109. Wheel Throwing Bat Test - what are the best bats?

What are the best wheel throwing bats? Plastic bats, plaster bats, wood or MDF/Masonite bats? Round bats or square bats? Home made bats or commercial bats?
In this video I will test a lot of the wheel throwing bats and bat systems that I have and talk about the pros and cons of the different ones.
Link to the the German bat producer:
/ toepferheld
Link to my local (Danish) bat maker:
/ anders.lindschov
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www.demib.com
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/ demibpottery
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www.youtube.com/@deMibPottery...
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INDEX:
00:00 Why to use bats for wheel throwing
00:50 What makes good bats for wheel throwing?
02:15 Plaster bats - good and bad
03:02 Platic bats - good and bad
03:39 Commercial wood bats
04:28 Home made square bats
05:25 Commercial German large round bats in MDF/Masonite
06:16 Commercial German small square bats in MDF/Masonite
06:37 Bat systems
07:24 Custom made large bats in MDF/Masonite
09:31 Testing the German bats
11:28 Testing the bat system
15:43 Testing how well the clay release itself
17:06 Testing three different large round MDF bats
23:29 Testing how well the clay release itself
23:45 Quick dry and no cut off plates
27:10 Evaluating the wheel throwing bat test

[@georgesampson4714]

I once made some round bats from two thicknesses of what we call 1/4" thick tempered masonite glued together with the bat pin holes only drilled through one piece so the top surface was smooth and flat. Then I soaked them for a week in an oil based wood sealer like you would use to protect an outdoor deck or swing. They smelled terrible for about a year from the sealer but worked great and seemed to last forever. I ended up giving them away when I moved across country.

[@deMibPottery]

Great tip :-)

[@DunoonVanRijn-dx1hr]

If the end result is good then that is enough. ❤

[@deMibPottery]

Yes

[@melrussell7830]

The naked potter Mikkel 😆

[@deMibPottery]

Hehe, not entirely naked. I am not sure RUclips would allow that - or my girlfriend :-)

[@zippytippie453]

I also do my pots that way. I only cover things if I’m going to add to them, or alter them in some way like carving. Otherwise I let them dry uncovered. I just flip them over once the rim is dry so the bottoms can dry quickly as well. These self releasing bats sound great.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@gigi3242]

Thanks for the video, very informative. Really like that plate model. Take care, be well

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)

[@melrussell7830]

Thank you Mikkel a very useful video. I am wanting more bats and was thinking how I could make it cheaper and the smaller square bats would be much better as I don’t have much space 😊

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks. I love my square bats. They work so well for most small and mid-sized pots

[@Nana-xn4om]

Hello Mikkel, thanks a lot for this Video, I don' live in denmark, but I' m really interested in the bats you described as your favourite. Can you tell me what the exact material of the waterproof one is and how thick it is? For you didn't exactly say that in the video, you just said it was MDF or masonit, although as far as I know there are two similar, but not exactly the same materials. Thanks alot for an an answer. Nana

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks, but as I had the bats made I dont know more that what I said in the video. I fo know, howver that these materials can be different in different countries so my best advice is to test a few of the kinds you can get locally :-)

[@Nana-xn4om]

Okay thanks, I will try it out. Have a good day. Nana

[@David-uv7hz]

Very very interesting to see the bat system in use. I've not used one but was interested to try... but didn't even think about them lifting out when you do a pull! Great insight.
Question... When the plates release, are they too hard to trim a foot ring if you wanted to go that route? They looked pretty dry.

[@deMibPottery]

Thanks :-)
For a foot ring - where you carve away the inside you would most often need to wire them off. But for light trimming - like the edges I trim on my plates, they are wet enough for. But you have to be there and turn them as soon as they release. A few hours later is too late

[@David-uv7hz]

@@deMibPottery I can see that the natural release gives a nice flat surface... Wonder if it could be sprayed with water after release for more trimming?

[@deMibPottery]

It may. Try :-)