JamieAlonzo Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 I just drove it home from the original owners house who replaced it with a VL Whisper. I lubed it up and the old soldier spins true. I can't wait to start using it. I have some plumbing to do, but I'll throw at bit on old Seargent Shimpo tomorrow. I wanted to add a second wheel for a buddy or family member or whenever I need one. The pan is huge. It might be a good trimming machine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 Sweet. Those old shimpos are tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 I was just thinking that a Shimpo would be nice for my studio. I like the gear shift idea. Then you don't have to keep lifting your foot on and off the pedal. I have two Brents. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieAlonzo Posted November 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 The handle is definately the way to control the speed. The foot pedal is awkward. Pretty smooth running wheel considering the age. It has a Hitachi A/C motor that isn't the quietest... A Whisper it is not...A hummer it is. It sure beats blowing a grand (or more) on a new wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayjay Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 I was just thinking that a Shimpo would be nice for my studio. I like the gear shift idea. Then you don't have to keep lifting your foot on and off the pedal. I have two Brents. T : When I bought my wheel I'd only ever used wheels with a footpedal and thought I would have little use for the hand lever which my wheel has (attached to the foot pedal) but I now find I use it almost exclusively............... ................it can get a bit messy around the knob area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale pots Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 I put all new bearings on my old mid 70's shimpo last year but all the integrated rubber suspension mounts were wasted. So I drilled them thru and added nuts, bolts and thick rubber washers for the mounts but they go out of adjustment between the cone and motor. A pain in the ...! So I got mad one day and went out and got me a new Brent. Love it but i do miss my shimpo! I still have it but I'll have to attack that situation again one day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavy Fire Studios Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Gonna give her a name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieAlonzo Posted December 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 I got pretty lucky I think with this wheel. It was never used in a school or for production. The ring is good and the motor was replaced recently. I threw 5 bowls off a big hump last night and it performed flawlessly; straight cone and no creep. It doesn't have reverse (but it is reversible apparently). Looking at the catalogues on the Shimpo site, all specifications and desciptions point to a circa 1972 Shimpo West RK2. I'm happy to have it. My son wants to throw and I can't wait to teach him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieAlonzo Posted December 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Gonna give her a name? Working on it....Haha... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Reed Posted December 2, 2014 Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 I have an old Shimpo RK2 in my studio as well. Because it has the hand lever I put it up on a crate so that people could use it to throw standing. Some students prefer that. I have thrown on it, however I rarely use it. The motor is pretty quiet, and I replaced the friction rubber ring so it runs very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieAlonzo Posted December 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 I've been using mine quite a lot. I like the lower, smaller wheel head and the hand control. Apparently, according to my instructor Hiroshi Fuchigami at SRJC (Mr. Awesome), the old Shimpos were designed to sit under a platform hence the operating handle. You were supposed to sit on the platform cross-legged, probably not full lotus, and throw. Ouch. I have an old Shimpo RK2 in my studio as well. Because it has the hand lever I put it up on a crate so that people could use it to throw standing. Some students prefer that. I have thrown on it, however I rarely use it. The motor is pretty quiet, and I replaced the friction rubber ring so it runs very well. You may have a DC motor. My Hitachi AC motor hums as soon as you power it on; even in "neutral." Like an industrial sewing machine. Not irritating, just "on" The rubber drive ring.... They cost $98 which is flipping ridiculous. Luckily mine is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted December 4, 2014 Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 I've got one of those in my classroom. They are tanks. It's pretty popular, of those that I have. The drain plugs leak for some reason, so it can be a bit annoying. Yes, the neutral hum isn't too bad. Not loud enough to be annoying, but loud enough for me to hear, that someone forgot to turn it off... Not to hijack the topic, but mine has an issue, where you have to keep your foot on the pedal, or it will speed up. I'm partially to blame, because The lever used to stick, so it was hard to adjust speeds. So I sprayed some WD-40, where the motor and cone pivot. Anyone know a solution to this issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieAlonzo Posted December 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 The guts are different on them from model to model year. Some have straight cones where the speed doesn't creep some have curved cones where they might creep. I found my particular wheel on the Shimpo site. I put the link below. The way you adjust them is totally dependent on what model you have. Sounds like you just need to adjust the pressure the motor/cone puts on the ring...If you have the ring/cone deal....I only have a few days experience with the thing so.... http://www.shimpoceramics.com/support.html Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted December 4, 2014 Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 Thanks for the link! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted December 4, 2014 Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 My son wants to throw and I can't wait to teach him. My son is three, and I already have him on the wheel with me. I throw a bowl or cup, and I let him decorate it. He smacks it with tools or pokes holes in it with his fingers. I already have 3 of his masterpieces. Probably my favorite pots! Its wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieAlonzo Posted December 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 My son wants to throw and I can't wait to teach him. My son is three, and I already have him on the wheel with me. I throw a bowl or cup, and I let him decorate it. He smacks it with tools or pokes holes in it with his fingers. I already have 3 of his masterpieces. Probably my favorite pots! Its wonderful. That's awesome...I had my son out here trying to center some Laguna b-mix. I didn't have anything else except porcelain. It turned to goop in no time. I picked up some Laguna half and half today. I think it is a little more forgiving. Plus it is good to hand-build with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Awesome stuff. When he gets a little older I am gonna let him start trying to actually throw, if he is still interested in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 I put all new bearings on my old mid 70's shimpo last year but all the integrated rubber suspension mounts were wasted. So I drilled them thru and added nuts, bolts and thick rubber washers for the mounts but they go out of adjustment between the cone and motor. A pain in the ...! So I got mad one day and went out and got me a new Brent. Love it but i do miss my shimpo! I still have it but I'll have to attack that situation again one day! I had this same problem. I cut one up before realizing what it was. Just thought it was accidentally melted onto itself. Oops! Over the years different ideas have come to mind, but one that sticks out is using skateboard truck bushings as a replacement. They are made of polyurethane and have different hardnesses and probably sizes too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale pots Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 Thanks Phil I'll remember that and try those when the time comes! That thickness might be what I need also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberta12 Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 I just got another wheel also!!!! Today!!! It's a Shimpo RK10. Hasn't been used all that much, and I got it for a really good price. It will fit in the back of the Subaru so I can use it for demos, or just have another one for trimming or whatever! I was pretty excited to get it! Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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