FAQs

Tiles 

• Can I use other tiles?  This system work only with 3 tiles that we know about. In USA, it is the 

  Satori Hudson Brilliant White 6-in x 6-in Glossy Ceramic Subway Wall Tile 

  In Canada there are two options: 

  Mono Serra 6-in x 6-in Glossy White Vitreous Ceramic Tile at Rona

  Anatolia Metro White Gloss 6-inch x 6-inch Wall Tile at Home Depot

• Can I use unglazed tiles? As far as we know, there are not any unglazed tiles that fit this system. 

• If the exact tile isn’t available to me, should I still buy the system? Yes, because we offer 15-packs of tiles, individually checked by us for fit and quality, shipped right to your door.  This option is great for remote potters, urban potters, and to get if you are buying there system as a gift for someone.

• Can I make my own tiles? You can go right ahead but it sounds like a very difficult project to us especially considering the tiles are just 35 cents at the store.

• What if the tile company goes out of business? It is a certainty that the tiles available at Lowes will change over time.  On our end, we are constantly monitoring them, and we even buy cases periodically and measure them to make sure they are consistent in size.  When the tile changes or is discontinued, we will design a variation of our system to accommodate the new tile option.  Our manufacturing is flexible enough to adjust. On your end as a customer, we recommend buying way more tiles than you think you will ever need. They are very inexpensive, and you might break some here and there.  If you supply yourself with a lifetime amount of tiles, then you will have a lifetime of use from this system.  If you plan to go back years later and get more tiles, in all likelihood, you will need to buy a new system to fit the currently available tiles. 

Product Specs

• How big are the tiles? From the box information: 5.91" x 5.91" x .25" thick

• Do the tiles raise above the bat? Yes, the tile is slightly taller than the bat, but the tiles have rounded edges so nothing pokes out. The tile being taller helps with smooth ribbing and wire cutting.

• What is the motherboard made out of? ABS plastic, which is lightweight, waterproof, durable, easy to clean, and resists warping.

• What is the bat mat made out of? Synthetic, vegan chamois.

• What are the tiles made out of? The tiles are glazed ceramic. They are porous underneath the glaze. Not porcelain.

• What is the diameter of the wheel head that the system is designed for? It does not matter what diameter the wheel head is, but the bats are designed for 10” spread bat pin holes, which are in most US full-size wheels. As far as we know, this includes: 

• Wheels Tested so far

• Plans for smaller wheel heads? We see the interest in them and we will look into it!

• What is the diameter of the bat pins that the system is designed for? The holes in the mother board are 3/8th inch with a 10 inch center to center spread. One hole is elongated slightly for slight variations across brands of wheels. We suggest checking your bat pins prior to purchase. 

• What is the lifespan of this system? Our hope is that this is the last bat system that you buy. We offer replacement for structural failure for a year from purchase date. This policy excludes tiles, as we do not produce those and they are fragile if you drop them. 

Functionality Questions

• Will the motherboard break when dropped? No, it will bounce and be fine.
• Can I use the system without bat pins? This system does require bat pins.

• Can I use ribs on this bat system? The tiles are raised slightly off of the surface of the system. You can use rubs, but may encounter some bumps if the rib is pressed firmly to the system along the seam.

• Is the pry tool essential? No, you can also use a flathead screwdriver, but the pry tools is definitely better as it was designed specifically for prying up the tiles.  The short flat shape of it allows you to sneak under bowl overhangs.

• Can the shammy be used under other bat systems? Yes.

• Do you sell the shammy separately? Yes.

• Do the tiles release themselves from the pots? Think of these as a plastic bat alternative. The tiles themselves will not release from the system and must be wired off at an appropriate dryness state. 

• When do you flip the work? These tiles function very similarly to plastic bats. Wait until the pot is firm enough to touch, then wire the piece off of the tile. 

• How does the clay not just slide off of the tile? Clay sticks incredibly well to non-porous surfaces, like glazed tiles, as long as the tile and the clay are both dry. 

• Do some clays stick better than others? From our testing, all clays worked equally well. 

• Can you get rug burn with these tiles? Clay rug burn is typically caused the friction created when working with clay that is too dry. This issue is further intensified by clay that contains a lot of grog. The tiles are smooth to the touch, however this issue could still occur with improper water usage. 

• Will your hands catch on the edge? The tiles are slightly raised above the motherboard, rather than other tile systems where the tiles are slightly lower than the motherboard. The motherboard itself is also round. 

Sales Questions

• Do you ship internationally? At this point we are an extremely small company and will only be shipping within the United States and to Canada.  We do not have access to the tile or potter's wheel markets, and have no idea the dimensions needed or whether there are consistent, ubiquitous tile retailers in x country. 

• Where can I buy this? The only place to buy these is https://bluebuckettools.com Please join our mailing list for updates and more details.

• What is your return policy? We offer free returns for 30 days with a 100% refund. If you would like to make a return, please email us at BlueBucketTools@gmail.com for a shipping label. All returns will be donated to a local school. 
• Do you have a replacement policy? We are happy to replace any broken motherboard or pry tools for one year in exchange for the broken element. If you need a replacement, please email us at BlueBucketTools@Gmail.com so that we can send you a return label. We do not have a warranty over the tiles, as we do not sell those. 
• Any plans to work with suppliers? We are a small two-person company, so at this time we only sell directly to customers.