Mardili bat System for Potter's Wheel, 11-3/4" Round Outer Bat with Set of Six 7" Square Inner Bats, Bat Adapter with Removable Inserts for Throwing Pottery, for Potters and Clay Artists

I just got this, and though I haven't used it yet to throw, since there are no reviews on Amazon, I thought I'd throw this up to help anyone who landed here.I've been looking for a good bat system for a while. This allows you to throw multiple pieces of pottery on the wheel quickly, without warping your piece while getting it off the wheel head. Because the bats are square, they store compactly on shelves. If you've used the Wonder Bat or Dirty Girl Bat or Bleeker Bat systems, they're all made of a porous material. The reason for this is so a dried piece releases from the bat easily. The downside is that anything porous is prone to warping, swelling, and shrinking. Every one of the bat systems above has this problem. Wonder Bat inserts don't fit back into the slot because they swell too much, Dirty Girl or Bleeker bats warp because they're so thin.This bat system is made of two pieces of plastic with a dense foam core. It's the exact same concept as the Dirty Girl and Bleeker bat systems, but made of plastic. This should make it warp- and swell-proof. It's also very cheap compared with the other systems mentioned. The square bats fit well into the base slot, and don't move around at all. The pin holes are not reinforced, so eventually, if the plastic wears down, they may become loose, which would be a big problem, as then the entire bat system would move around on the wheel.Another big problem is that the square inserts don't sit flush with the base, they're lower by a very small amount, maybe 1/2 millimeter. The end result is that the edges of the base are palpable, however, and if the bat is turning on the wheel quickly and your hands are pressed against the base, the sharp edges of the slot will be rubbing into your palms and probably gets very painful. This would be a big problem when centering, because you're often putting a lot of pressure on the base and your palm comes into a lot of contact with the spinning bat.Overall assessment so far:Pros:1. Cheap2. Won't warp3. Square and compact bat insertsCons:1. Non reinforced bat pin holes - vulnerable to loose fit over time2. Sharp edges of the slot may cause chafing when throwingI'll try to update as I use this on the wheel.

I have used several bat systems and bought two of these hoping they would work for adult classes. When I tried it the first time it cut my hand as the outside edge is very sharp. I smoothed the edge with a belt sander and tried again. It then did not cut my hand. On first use the clay did not adhere well to the bat and slid around, the inside bat also wobbled during throwing. I fit it with a piece of chamois and that stopped the wobble.As I used the bat throughout the day, I got used to it and eventually liked it. I think beginners will struggle but I have kept both of them.

the inner square has too much play within in the cut out on the bat. I threw with these on all 6 inner pieces and I could not get one perfect piece. The extra play made it difficult to stay on center because of the inner piece kept knocking, also pulling up became an issue because the small bat would pull up out of it's cut out - far too loose and a waste of money, go the extra bucks for the better-made bats.

*Update* After using these for several months, I love them. I often use them over my plastic speed ball bats. As long as I use a chamois underneath and wedge clay in the corners of the insert it works great. They haven’t warped after all this time.These are not solid plastic. They are made out of gator board (which is like a heavy duty foam core). It wiggles around a lot, so it’s hard to stay centered. If you buy it, using it with a bat mate/chamois helps. You should also wedge clay in the gap between the circle and square insert. Ultimately it’s a bad product, but I guess you get what you pay for.

I like that you can change the insert and keep on throwing. However it has a problem: the insert is slightly slightly loose so it moves as you are trying to center and throw. I solved that by putting a paper towel between the insert and the bat, that was enough to remove the motion. Your fingers also tend to smack into the seam of the insert. I think if the insert was larger and round instead of square it would be much better. I would still recommend it.

I bought this bat system because I thought this would be economical. I only used these one time. I wound up cutting my pinky finger on the opening for the bat pin. I have not used since. I have since bought one piece plastic bats. I would not reccomend this product.

Bat system is plastic, questionable quality though. It is functions fine but it is very thin and too light weight. The whole system flew off the wheel when trying to center a large piece of clay that was very wet. Since it is plastic, the moisture doesn’t get absorbed. The bat fits in the system about 98%, not a perfect fit. It warps after two uses. But again functions just fine. You get what you pay for I guess.

Great product, great price and great customer service.