Pottery Bats, Banding Wheels
Bats keeps getting better - sturdier to better secure your pieces, less warping, and materials that don't disintegrate. Good on the wheel, great for hand building on, here are some bats worth having. Plus check out a durable banding wheel for your home studio!
Speedball Bats - Square, 7 1/2 Inch, Brown
It just doesn't seem possible that a small square bat could easily fit on a round wheel using regular bat pins. But they do! And these are superb, sturdy bats, which maximize shelf storage space, Yes, ma'am (and sir) that means more space for more pots.
Whether you handbuild or throw, give the square bat a try and you may never go round again (unless you're building big)!
2024 Update: Like many pottery tools, bats now come in many other colors:
Speedball Bats - Round, 12", Green
Here we have the classic round bat. But there's something different in Speedball's construction. Like its square counterpart (shown above), it's made of injection molded plastic, which Speedball says do not warp and the holes do not enlarge. Having used these bats for several years - including in a studio environment - we've found this to be absolutely the case.
If you've dealt with warped bats and enlarged bat holes, you know they making wheel throwing challenging, regardless of your skill level. Centering on a warped bat - what a headache (it's seems akin to throwing drunk); Enlarged bat holes - growl: sure makes you want a drink!
Focus on throwing beautiful pottery, not battling your bat, and try these Speedball Bats!
Update: Like the Speedball square, above, many pottery tools, Speedball's 12 inch round bats also come in multiple colors, including:
Need bigger? Speedball also has bats which are 14 inches.
Nidec Shimpo Banding Wheel - 7" diameter x 2-1/4" height
If you do clay at home, consider a banding wheel, which are extremely helpful when glazing, decorating, coiling, sculpting, and more. And, if you get a good heavy duty metal one, like this one, there's a good chance you'll have it for the life of your studio.
The Nidec Shimpo Banding Wheels come in a variety of sizes, this being the smallest; And they are expensive. This model, as of January 2024, is $63.00 (USD). Click the above image/link for current price. Shimpo's largest banding wheel is 11 3/4" (diameter) by 4 3/4" (height) for about double the price. However, these are precision tools, made of cast iron, covered with rust resistant paint, and sealed ball bearings for smooth, non-wobbling rotation.
Disclosure: As a Blick Art Materials Affiliate, we earn commission on qualifying purchases.