A couple of years ago, Jeff made me a tool to cut the slots in sponge holders. It did the job but it wasn't always great. We started to talk about what would create a straighter cut and work efficiently. Jeff came up with a mitre box design. This is his prototype, which is working quite well. I am sure it's going to get some tweaking along the way.
Using the back side of the saw makes a cleaner cut in the clay. We need to find a smaller blade that won't be so cumbersome to work with on my bench.
I cut across the bottom with a fettling knife.
After all the cuts are made I go back and clean up the edges. I also give them the green kitchen scrubby treatment before they go into the bisque firing.
Now if we can only solve the warping problem...
I'd add circles drawn on the floor of the jig to aid centering and use a fine toothed saw with no set or cut them softer with a "B" guitar string. Good luck, I know Jeff is good at figuring this stuff out.
ReplyDeleteDennis, that's a great idea to draw a circle for centering... why didn't we think of that?!
DeleteMichele, my friend Pat cuts her sponge holders then ties a loose rubber band around them, after cutting and still leaving the cut sides in place, so they stay true. I've never made a sponge holder!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try the rubber band trick, thank you for telling me about that. Don't start making sponge holders... they are a pain and sell really quickly!
DeleteA Japanese pull saw is really sharp, used for fine work, but not cumbersome at all. It might be good for Jeff's bamboo work too.
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ReplyDeletePotters: always so clever in devising solutions :)
ReplyDeleteI use some metal that was used to band stacks of lumber together. You can get these free on the floor of most lumber yards or construction sites and they cut a nice line.
ReplyDeleteI’m going to try the rubber band idea.
You’re right, they are impossible to keep in stock, which is not a really bad problem to have.
I love my sponge holder! :o)
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