Batt Pins

2 x threaded socket caps and wingnuts.
If you want to drill holes in your wheel head to accommodate batts, then you will need batt pins or as they are sometimes called wheel head studs. Ours are made of marine grade stainless steel so it won’t mind the water.

Dimensions: Thread thickness (M6), 25mm (L)

Instructions:

You will need a metal punch, drill bit for metal (HSS/7mm), felt tip pen, drill and an MDF batt which you are intending to use.

First, plan where you are to drill the holes. Manufacturers of pottery wheels, when they do it, use the incised lines for symmetry, and most will use a 9 and 3 o’clock position. It doesn’t need to be so, but it does look nice.

Feel underneath the wheel head as there will be thicker parts to the cast, and you will want to go through the thinner areas. After using a ruler to draw a horizontal line through the centre of the wheel, mark the places intended to be drilled with the felt-tip pen.

Take a metal punch and give a good sharp tap to create small indents into the metal. Use a metal drill bit and drill, making sure you hold the drill as perfectly vertical as possible. If you have a slow setting, it would be an advantage to use that, at least to start. If a burr has been created on the new hole, then a little emery paper rolled into a tube will clean things up nicely.

Place your MDF batt as centrally as possible using the incised lines as a guide. Clamp or hold fast to the wheel head, using the other hand to feel underneath for the holes and using a short felt-tip pen or pencil, make 2 dots on the batt. Remove the batt and then drill holes to match.

We would suggest keeping one batt that fits well, as your master batt, as you can use this to mark and drill holes into others.