MAINTENANCE
What are the best practices for maintaining pottery bats made from plywood and MDF?
During use:
- Let the clay pieces and bats dry naturally together.
- After removing your work, gently clean off any excess clay.
- Please do not saturate MDF bats or leave them submerged in water- this may cause them to swell and warp. The material is “water-resistant” not “waterproof”.
Drying and storage:
- Air dry your bats and inserts on edge to avoid trapping moisture as they dry. A dish rack works well for this.
- Once thoroughly air dried, stack inserts with a weight on top to prevent warping.
- Wood is an organic material and if stored damp wooden bats and inserts can grow mold. If they do, wash them with vinegar and air dry again.
Maintenance:
- When bats show signs of deterioration, replace them rather than attempting repairs.
- Regular visual inspection will help you catch any developing issues.
- Keep the storage area at a consistent humidity level.
- After first usage, the surface of the inserts will feel rough because water makes the wood fibers swell. Use the included piece of wet/dry sandpaper to make them smooth again. Put the bat and the insert on your wheel and run the sandpaper across the insert as it turns. You can use water to lubricate the sanding. Then let the insert dry completely before storing flat in a stack.
- The weighted stacking method works because it uses gravity to maintain the bats' essential flatness while taking up minimal storage space. Much like books can warp if stored without proper pressure, wooden bats benefit from this consistent, gentle pressure during storage.