Message from the designers of the Skutt/ Thomas Stuart bat system for
kickwheels:
We have devised a unique system for making plaster bats and
made it an easily available option to the Thomas Stuart kickwheel
without the need for additional heads and molds. We feel the
plaster bats are more durable than plastic or particle
board.
To attach the plaster bats to the work head, three small holes are
drilled in the wheel head. One pin is placed in each hole (30 pins
are provided) and the ring is tightened around the outside of the
head. The inside area is coated with a generous amount of liquid
soap or other parting agent. The head is then filled with
plaster. After the plaster has set, the ring is removed and the
plaster bat is set aside to dry. The pins serve two
purposes. First, they easily relocate the bat on center and
eliminate the need for slip as a fastening agent. Second, the pins
provide space between the bats as they are stacked which facilitates
fast drying.
We are sure you will find this system highly desirable in most
professional and school situations. Where more than one Thomas
Stuart wheel is used, you need only to purchase one bat mold to make all
the plaster bats you need. We will be happy to drill the wheel
head if you purchase the bat mold at the same time you purchase the
wheel. If the bat system is purchased later, we provide a drilling
template, drill bit and instructions for drilling the head.
Compare a normal pin and bat system to this system.
A. With a
normal system, there are two pins sticking out of the wheel head to
attached bats usually made out of plastic or hardboard. These pins
are 1/4" cap screws with wing nuts that are usually spaced 10"
apart from each other. The tops of these cap screws fit into holes
drilled on each bat.
B. Our plaster bat system uses pins sticking out
of each bat into small holes you drill in the wheel head. We use
three pins in each bat so the bats can stack on top of each other next
to the wheel. This system requires you making these bats out of
plaster at a cost of about $1-$2 each.
If you choose B, the complete
system comes with everything you need including instructions (except the
plaster of course). The main difference between the two systems
is: with A) you will always have these two bolts sticking out of the
wheel head and you will need to use a bat for everything including
trimming etc (be aware that many of these bats are slightly warped and
cause many people grief when trimming.) Or with B) you continue to
use your wheel head for throwing smaller pieces and trimming. If
you need to throw something (like a plate) you simply place a plaster
bat on the head (inserting the protruding pins into the small hole
drilled on the head), throw and remove when finished.
