Rae Reich

The foot control not jumping from zero to 88mph when you barely touch it, good bat pins and the rest I don't care about, although I'm spoiled by the quiet nature of my Bailey, it's really grown on me and now all the wheels at the studio suck, lol.

Had a thunder/sleet storm last night , so were stuck inside today.      I have designs for my tile project all over my work table and I have plenty of clay to practice with so I am all set for this cold and nasty weather.    The word catawampus is used in this area still.     Denice

Still use catawampus. . . after living all over the country I have found that some words are regional, and but have credence. At the same time some words really date you! Catawampus  might have been Wonky a few years ago, or even lop-eared, whatever the word is undeniably descriptive by sound of being misshapen.
 
best,
Pres 

Pop said catawampus (an' a few other things, ahem).
Nice pot!
Also cattywampus. Origin of catawampus
1830–40 for earlier sense “utterly”; cata- diagonally (see cater-cornered) + -wampus, perhaps akin to wampish Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

I agree, believe me, I fall asleep to wheels jumping over a fence every night.

My wheel is a Bailey that I got about 20 years ago. It is my 4th studio wheel since 1971. It is slower than Brents. I like that. Most important to me is the control of the form. I have been throwing some larger orbs. I had several go catty-wompus (sp?). I took them off the wheel,  jiggled them to straighten and hung them out until they stiffened a bit. Then put them back on the wheel and and continued throwing. I do give up on some and just re-wedge them.  Very excited about my new work with soluble salts.
Marcia
 

When I took a JC Raku class, I was required to sculpt a modernized version of a Xian Warrior. The requirement was that we use an existing warrior and modify it to reflect how we see ourselves and our current life situation in clay. I chose to show myself as a farmer since I do have a "hobby" farm. (No, I don't grow hobbies...). 
My question is: How do you see yourself in clay?
Here's what I came up with:

The public always needs help with what the heck is it for items.

Thanks Mark, it might be just psychological and not help with drying, but I do feel it adds something visually.  I think I have seen the shark teeth as well, and a shark teeth toothbrush holder.
 I saw one pottery booth with sponges in all of them, came with a free sponge. I would have to put spoons in those rests or no one would know what they are, lol.

My thought is the sponge leans against the side at an angle so air hits just about everywhere. It may be extra work for not.
I have seen them with shark teeth on sides -as well as the bottom cut out on bottom-both things are unnecessary . Our sponges to not drip are get loose.
I had a Japanese potter send me oine from Japan with the bottom cut out an a panda bear on the side. Now that was time consuming.
I put put holes in about 1/2 my extruded soap dishes-holes take extra time  to clean up.-just a thought. As you know these sell better with one demo sponge in them on of them.
 

Thanks Gabby, I have notice the more time I spend making multiples the better I get at making them similar in size and shape. Between work and other current obligations I only get around 12 hours right now, hope to increase that to 20 in a few weeks, at least that's the goal.

15 flat sponge holders, 11 vertical sponge holders, 19 vertical spoon rest experiments, 1 small planter and 1 large mixing bowl. 1st time making sponge holders and my spoon rest idea needs some refinement.

When I make salt pigs anymore, I just throw a rounded jar with a short lip, lay an embroidery hoop over the top at an angle and cut with a fettling knife, then reverse the top 180 degrees and rejoin. Angled cut sets the opening at near a 45.
best,
Pres

Today I threw the bodies and necks for some tall bottles. I really enjoy assembling these. The bodies are 3lbs of clay, 12" tall. The necks only require 1lb since they're so narrow. I'll lose about 3" to shrinkage, so the finished pots will be just under 18".
 

Can I see what those look like?
For me, I've got a bunch of mugs to trim and handle, and another bunch of mugs to throw.  I have been making sake sets for my relatives in Japan, hopefully going back this year

Today it extruded soap dishes sponge holders-butterdishes and mugs. Short day

Min I got tired of salt pigs taking so long-I worked on a copper pipe to cut my opening like a hole cutter. I like an oval opening but since yours  are round this will go easier for you.
I ovaled the larger copper pipe fitting and then ground the  inside down to a point with a Dremel tool . You could do this with platic pipe or fittings(these vary in size) Just find the size you want and sand or grind the edge to a point and t=now you have a fast punch. It works great then sponge smooth. Saves tons of time.
 

Trimming the openings in salt pigs. Think it takes me longer to try and get the holes cut more or less evenly and round than it takes to throw them.

I spent some time on an old estrin one winter and came away with a new feeling for the rhythm of a well made pot. The fly-wheel taught me the importance of wheel speed management and helped me find a rhythm of my own.
I still have access to that estrin and use it from time to time. It's a treat.

Constant speed, constant torque, constant horsepower.  I learned on a hand control wheel and to this day try and set the speed with my foot then away my foot goes only to return shortly after the speed changes after I load the wheel. When I back off, here goes the speed just a touch, Annoying!
Most of the wheels these days manage speed pretty well until they are loaded requiring more horsepower but when they do and are unloaded their speed ramps up a little. I think I am hyper sensitive to this.
We have 20 wheels mostly whispers and I do like them but they are certainly not the best ever.
You know I would marvel at my father as he matter of fact would tell me about smudge pots under the vehicle and boiling water to fill the radiator all while we were jumping on his tires as we changed them to snow tires in our basement.
My conclusion, I just need to improve my throwing and maybe take some drum lessons to cure the dead foot issue. Every time I watch old potters on a kick wheel I think what kind of whimp am I?

It's funny, this thread inspired me to contact shimpo about my drifting pedal, looks like it's a simple fix wahoo!  I'm skeptical of course, the thing is 50 years old, but hey it's worth a shot!  I got a copy of the rk-2 price and stock list and they have quite a few important parts completely discontinued now so looks like when this thing dies I'll be in the market for a fancy dc motor one.

I haven't given counter clockwise much of a chance  (flipped that switch right away) - only when demo-ing for a counter-clocker; hence, clockwise is important. Also important, true (not wobbly, or not a lot wobbly...) wheel head and (agreein' w'Mark and several others here) smooth gas pedal. 
I like my Skutt, however, also liked the Brents and Baileys I've had a chance to drive.
Other important stuff include well prepared clay that be behavin', not cold and/or smelly water, clean-ish work area, an' that I'm actually ready to rock.
That last bit seems to make rather a big difference - comfortable, relaxed, not cold, hungry, tired, distracted, impatient. Also agreein' with Mark that almost always music or a radio show me like.
I just added more light. There is a large window behind, garage door windows on the left, and shop lights above and to the right, however, depending on the time of day, I'm flipping on lamps that shine from behind (over shoulders), right and left; doesn't take much eyestrain to drain mah poor lil' brain.
Add the few tools that I like and use, ready to go - each in they place an' not encrusted w' filth.
...oh yeah, decent bats, an' tool to lever'm off with.

I think good music matters most when throwing .I know that is a little out of the box but for me its true.A nice large light  gathering window in front of me keeps me chipper as well
The other smaller things are speed control  and a good throwing seat.
The speed control needs to work well.
(The pedals on the shimpos at the time weren't nearly as sensitive.) I think Callie thats an understatement as all those old Shimpo's have teriable speed control .The foot pedal on the ring drives seem really outdated-even back in the day.Sure thay are cute but thats about it.
All 5 of my wheels spin only one way-never thrown the other way. No reason to.
 

What Lee U said,  I am going out to  my shop to practice again and again.  I found a clay I like throwing three months ago, that has been a big help.  I threw a large set of dishes right before my MS messed up the motor control on my right arm.  I don't plan to do that again,  I just want to be able to thrown for fun or make something I need.  I am lucky that handbuilding was always my first love and that I never gave up working with clay.     Denice

What matters most to me when throwing is not giving up. The internal dialogue goes something like this:
"I should be able to throw just as well and just as much as I did years ago."
"Oh really? Who sez?"
"OK, let's just see (again)."
"OK, I observe and concede-it just ain't happening."
"OK, practice, practice, practice."
"OK, I am bored, bored, bored."
"OK, I admit that the wrist, back, neck, right knee,  and left hip are not happy campers."
OK, no one can make me and I don't wanna. "
"OK, we'll just call BS on that one."
"OK, I accept reality."
" I'll give it a rest for a few days. "
"Time's up; try, try, and try again. "
"Good girl!" 
It's not about the wheel, which is smooth as silk, reversible (which is useful & I enjoy for some pieces), and the speed is highly variable, readily responsive throughout the process. I'll never use enough weight to worry about torque & my current model Brent would more than handle it if I wanted to pull a whopper some day.  What I'm not up for,  having done my homework, a bit of experimenting w/chiropractor's help, and thinking a lot about what I want out of the time/money I have for this activity, is a brace for standing. I'm OK with a reduced engagement with throwing, and thankful for those bowls that make the cut. What matters most is, as noted, not giving up.