Should you buy a Giffin Grip? (not sponsored)

//GIFFIN GRIP LINKS

Is the Giffin Grip worth it? Today I'm testing one of the most popular pottery tools used for trimming. This thing is supposed to center potter in one movement, and keep it secure during trimming. Here's my honest review.

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Thanks to Carolina Fudala for editing this video! 🤍

[amys]

I learned pottery at university. They had a very purist mindset there, no tools! Your throwing should be good enough to not have to trim. It took a few years to see how ableist that attitude is, especially for functional pottery.

After many years of confronting my beliefs, I used a giffin grip at a studio I was working at and I was so much faster. I started using it regularly and then bought my own when I changed studios. I also use it to sand smooth after firing. There’s a bit of a learning curve to it, I noticed you didn’t knock a pot out like I have done a dozen times, maybe you trim differently than I do.

I keep the bits in an index card box that I had laying around. The circle gets stored with my bats. To keep flying clay to a minimum, I taped together a couple flexible cutting boards from ikea, that I also had laying around, and stick in around the wheel head.

[CryBaby-lf]

You can flip the grips in the opposite direction and hold the cups from the inside! I would love to see you review one of those plastic chucks too!

[Herbivore]

My local community studio has plastic kids placemats that are flexible and they put two or three curved around the inside of the splash pan to raise the walls and catch the trimmings!

[CharlyHamlynCeramics]

So pleased to be sat here watching this! I bought a cheap copy that I'm not happy with.

One of the best options I've seen for stopping the bits flying all over is a cut down tubby trug bucket. But any sheet of bendable plastic should work.

[TechnicalGamingChannel]

This basically turns the wheel into a three jaw chuck like you'd have on a lathe. That is so genius!

[terryparkinson]

I hate the mess from the thrown bits too. I bought some plastic file folders at the dollar store and taped them together. It is flexible to sit in the pan, tall enough to catch the trimmings, wipes clean and folds to store nicely. As far as storage, I turned a pot and throw the parts in there.

[emilyh]

My local pottery supplier here in Canada sells shield attachments for your wheel for situations like this! Might be worth looking in to. I love my Giffon grip, I have a chronic pain and fatigue and it allows me to spend more time trimming and less time centering!

[allenfitz]

I love mine. I have not done the shield yet. Just sweep up the trimming and toss. I a hobby potter so im not into the whole recycle my clay yet. I should be and will get there

[KSCPMark]

I _hated_ the full size version. Hated it so very much, it required so much care to start up and stopping. It would either crush the ware or loosen the jaws if I didn't pay full attention. I returned it and got the smaller version. The locking latch on the small version makes it so, so much better. I use the small one several times a week. Yes, I know many use the big one successfully, doesn't matter.

[miasinisakura]

I got the Giffin Grip Mini instead and LOVE it. It's a little bit smaller and attaches using standard bat pins on the wheels and sits low enough that trimmings don't fly off the wheel. Only caveat is it can't do really big pieces, but I don't make giant pots as a hoppy ceramicist, so works! Also good for applying wax to bottoms, etc. As for storage, I kept the original box and store everything in there. Really good investment!

[Skamone]

I have one and I'm not a huge fan and barely use it. The pot has to have been thrown perfectly centered, or when you trim the foot ring it will be thicker on one side. It can be cool for specific trimming needs though. I take a piece of cardboard to stop the trimmings from flying on the floor. People take thin pieces of foam like the ones that come in cone boxes and put it in between the pot and the arms you were using at first. This keeps the arms from making a mark on the pot.

[vickiatkins]

We have 2 giffin grips in our community studio, and for the most part, I love them. Trimmings is an issue. We had a member who built wooden boxes that replace the try, but they are clunky and don't get used much. I have also seen folks line the tray with a strip of crazy carpet cut length ways! I just trim slower, but thats not ideal. I'm interested to see what people suggest and I hope you will mention in a future program if you find a winning suggestion.
My only other pet peeve is all the dry bits that accumulate in the grip workings. You just need to be mindful and either invert and shake after use or unspiral it so you can keep your trimmings. Otherwise, the mechanism sticks.

We store ours in the boxes with the parts in the corners.

[janeperala]

I love mine, and as I stand for all work at the wheel I have managed to find a small plastic garbage can that I have cut down and it fits perfectly between the splash pan and the wheel head. (Whew, long sentence). Anyway it catches all the trimmings and gives me something to lean on. I also purchased a set of the Giffin grip mittens and they are great.

[FlareHeart]

You could probably create a taller shield using a large sheet of flexible plastic. If you remember the old "crazy carpet" type winter sleds, cutting a strip out of one of those to raise the height of the splash guard could work. The crazy carpets are often available from the dollar stores for quite cheap in winter time.

[TheRealTMar]

About metric versus Imperial, years ago I got into a discussion about it with an Englishman who clearly identified as conservative and he claimed the Metric System is arbitrary. Yes it is, but so is Imperial! The only difference is Metric is much more practical in science the way it converts into other units in the International System. I have a degree in Earth sciences and have dealt with old maps in imperial units, fun fun.

The only thing with inches I have is a sewing measuring tape, cm on the other side. Comes in handy though with converting patterns from American companies like Folkwear.

Metric Rules!

[PeterPanGirl]

I really like the Giffin Grip. But the price point has always been a deterrent to me. It's a great tool but I agree it's nice to have and not something you need to be successful with pottery.

[samsquantch]

I always thought the trimming shields I've seen seemed overkill but those trimmings really do go everywhere. There are some cool ones on Etsy.

Is there a reason you went with the OG over the mini? I don't have either, but my wheel comes in December so I'm definitely going to get one or the other. I recently came across a 3d printed chuck attachment for the wheel, but I bet a chuck in the GG would work to trim on too for some extra side access!

[joshz]

I put a posterboard or large piece of thick paper in the splash pan, and if you curve it, it extends the height of the splash pan and it acts as a bericade for the flying trimmings. My studio also has the mini, and I like it a lot better. They also sell Flex Sliders on the website that are adjustable for off-centered, asymmetrical and plain old wonky pots.

[HenryBurlingameIII]

I think everyone should just sit down at their wheel for a few hours and learn to tap center. It is like learning to ride a bike, anyone can do it, but you actually have to try for more than 10 minutes ;-) (which is when most people just give up it seems). But it really only takes a few hours to learn to do it very quickly (about 5-10 seconds per pot) and it is such a great skill to have. Then there is literally nothing faster or more versatile.

[ceramicsbytonia]

Just checked on Giffin website and they have a Trim Guard for sale at $50 USD and a list of wheels with which it can be used. Has anyone used it? Does it appear short for the circumference of the wheel? May buy a grip and perhaps the guard.