About Octo-Bats
Octo-Bats design and materials
Octo-Bats is a pottery wheel bat system that is compatible with a 330mm wheel head, as is found on the Venco No. 3 pottery wheel. They do not use or require pins, but instead are designed to fit snugly over the outside rim of the wheel and hold three different octagonal bat sizes in concentric frames.
Octo-Bats are made from Weathertex, a highly durable composite hardwood used primarily as external building cladding. All pieces are CNC cut for precision fit and sealed with a deep penetrating, mould resistant timber treatment.
How to use your Octo-Bats
Octo-Bats are designed to fit tightly to the wheel to prevent any rotational slipping, but you may want to use a clay absorbing chamois on the wheel to ensure the frames and bats remain secure.
- Place the large circular frame over your wheel and push down so it fits snugly and flat.
- For large bats, use the outer frame only, simply inserting the large bats into the frame aligning the 4 cut-outs on the underside of the bat with the four cut-outs in the frame.
- For medium bats, insert the medium frame, then the medium bats into the medium frame aligning the 4 cut-outs on the underside of the bat with the four cut-outs in the frame.
- For small bats, insert the medium and small frame, then the small bats into the small frame aligning the 4 cut-outs on the underside of the bat with the four cut-outs in the frame.
- To remove a bat after you have finished throwing your pottery, insert a bat removing tool, screwdriver or similar into one of the 4 frame cut-outs and under the bat – leverage to bring the bat up, then allow your piece to dry on the bat.
NOTE ON FIRST USE: Octo-Bats will fit tightly for the first few times you use them but the edges will smooth and should pop in and out more easily after a few uses.
How to care for your Octo-Bats
After each use, rinse your Octo-Bats and frames in cold water to remove clay residue and leave to air dry vertically and individually, e.g. in a plate drying rack or just leaning against a shelf or wall – don’t stack them until they are thoroughly dry.