Index of My Tool Times Columns in Clay Times Magazine

Vince Pitelka, 2008 

1 - January, 2001 - “Begin with the Basics" - selecting tools

2 - March, 2001 - “Tools You can Make”  - some simple tools you can make

3 - May, 2001 - “Using the Bench Grinder to Make Simple Tools”

4 - July, 2001 - “A Wheel By Any Other Name” - pottery wheel from a car transmission

5 - September, 2001 - “Mixing Metaphors” - easy claymixing

6 - November, 2001 - “The Joys of Trapping Sludge” - easy to build clay trap

7 - January, 2002 - “Clay Tools From the Kitchen, Hardware Store, and Flea Market”

8 - March, 2002 - “Nose to the Grindstone” - grinding tools and media

9 - May, 2002 - “Useful Work Surfaces” - surfaces for working clay

10 - July, 2002 - “Tools for Texture and Pattern”

11 - September, 2002 - “Back to the Basics” - basic approaches of ancient and tribal cultures - simple tools and materials

12 - November, 2002 - “Just Sitting Around” - seating surfaces for handbuilding or throwing

13 - January, 2003 - “Building Your Own Spray Booth” - a simple, retractable studio spray booth

14 - March, 2003 - “Choosing Spray Equipment” - selecting between high-pressure, HVLP conversion spray-guns, and HVLP turbine systems

15 - May, 2003 - “Studio Storage Solutions”  - what works best for storage in the clay studio

16 - July, 2003 - “Underutilized Clay Tools” - a variety of indispensable tools

17 - September, 2003 - “Rib It” - different kinds of ribs and their uses

18 - November, 2003 - “Keep it Damp, Get it Dry” - damp boxes; drying cabinets

19 - January, 2004 - “Torch It” - torches, heat guns, hair dryers

20 - March, 2004 - “Cut, Slice, Poke, Pierce”  - tools for these tasks

21 - May, 2004 - “Punching and Drilling”  - tools for these tasks

22 - July, 2004 - “Tool Safety, Part One: Skin and Eye Hazards”

23 - September, 2004 - “Tool Safety, Part Two: Lung Hazards”

24 - November, 2004 - “All About Bats, Part I” - installing bat pins; wood product bats

25 - January, 2005 - “All About Bats, Part II” - plaster bats, plastic bats, canvas and tarpaper bats

26 - March, 2005 - “Banding Wheels and Turntables” - what's the difference between them, and which ones are best

27 - May, 2005 - “Spin It: Banding Wheels and Turntables, Part II”

26 - July, 2005 - “Does Tool Cost Equal Efficiency?” - when is a tool a good deal?  What justifies the cost of a tool?

29 - September, 2005 - “Tools for Terra Sig” - hydrometers,  and racking canes. etc. 

30 - November, 2005 - “Tables, Shelves, and Ware Carts”

31 - January, 2006 - “Measuring and Gauging, Part I - The Shrinkage Ruler”

32 - March, 2006 - “Measuring and Gauging, Part II” - a variety of dedicated gauges useful in the studio

33 - May, 2006 - “At the Wheel: Keep Things Within Reach” - how to keep the important tools within easy reach

34 - July, 2006 - “On the Road Again” - thoughts while traveling and teaching workshops

35 - September, 2006 -  “Tools to Maintain Your Studio” - the most important tools needed to build tools and equipment and maintain your studio

36 - November, 2006 - “Hands and Tools: Shaping Your Message” - how your tools affect the content and meaning of your work

37 - January, 2007 -  “Drying Sensibly”- considerations while drying your work

38 - March, 2007 - "Tools for Altering" - the most practical and effective tools for innovative altering of thrown and handbuilt forms

39 - May, 2007 - "New Products, New Ideas" - new things seen at the NCECA conference and from various tool makers

40 - July, 2007 - "Tools for Throwing, Part I" - some of the most interesting and innovative tools used in throwing

41 - September, 2007 - "Tools for Throwing, Part II"

42 - November, 2007 - "There's No Single Way" - everyone must find their own ways of using tools, and the best tools for their needs

43 - January, 2008 - "The Spray Bottle is Your Friend" - using the spray bottle for hydration

44 - March, 2008 - "What's That Tool Made Of?" - the importance of knowing the materials that go into making tools

45 - May, 2008 - "Vine Handles and Paper Clay" - two clever devices - one for steam-bending cane or vine handles, one for making bulk paper pulp

46 - July, 2008 - "What's New in Tools?" - new products seen at NCECA and from select tool makers

47 - September, 2008 - "Some Thoughts on Tools for Handbuilding" - various tools that are especially appropriate for handbuilding