Bat System for Potter’s Wheel, 12” Round Outer Bat with Set of Six 7” Square Inner Bats, Bat Adapter with Removable Inserts for Throwing Pottery, for Potters and Clay Artists (6)

I like this system for throwing pieces since the round bats take up quite a bit of room unless you are throwing pieces that large which I really am not. The material draws out the moisture more quickly and although I have not experienced it yet, I've been told that there can be a tendency to warp a small amount but the fix is to flip them as needed to flatten them again.

DO NOT BUY! They did not add a finish to the bat inserts, and the wood fibers are already scratching off into the clay after a single use. Pictures include a treated bat from Bleecker that has lasted me years, and cleaned bat from this purchase to show the color/untreated wood, and a used bat with the wood flaking into the clay.

Ok I resisted buying a bat system on Amazon. Got one from a well known pottery company, it warps and the inserts don’t fit right. So I bought this one, and I love it. It’s super easy to put inserts in, they fit well (took one use for them to swell slightly and not move), thin and easy to store. Definitely getting more inserts.

This set was an affordable entry-level bat system that I felt comfortable buying as a new potter with only a few months experience. The inserts fit well, however I noticed when opening i can hear the system clicking from the noise of the system rattling a bit. Didn't throw it off center, just a concerning noise. I kind of hate the smell of the mdf. It's a strong musty smell for sure. I will update after a few uses on its durability

Better than multiple pricey full-size bats, the Bleeker Bat System allows me to throw anything with less than a 7" diameter base (which is most of my work). If I have been too generous with the water, I will lift the work on its bat and allow it to dry out a bit, while working on something else (this also allows the bats to dry out, as well. The system makes for much greater efficiency in my studio. I can also cover up work with a bit of plastic if I am not going to get to it for a day or so, and delaying such work on 7" bats frees up so much more space than if I was using standard 12" bats. I also purchased a second set of inner bats (from a different vendor) to keep the work flowing. After a recent move, I have yet to find my stash of bats in storage. Now I don't need to work too hard to locate them. This system is excellent!

I bought this a few weeks ago and here are the pros and cons about the product. Cons: the actual bat holder is starting to warp. the worst part is that it is bowing in a way that its basically rocking on the wheel making it really tough to do anything (center, throw, lift, etc). I recommend that the manufacture make it so that both sides can accept an insert so that if one side bows you can flip it around and hopefully flatten in out again while you keep using it on the wheel. The bat itself is very thick and can easily put another insert slot on the other side perhaps even a circular insert v. a square one. Con: inserts aren't as snug as id like them to be, this causes the inserts to shift slightly which at a fast speed can throw off your center. Temporary fixes are filling the gaps with clay which only really fixes the problem temporarily. Pros: Inserts allow you to save space on the drying shelf by not having to put a whole bat on there. Inserts are fairly cheap. Recommend you use a screwdriver to pry out the bat when you're ready to take it off the wheel. all in all i spent the money to buy the system and a additional 6 inserts but now that the actual bat holder is warping they are pretty much useless. If your using low speed and maybe can sandwich the bat between two heavy flat objects to dry to prevent warping, its great other wise the additional maintenance is really a downside to the product.

I've been using this system for about a year now, and I feel like I can leave an honest review now. So first off, any system like this is going to be a huge time saver, this one is no exception. But we all know why we bought or are buying this product. So how does it hold up? I see a lot of reviews here about warping, and I think that these are probably new potters who don't quite understand how Masonite bats work. They absorb water, it's how they work so well! When things are ready to trim they just pop off the bat because the bat has been wicking moisture out of the bottom. Sometimes this causes the bat insert to "dome", or bend in the direction of the thing drying on it. It is important to flip your bat inserts each time to keep the dome from becoming exaggerated on one side. A domed bat will not prevent you from centering, it will not cause issues with throwing, if you think so, you haven't been throwing for very long. Now my main bat (the thing that holds the inserts) did dome on me since it's not flippable, but I just put some shelf liner under it and haven't ever had a problem since. I always get my wheelhead wet before putting the bat on, and I always dip my bat inserts in water before putting them on the bat. Can't beat the price, I have purchased 24 extra inserts and I use them every day. I really like this system and it's so much cheaper than the dirty girls and other similar systems. Search for Liam Besaw on YouTube to see me throwing on these bats and you'll never question buying this system.

After one use I knew this product was not for me. You have to use a lot of clay to get the insert to stick in there and stay, otherwise forget about being able to pull without it coming out. It sits loosely in the bat. And, I guess I rub the sides of my hand on the bat quite a bit as I throw and it was very bumpy and uncomfortable. The bat began to warp after one use, which made it wobble. The inserts also warped after one use. I was very careful to dry them immediately after cleaning as well. I returned them.