I gave both sets of instructions to my husband, who's excited about the project, so he'll probably be making one or the other for me. I'll let you know when (if) it happens. Thanks so much for your help.
Hi, Pres. I like your extruder suggestion. It's been on my wish-list for a long time, so maybe it's time to get it. I know it would save me not only a lot of time but I'm sure a reduction in stress on my hands. And I have already started doing more coiling -- and slab-building -- than I used to. And, yes, I will adapt. I just don't want to cause more harm as I do. That's my main concern. I can work through a lot of pain. Thanks again.
And as some actor of long ago said, "Getting old is not for sissies."
Tough decisions as we get older @Dottie. Most o f this is personal decision, but I will let you know what I have been doing. Retired 2009, do part time pottery mostly in the non Winter months. I have had cysts, with bone spurs, one operated on, and it killed the joint on the rt thumb. I recycle all my clay with wedging, and throw most of my pieces. I used to pull handles with my rt hand, but now use an extruder to make handles for mugs and other pieces that require handles. I used to take NSAID for pain, mostly just before bowling, as I am an avid bowler at 3 times a week. I have found that the pain of the hands goes away when I am using them. The more I use them the longer the pain seems to stay away. However. as I used to teach most handbuilding techniques in HS, I know how much the pinch pot forms can affect the hands, especially as you get older. Maybe you could resort to a hybrid form with coils, or extruded forms working on the sculptural pieces that way. I think if you love what you do you will find ways to adapt.
Dottie got a reaction from Pres in hand-building and throwing with arthritis, suggestions
Dottie got a reaction from Hulk in hand-building and throwing with arthritis, suggestions
