The HEX© Bat System is a brand new wheel accessory developed by Potclays Ltd.
My Shimpo potters wheel has been fitted with bat pins. There are so many different types of bat systems ranging from plastic plywood MDF. I like using the hex bat system as it is easy to remove the hex bat insert.
I’ve modified a plywood bat which will allow me to use different bat systems my favourite is the hex bat system which I can now use with my aluminium banding wheel, this has also been adapted to allow me to use the Giffin grip system . I would normally only use the Giffin grip system on my potters wheel for turning and applying slips. I also wanted use it on my banding wheel which would be a big help as sometimes I need a second pair of hands. My modified plywood bat template increased my area on my banding wheel from 205 mm to 330 mm.
The first thing is to set up my potters wheel with the HEX bat system, The HEX bat system consists of two pieces . The first piece is the outer template, this is pushed down onto my potters wheel and is secured in place on the bat pins. This holds the second part of the HEX bat system. Bat insert is the part you remove after you have thrown your pot there is no need to use a wire to cut off the pot. As the pot slowly dries it will release itself from the bat, this will eliminate any distortion especially on large bowls as it is very easy to distort bowls when you are throwing directly on the wheel head and cutting off with a traditional wire.
Next you insert another hex bat and start to throw another pot . You keep repeating the process you will end up with a workbench full of the HEX bat inserts with your masterpieces on then .HEX shape bat is designed to save you on workspace.
The next option is to use my aluminium banding wheel with the hex bat system. After I’ve made all my pots which are sitting on the individual bat inserts, I then move to the banding wheel system for applying any slips underglaze colours.
First I clip on the banding wheel my new modified bat template. The new bat template has got a set of bat pins fixed in place these are for holding your HEX bat system template You then can use any of the pots you’ve made which are still attached to their hex bat inserts on the banding wheel, it is just a matter of placing the bat insert into the template they will be centred exactly as they have been thrown on your wheel, perfect for applying any background slips and colours. Second When my pots have released from the hex bat inserts I move over to the Giffin grip on my banding wheel using the same modified plywood template I click on the Giffin grip. This gives me more options on decorating. marking out my pots and much more’ the possibilities are endless .I hope the images inspire you to have a go at making your own plywood bat template which will allow you to use different systems on your throwing and banding wheel.
