March 20, 2022: Updated and edited
Throwing bats make things easier on the pottery wheel but with many options, it can be hard to pick the right one for your studio. Bats are available in various sizes and a variety of materials, including plaster, plastic, medex, MDF, and tempered hardboard such as Masonite. In addition to individual bats, there are also bat systems. This post will cover all the bats that I’m aware of on the market.
A 12” Speedball Plastic Bat on a 14” wheel head.
TOP PICK: Speedball Plastic Bats
My favorite bats are Speedball Plastic Bats. Available in 3 sizes and 5 different colors, they have a lip that makes picking up and removing from the wheel a breeze, they don’t warp, and they are long-lasting.
Injection molded, all the bats (even the square!) have universal 9” and 10” pin spacing. They are easy to clean and store, and a good value for the money.
The bottom of a 12.5” HydroBat, note the red rubber bat pin grommets.
UPGRADE PICK: Hydro-Bats
Hydro-Bats are made from Hydro-Stone, a gypsum compound that is harder than plaster, and feature rubber grommets cast into the bat. Most have 10” pin spacing but there are other sizes as well. The absorbent Hydro-Stone virtually eliminates the need to cut your works off with a wire, and it is more resistant to chipping and scraping than plaster. They are thicker than plastic bats, about 1/2” thick, but if you have the room, these are a joy to use.
About Bats:
Bats are useful for a variety of reasons: they provide a platform to pick up and move your work as it is drying, they protect the wheelhead, and they might even make clean-up easier. You can throw directly on the wheel head, but for wide or flat forms, you will definitely need a bat to successfully move it off the wheel.
Scroll down for a full review of a all types of bats.
Table of Contents:
Top Pick: Speedball Plastic Bats
Upgrade Pick: HydroBats
Amaco Plasti-Bats
Laguna Plaster Bats
Masonite Bats
Medex Bats
Bat Systems
Bat Accessories
Summary
The 7.5 inch square Speedball Plastic Bat
Top Pick: Speedball Plastic Bats
The bottom of the Speedball Plastic Bat.
Speedball Plastic Bats are injection molded and available in three sizes: 14 inch round, 12 inch round, and 7.5 inch square. All feature universal 9 and 10 inch pin spacing (yes, even the square!). They have a grid of support on the underside, are about 1/4” thick, and do not warp. They don’t chip, but they can be cut by sharp knives.
A side view of the lip on the Speedball Plastic Bat.
The best feature of these bats is the lip on the side. This makes them very easy to remove, as opposed to the Amaco Plasti-bats, which sit flush with the wheel head. The one drawback is with the pin opening on the bottom, you can find yourself hunting to match the bat up with pins.
These bats can be stored horizontally or vertically. The most interesting is the space-saving 7.5 inch square bat, which can really reduce storage space if you are making a variety of bowls or platters.
These bats should be available at your local ceramic supplier or check Amazon. They are available in 5 different colors, including brown, blue, green, orange, and red.
The 12 inch Speedball Plastic Bat on a 14” wheel head.
The 14 inch Speedball Plastic Bat.
Upgrade Pick: Hydro-Bats
The bottom of a 12.5 inch diameter Hyrdo-Bat, with the red rubber grommets that fit on standard 3/8” bat pins.
Hydro-Bats are a line of bats made from HydroStone, a U.S. Gypsum product that is harder and stronger than plaster but still absorbent. They are widely available, but are manufactured by the team at The Ceramic Shop in Philadelphia. In addition to the absorbent surface, the bats have a lip for easy removal, and rubber grommets that easily fit over bat pins.
The complete line has flat bats, hump bats, and a variety of plate and platter shapes. The flat bats have two sizes of pin spacing: the standard 10” pin spacing comes in diameters ranging from 12.5 to 28 inches, and the smaller 6” pin spacing has bats that are 8.5 and 10 inches in diameter. The 6 inch pins might fit tabletop wheels or there is also a 10” to 6” adapter available.
Hydro-Bats do take up more space, they are about 1/2 inch thick. And if they become saturated with water, they won’t be very useful until they dry out. But the absorbency of the HydroStone makes these a great option for throwing bigger forms, as you will have more even drying on all sides of the vessel. When the clay pulls away from the bat without sticking, your ware will be at the perfect dryness for trimming.
Hydrobats will chip or take cuts from very sharp knives, but from experience I can say that you can drop them without much risk of them breaking (you might get some chips though.) Overall, these are my favorite bats to use because they make trimming much easier, and they are stronger and easier to use than homemade plaster bats, or other absorbent bats without grommets. They do cost more, but it’s worth it.
Amaco Plasti-Bats
Amaco Plasti-Bats are available in 12” and 14” diamater.
Amaco Plasti-Bats are 1/4” thick, hard plastic with holes for bat pins drilled through. Available in 14 and 12 inch diameter, and 9 inch square, the holes are a universal 10 inch spacing. It would be simple to drill new holes if needed for alternative pin spacing. Simple, easy, and effective, these are functional bats that will get the job done.
There is also a 9” square Amaco Plasti-Bat, which also has holes for 10” pin spacing.
With no ribbing or lip, either side can be used and cleanup is very easy. As with all plastic bats, they are non-absorbent.
The drawback with these is that while they are easy to attach to the wheel head, the lack of a lip makes removal a bit hard. Some sort of tool or knife is needed to wedge one side of the bat up, so that your fingers can get underneath. Without the ribbing, these can warp if stored incorrectly. It’s best to store these horizontally, but they can be stored vertically as long as pressure is not applied.
These are not a big savings over the top pick, the Speedball Plastic Bats, but they are generally a bit cheaper.
Laguna Plaster Bats
Laguna Plaster Bats are 1” thick and available in 4 diamters.
Laguna / Axner makes a line of 1 inch thick plaster bats. These do not have grommets or pin holes, so they will need to be attached to the wheel head with clay. They are available in four round diameters: 7.5 inch, 9.5 inch, 11.5 inch and 13.5 inch.
Much more affordable than Hydro-Bats, plaster is not as strong as Hydro-Stone but it will still work. Just be careful to not drop or use sharp tools with these.
In general, it’s really nice to throw on absorbent bats so if you don’t want to commit to Hydro-Bats, try one of these and see if you like it. You can also make your own plaster bats by using forms such as pie tins, or round trash cans.
Masonite Bats
A 12” Masonite bat with universal 10” bat pins.
Masonite bats are made by a variety of manufacturers and are affordable, thin, and can be real workhorses if used correctly. Masonite is a 1/4” thick, tempered, water-resistant hardboard that is usable on both sides and is slightly absorbent, making it ideal for helping pots dry. Their affordability also makes these common in production pottery, but if they stay wet for a long time (such as long-term storage of wet ware) or are soaked, they will warp, break down, or get moldy. They will also scratch if metal tools are used too aggressively on the surface.
The best way to use masonite bats is to remove the pot when it is ready for trimming, then clean the bat with a minimum of water, and allow the bat to dry before using again. Also, never soak a Masonite bat or flex it when wet, and store them horizontally.
With care, Masonite bats can last a long time.
Medex Bats
Medex Bats are a made by a variety of manufacturers including Speedball. Medex is a 3/8” thick, engineered particle board that is made with no formaldehyde. It’s smooth, dense, and water resistant. Think of it as thicker Masonite. All the same issues reported above also apply here, i.e. no soaking or long-term ware storage. But if kept cycling through your studio, these bats should stay flat and are cost-effective. Some reviews online mention warping, but if used correctly, they will be fine.
Baltic Birch Plywood Bats
Plywood bats
Bailey Ceramic Supply in New York makes 3/4” thick Baltic Birch Plywood Bats. Absorbent like plaster, these bats are lighter than plaster or Hydro Stone, and won’t break or chip if you drop them. They are also more rigid for larger forms—plastic gets floppy at larger diameters. You could make your own plywood bats but these are predrilled and ready to go.
Like Masonate / Medex / hardboard, plywood will warp and get moldy if clay and ware is stored on them for a few weeks. Clean up with a minimum of water, and remove your piece as soon as you are able. It’s also a good idea to let these dry out in between uses. If properly cared for, plywood bats are long lasting.
Bat Systems
Bat systems feature a large bat and smaller inserts that can be swapped out. The idea is to save space on the shelf, and not have to bother attaching bats over and over. It’s particularly ideal for smaller work such as mugs, and small cylinders and bowls. The downside is that you commit to one manufacturer if you need extra or replacement bats. Some potters make their own version of these using a drill and a jigsaw. Only commit to a bat system if you know it’s the right system for you, the size of work you make, and your studio. It can be a definite space saver.
Penguin Pottery Heavy Duty Bat System
The Penguin Pottery Heavy Duty Bat System is made from MDF.
This system features a 14” circular bat with 6 inch square inserts, all made of MDF. The pins on the large bat are set for a 10” bat pin spacing, and the system is made in the USA. The inner bats are easily removable via four finger holes.
Dirty Girl Bat Systems
The Dirty Girl round bat system.
Dirty Girl tools makes two bat system, a square and round set. The large bat is 12.5”, and the smaller bats are 6.5 inches.
It’s not listed on the site, but it appears the larger bat is Medex or pressboard, and the inserts are thinner Masonite or some kind of tempered hardboard.
Snap Bat Throwing System
The all plastic Snap Bat system.
The Snap Bat Throwing System is an all-plastic option developed by The Ceramic Shop in Philadelphia. The large bat is 1/2 thick, and the smaller bats 7 x 7 inches square and 1/4” thick.
SpaceSaver / WonderBat Square Bat System
The WonderBat Square Bat System.
SpaceSaver by StudioPro and The WonderBat Square Bat System are compatible bat systems. (It appears the WonderBat is being phased out) This system is slightly different in that the inserts and larger bats are the same thickness. Designed to fit a standard 10" bat pin spacing with rubber comments that allow for two-sided use, it’s made from a engineered hardboard (possibly exterior-grade MDF) that is similar to Medex / Masonite. A variety of reviews praise this system, while others found that it expanded when exposed to water, which made it hard to use.
StudioPro also makes interesting polygonal bats and other speciality items.
Bat Accessories
There are a variety of accessories and add-ons that can help with bats and the throwing process.
Xiem Studio Tools BatMate
Xiem Studio Tools BatMate.
The BatMate from Xiem Studio Tools is a 12-inch diameter piece of synthetic fabric that can be placed in between a bat and wheel head to virtually eliminate any wobble, improving the accuracy of throwing and trimming. Many potters, however, wet the fabric and place it directly on a wheel head to use when trimming pots. Pots will stay put just by tension, without adding little balls of clay wadding. This saves time and works just as well.
It’s probably not necessary if you get Speedball Plastic Bats or Hydro-Bats, but it may be helpful for masonite or other bats that might have a slight warp. And it’s also a great tool for trimming small pots. At around $15, this is a tool that gets used all the time once it’s in a potter’s kit. The BatMate is available in 12 and 14 inch diameters.
Xiem Tools Bat Lifter
If you have bats without a lip, the Xiem Tools Bat Lifter will save your fettling knife or nails, helping you easily pick up one side of the bat. If you have Amaco Plasti-Bats, you definitely want one of these!
WiziWig Tools Clay Shield
The WiziWig Tools Clay Shield.
The WiziWig Tools Clay Shield is a set of 14 flexible panels that will guard your throwing area from trimming and throwing splatters. Each panel is 4 1/4” wide, 8 3/4” tall, and has a base that slides under your splash pan. When combined, the Clay Shield will cover a 20 inch diameter. Coverage varies depends on set up and your wheel, but overall, this is a simple tool that can make a big difference in cleanup. It does require some set up and can get in the way, but if you’re working in tight quarters it can really help.
If this doesn’t seem right for you, some people tape newspaper, cardboard, or even flexible cutting boards to achieve the same ends.
Foam Trimming Bat
Foam Trimming Bats by StudioPro.
StudioPro and others make foam trimming bats. These are foam glued to a bat. You can make your own, but StudioPro offers two options: one has 1/4 in foam for smaller pots, and another has 3/4” foam for heavier or uneven pots. Simple, easy and time saving, if you think a foam bat is going to help you, it probably will.
Brent Batmobile
The Brent Batmobile is a mobile cart perfectly designed to hold scores of round bats. It can accommodate bats that are 12 to 14 inches tall, and has locking 4 inch rubber casters. It’s not cheap—you might try a DIY option—but Brent’s entire product line is built to withstand heavy use in a production or busy academic studio. It will last forever.
Grinding Discs
There are now a variety of grinding discs that fit right on your wheel head. A great solution—you’ve already got this spinning motor with a waterproof splash pan! Some grinding discs have sticker backs that can be used with a bat. If you’re interested in this, a good place to start is with our DIY grinding disc tutorial.
Summary
This post covered a variety of bats for use on the pottery wheel. There are bats available in plastic, HydroStone, plaster, Masonite and other hardboards, and even plywood. There’s also a variety of bat systems and other bat accessories. Overall, my favorite bat is the Speedball Plastic Bat for it’s easy to move lip and resistance to warping. Hydro-Bats are my favorite for absorbent bats.
What are your favorite bats?
