Giffin Grip FAQ's

About the Giffin Grip

What is a Giffin Grip?

The Giffin Grip is a re-centering chuck used for holding  “leather hard” pots on a potter’s wheel while they are being trimmed. The Giffin Grip cuts in half the time previously spent in trimming.  Shapes that would otherwise be left untrimmed, can now be trimmed with ease, increasing both the quality and creativity of the work.

The Giffin Grip was invented in the late 1970’s by production potter, Brian Giffin.

 He could tap to center with the best of them, but he was getting tired of those little clay wads drying out sending his prize work flying off the wheel!

Although it was designed specifically for trimming, the Giffin Grip works equally well for waxing the foot or banding with oxides.   Over the years our customers have found countless creative ways to use the Giffin Grip!

Will the Giffin Grip fit my wheel?

The Giffin Grip fits most potter’s wheels on the market including: Shimpo, Brent, Speedball, Skutt, and many more. Any potter’s wheel with a removable splash pan, or sufficient side clearance to mount a 16” (42cm) diameter round plate on top can accommodate a Giffin Grip. The Giffin Grip can be adapted to wheelheads from 6” to 14” in diameter.  After a simple, one-time adjustment, the Giffin Grip quickly snaps on and off your wheel.  

Watch our assembly video on You Tube to let Brian show you how. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgPAr16cgGQ&feature=player_embedded

 

Does the Giffin Grip actually center the pot for trimming?

Yes! Giffin Grip is designed to gently corral your pot and secure it on center for trimming.

It’s all due to the spiral bottom plate.  This is so important to the product that it is the inspiration for our logo! 

The Basic  Sliders and Wide Sliders are designed to engage with the spiral of the bottom plate. The 3 sliders follow the path of the spiral and move along the top plate in perfect  concentric alignment with each other. That's why they center so well.

 

Does the Giffin Grip come in both clockwise and counterclockwise versions?

Yes!  The Giffin Grip comes in two versions, one for using on standard counterclockwise turning wheels and one for clockwise turning wheels (as used in Japan).

 

What comes in the Giffin Grip box?  

The Giffin Grip Model 10 comes complete with  Basic Sliders, Wide Sliders, 5 sizes of  rods with hands, Bottom Brackets, and connection hardware .

 

Is there a Giffin Grip Guarantee?

Yes! 90 day money-back guarantee and 10 years free replacement on parts that wear out or break in normal studio use.

 

Is this the authentic Giffin Grip?

Yes! The Giffin Grip is made in the USA exclusively by Giffin Tec, Inc.  “Made in  Boulder, Colorado, USA” is built into the mold of the bottom plate. Because we continue to innovate and improve on our design, our sliders and rods have changed over years.  Now you can tell it is authentic Giffin Grip by the Blue Sliders.

 

We have no licensing agreement with any other manufacturer, anywhere!

 

 

About the Accessory Parts

 

How is the Flex Slider III different from the Blue Basic Sliders?

The Flex Slider III works for out-of-round, and asymmetrical shapes. Like the Basic Sliders, Flex Sliders engage the spirals of the bottom plate, securely locking the pot in place.  However, unlike the other sliders, the Flex Sliders can be adjusted to fit almost any shape.  Just move the Flex Slider along its track and achieve just the right position to center your work where you want it. 

 

See the video on our website.

 

How are the Basic Sliders different from the Wide Sliders?

Basic Sliders are for the majority of the pots.  They can be used with pads facing in for trimming plates or reversed in order to hold the rods for taller pieces.

 

Wide Sliders are narrow as possible in order to accommodate larger platters. For platters over 14 inches, there is the Jumbo Platter Extender!

 

How does the Jumbo Platter Extender work?

The Jumbo Platter Extender allows you to trim platters up to 58 centimeters (23 inches) in diameter.  It fits on top of your existing Giffin Grip.  Three brass bat pins drop into the 3 grooves of the top plate.  Special extended sliders engage with the spirals on the bottom plate, locking the Jumbo into place.

 

How are the new Blue Sliders different from the old Black Sliders?

Computer assisted design techniques make it possible to shape the new Blue Sliders to more perfectly fit the contour of the pot.  Additionally, the durable new pads of will not wear out as easily as the old foam pads did.

 

How are the new rods with hands better than the old style?

The soft, elastomeric hand on each rod is contoured. This distributes pressure more evenly on the pot, holding it more securely without marking.  Each rod has its own hand, reducing the problem of loosing pieces in the studio!