Preagan Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 I was watching a video of an Asian potter trimming a bowl bottom. He used a red laser light to determine center when securing the bowl to the wheel. This was a video without anyone talking or any captions. Has anyone done this or know about this method? Interesting! Of course i don't remember the name of the You Tube video ☹ï¸. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Imaging how that would work I would guess that when the laser is steadily on the pot its centered. Makes sense. Never tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 I want to hear Neil weigh in on this one! Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 I have a lazer pointer and it will not center pots.But our cat used to love playing with the light. Sometimes old school rules apply How about a new phone app for centering? would you pay for that?Nerd you paying attention as this could be a whole new market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 I want to hear Neil with in on this one! Marcia Or, you could just hold your finger in front of the bowl to see if it's off center. Come on, people! Put the toys away and make some pots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 If you hold your phone in one hand and the laser in the other you can see that the clay is not getting centered. May have to hire a professional to get that job done . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 The bubble level on the phone comes in handy for leveling strange pieces into a chuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 I saw a video that used a laser pointer to show when a plate was the correct diameter. Not seen one for centering. I just use my eyes/fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preagan Posted November 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Don't own a laser pointer, not gonna buy one. I use my eyes, fingers as well. Just asking a question and believed this was the forum to do so! Calm down you wonderful people! We discuss dumpster diving and uses of odd bits of housewares to aid in the making of pots. Why couldn't a newer technology be useful to some? I am "older" but try to keep an open mind, keeps life interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Mark: Currently I am trying to perfect my self-centering porcelain formula. Bring wheel up to 200 rpm and it centers itself. From 220-230 rpm is forms a cylinder, and at 240 rpm it makes a bowl. Need to get the price of the anti-gravity clay down to under $3000 a ton though. Preagan: I get it, I really do. I have been trying to introduce new theories and thoughts on various aspects of this biz. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick White Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Hmm, the more I think about this, the more it seems it could be done. First, the prerequistes: the piece to be centered must be well thrown, with a uniform circular horizontal cross section throughout, an even rim, and with sufficient vertical dimension for this method to work (i.e., a flat plate won't work). Now, the method: Place the laser in a fixed support such that it points at the side of bowl or cylinder at an angle. When the piece rotates, the laser dot will move up and down on the side of the piece if the side is moving in and out relative to the angled line of the laser light. When the piece is perfectly centered, the side will be at the same relative distance and angle with respect to the laser at all points of rotation, and the dot will be steady. I'd better order my laser pointer from Amazon right now before you all run their inventory out of stock... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preagan Posted November 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Dick, you explained exactly what I observed in the video! The thing is just a tool, not an attack on skill or philosophy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Lazer pointers just as u-tube are best for cat videos and playing with cats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 The bubble level on the phone comes in handy for leveling strange pieces into a chuck. That only works if you've leveled your wheel first. Or you can just hold your finger in front of the pot to see if it's centered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 neil, who uses fingers to make pottery anymore? that is so old fashioned or school or whatever. only the newest is good enough. if it is not shown on youtube nobody is going to do it. why would anyone want to read a book that tells how things were done way back in the 1970s? why learn anything, skill is not important, only the idea matters. soon, thinking about what to make will be enough and nobody will even need clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinR Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 Ahhh...conceptual art... Lin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 The bubble level on the phone comes in handy for leveling strange pieces into a chuck. That only works if you've leveled your wheel first. Or you can just hold your finger in front of the pot to see if it's centered. A finger? What kind of device is this? Are they expensive to purchase, and where can I get one?... Currently I center pieces to trim by using a metronome, barometer and an egg balancing on its end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_L Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 >the piece to be centered must be well thrown, with a uniform circular horizontal cross section throughout, an even rim, Good luck with that then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 I use an egg timer to center-Heres how it works set timer for 1/2 minute-walla its centered before the timer goes off.I'll make a u-tube video when I retire and have some spare time that I know not what to do with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 I know to many people that beleive they are just one tool way from achieving perfection before they even learn the basics. That said, to say that I like gadgets would be a profound understatement. not only do I enjoy looking at them, I also like to come up with ways to repurpose gadgets for tasks that they are totally unintended for. Best of all I like to improve upon them, to make them better. I'm a card carrying member of TA (Tinkers Anonymous). The person that came up with the idea of placing an electric motor on a kick was a genius and the person that figured out how to install a gas pedal to that motor to get variable speeds was his student. I can hear a potter of a few hundred years ago saying. "I don't need no newfangled contraption, my apprentice mixes all the clay I need by hand" to which the apprentice might reply, "But Sire, if we had a pugmill I can mix 10 times the clay in the same time it takes me to do it now and maybe there would be time for me to learn how to help you make more pots and make more sales." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 I have nothing against tools and gadgets and innovation. I've got a garage full of power tools, 11 electric wheels, and touchscreen controller on my kiln. But I do have a problem with unnecessary tools, and tools that are a crutch- a replacement for a learned skill. If you want to play piano, do you buy a player piano or do you take piano lessons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 I know to many people that beleive they are just one tool way from achieving perfection before they even learn the basics. Worth repeating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 By which I mean we are in agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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