How To Build a Great Pottery Batt System

[@hobblecreekpottery]

Brilliant!

[@mavisdavisify]

Too late to win the batt system but still a good idea. I think I’ll make some of these. I use an old upright freezer as a damp box. I leave my pots on the bats as I dry them slowly in the freezer but the big 12” bats take up too much room. This is just what I needed to make room for more pots. Thanks for demonstrating this.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

I love the upright damp box. I used one for years when I had room. I even build a raku kiln out of one. I called it an Amanagama. The build video makes this look way more complicated than it really is. And there are other ways to build ofcourse. If you have access to a router table; route the square for the batt in a square piece of 3/4 ply. Then cut the ply round to fit the wheel head. My build is with common tools.

[@donlaitala1262]

Great instructions for making your bat system. Guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend for my potter wife!

[@adams13f]

I know this was 2 years ago but wow what a great video well thought out and very easy to understand I'm subscribing. I just started out and making a lot of my own tools and making a kick wheel you are helping out tremendously so thank you.

[@ingegerdandersson6963]

I just found your channel yesterday. I love the videos I seen this far. I love that you show smart solutions and that you show how to make stuff without a lot of expensive tools. I seen other videos creating stuff but what looks like a way to get something for less than if you buy it often end up nedringd a full metal or wood working shop. Please keep doing these videos.

[@billwear3153]

My wife, Jenny Wear loves your content and is super excited about the bat system contest. Maybe they will help her throw less wonky 😏 if she wins them.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

The batt does help to not deflect or mishape delicate forms by picking them off the wheel head.

[@crunchybeen4263]

My daughter and I love pottery and just set up a small studio in our new home. Would love to win the bat system. Good luck everyone!

[@itsclearasmud7718]

Good Luck. I know you would enjoy this system. Spread the word.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

I am engaging in cheap, obvious, KZbin subscription tactics here. So be sure to put yourself in the running for the batt system by commenting that you want it. Increase your odds of winning by getting all your friends to subscribe and mention you by name, that you should win the batt system. The person with the most honorable mentions wins the batt in September.

[@mudchatpotterynbricks]

I think it's great!! Your channel is *awesome. You know what you're doing ~ and sharing that benefits everyone. Your channel will pick up speed, it's inevitable.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

@@mudchatpotterynbricks Thanks. Thats why I'm doing it. I'm not in it to make money or be something big on YT. But if there is stuff that will help and I can document it and make it available; perhaps it will keep giving after I'm gone.

[@mudchatpotterynbricks]

the potters & wannabe potters will find *lots of benefit ~ that's who I was meaning ~ in terms of the algorithms getting more pin-pointed ~ with your channel. Your lessons, classes, tips & tricks ~ information from someone who *knows ~ from experience?! Invaluable! People used to have to pay a ton of money for that, if they could find a class at all, outside of college. So, yeah - it's a big deal. People are trying to figure out what to do with their lives ~ and this kind of information is primo for those with eyes to see & ears to hear. Be careful though, your aesthetic is great. You could be the next Pewdiepie ; )

[@ingegerdandersson6963]

I think this systeme you are making here would be able to use tiles too if you make it the right size. That might be cheaper as wood becomes more expensive. If you use the most common size you can find different tiles for close to nothing. There is a bat systeme you can buy, called the Alfibat. You just buy the ”holder” for the bats and then use tiles as actuall bats. I think your ”holde” not only is cheaper, but also would be nicer to work with as it cover the turn table while the one you can but is only a square frame.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

@@ingegerdandersson6963 Thats a great idea. No warpage and easy to clean.

[@jamestierney3572]

Great detail. The kind of information that will make your work immediately successful.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

I hope so!

[@donlaitala1262]

Sara Laitala needs to win your bat system because then I won't have to make her one!

[@itsclearasmud7718]

Now thats the attitude I've been looking for!!!

[@gregpatterson3673]

Excellent video. You make it all look so easy, but I am sure it isn't

[@luciacruz3628]

I know where the "white elephant is. I am a home potter. I live outside of Tucson.

[@mudchatpotterynbricks]

This. is. AWESOME. Amazing channel. Thank you (!!!) :D

[@itsclearasmud7718]

Thank you too!

[@saralaitala3857]

I’ve been enjoying your videos, catching up since I just subscribed recently. Your bat system is ingenious and I’d love to give it a try!

[@itsclearasmud7718]

Sara. You have won the batt system. KZbin doesn't have Direct Messaging. So for privacy sake go on my Instagram at Its Clear As Mud and direct message me a shipping address. Congrats.

[@saralaitala3857]

@@itsclearasmud7718 Wow, what a surprise! Thanks so much! I’ll be in touch.

[@saralaitala3857]

Hi Jeff, I sent you a DM on instagram. Thanks!

[@sarahjarden8306]

I will be showing this to my husband, or possibly the woodwork man at work! Wondering what masonite is, I've never heard of it. Maybe one of them may know. I imagine that it's known as something else in UK/Ireland. Thanks for the detailed onto, most generous to share.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

A common use for tempered masonite are simple clip boards. That masonite is usually pretty thin, 1/8th inch or so. But it is basically a treated and tempered particle board.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

They sell pottery batts out of the stuff here. Almost always 1/4 inch material. Its very durable but has been replaced by plastic in the market place these days.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

"Premdore" in the UK according to Google.

[@sarahjarden8306]

I haven't heard of Premador either,lol, but I'm sure the builders merchants will know. Thank you 😊

[@sarahjarden8306]

Or Premdore! Predictive text strikes again!

[@lolalollie123]

What a great video! Just wondering is the vinyl on top of bats just like book contact or something else?

[@itsclearasmud7718]

@@lolalollie123 something else. Its really tough stuff. Hallmark was tossing out a bunch of it from the backing on their display cases. You can buy a 4x8 sheet of quarter in tempered masonite. Go to a pro lumber yard not the depot. They may have to order it. Same stuff round batts were made of back in the day.

[@wearhousecreations]

Hi! I'm a relatively new potter and I'm very excited to have found the gold mine of information that is your channel! I would love the batt system, but a more pressing matter for me is how to cut the big tub thing to put around my wheel head. How do you keep the water in when there's such a big hole there?

[@itsclearasmud7718]

Hi. I cut it with a saber saw. Use masking tape to mark up your cuts. There is a long U shaped cut out that allows the tub to slide around the shaft under the wheel head. This cut is maybe a 5" by 10" upside down U shape. The curved part of the U goes around the shaft. In the front the floor/ bottom of the tub curves up into the wall of the tub. I did not cut all the way to the bottom leaving a lip. The natural result of all this cutting is that the whole trough sags away from the enter wheel head and the excess water flows out to the ends of the tub. I also put a piece of plywood across the front under the tub and ontop of the potters wheel platform to support that U shaped cut.. This ply is about 32" x 6" x 1/2". It helps keep the tub from being floppy across the front where the cutout is for the wheel head shaft. It also raises the front of the floor of the tub by that same 1/2 inch. That isn't much but its enough to slop the water away from the front of the tub. So in essence the water collects in the back two corners of the tub where if i need to I can quickly sponge it out. If you go to my instagram, ITS CLEAR AS MUD, I will post some pictures.

[@itsclearasmud7718]

One more thing. If you look at my studio tour video at the end we go over the wheel and my tool set up. I have a thin board i put across the tub opening while trimming. I show it in the vid.

[@jamesworrill6390]

Great jog