Wheel bats are removable bases that are placed on the pottery wheel chuck, facilitating the work and handling of the modeled pieces. These removable surfaces are designed to work directly on them, allowing the piece to be removed together with the disc once finished, which avoids deformations when handling wet clay. They are especially useful in the production of large, delicate pieces or in high repetition projects.
Wheel bats are a relatively modern invention, although their principle is based on traditional techniques where potters used clay or wooden bases to handle delicate pieces. Today they are made of different materials, each with particular advantages. Those made of gypsum absorb humidity, which accelerates the initial drying and stabilizes the base of the piece. Those made of plastic and wood are more durable and suitable for workshops with continuous production, as they can be reused indefinitely.
Interesting Fact
In some craft workshops, pottery bats are customized with textures or markings to facilitate centering and optimize clay adhesion during modeling.
Helpful Tip
If you are working with plaster discs, keep them dry between uses to prevent them from absorbing too much moisture and losing effectiveness. For plastic and wooden discs, be sure to clean them immediately after use to avoid clay build-up that could affect future pieces.
