July 31, 2011 at 9:10am
For anyone who has trouble with their back from sitting in one position for an extended period of time (sound like potters?), I've discovered that a back roller makes an enormous difference for me.  It is a compressed foam cylinder with a diameter of about 6" and the one I like is about 36" long, with a medium density.  I lay on the roller with it aligned the length of my spine for about 10 minutes and feel like I've just had a one hour massage.  It can be uncomfortable at first as the vertebrae re-align themselves and the muscles along my spine relax but I get up feeling wonderful.  You can find lots of web sites that sell, offer advice, and give exercises to do with this roller if you google back roller.
 

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Use These Links to Support Us

Low cost flat lapping disc can be used on you potters wheel if you, drill bat pin holes in it, and provide a trickle of water to cool it. At amazon.com, 120 grit for aggressive material removal. Click the image to purchase 

Members have had great things to say about John Britt's new book, Mid-Range Glazes. Click the image to buy from Amazon.com

Purchase Glazes Cone 6 by Michael Bailey, The Potters Book of Glaze Recipes by Emmanuel Cooper, or Making Marks by Robin Hopper, all available at amazon.comMastering Cone 6 Glazes by John Hesselberth & Ron Roy is now out of print.

Harbor Freight is a great place to find unbeatable prices for better HVLP spray guns with stainless steel parts and serviceable economy models, as well as detail guns, all tested by our members for spraying glazes, as well as compressors to power the guns. As yet no one has tested and commented on the remarkably inexpensive air brushes at harbor freight.

The critter siphon gun is a spray alternative that is well liked by some of our members, and is available at amazon.

Amazon is also a competitive source for photo light tents for shooting professional quality pictures of your work. They also have the EZ Cube brand favored by several of our members. You might also want to purchase the book Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles . . .

If you are up to creating videos of your work or techniques you might want to invest in a flip video camera

Following are a few scales useful for potters. Ohaus Triple Pro Mechanical Triple Beam Balance, 2610g x 0.1g, with Tare $169.00

And finally a low cost clone of the OHaus. The Adam Equipment TBB2610T Triple Beam Mechanical Balance With Tare Beam $99.62

ebay is a great alternative for many tools and the equipment used in the ceramics studio - kilns, wheels, extruders, slab rollers are often listed there both new and used.

Tips for Members

If you just want to spout off, it is best accomplished as a blog posting. If you want to get more guidance and ideas from other members, ask a question as a new discussion topic. In the upper right corner of the lists for both types of posting, you will find an "+Add " button. Clicking it will open an editor where you create your posting. 4/16/2014

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