Yes, you can absolutely use pottery bats without bat pins.
A lot of people assume bats only work if your pottery wheel has the two holes and pins ready to go, but that isn’t actually the case. Bat pins are convenient, but they’re not the only way to hold a bat on the wheel, and plenty of potters work perfectly well without them.
If your wheel doesn’t come with bat pins, it’s not really a problem. You just need a different way of keeping the bat from sliding around while you throw.
Why people use bats in the first place
A bat is simply a removable disc that sits on top of the wheel head. Instead of throwing directly onto the metal wheel head, you throw onto the bat and then lift the whole bat away afterwards with the pot still on it.
This is useful because moving a soft pot can easily distort it. Lifting the bat instead means you don’t have to touch the base of the pot at all.
Bats are particularly helpful when making:
-plates
-platters
-wide bowls
-larger forms
-delicate shapes that are easy to squash when lifting
For smaller things like mugs, cups and small bowls, many potters throw directly on the wheel head and wire the piece off afterwards.
So bats are useful, but they’re not essential.
Using bats without bat pins
Even without pins, a bat just needs enough grip against the wheel head that it doesn’t spin or slide while you’re throwing. There are a few simple ways to achieve this.
Using a batmate or grip mat
https://www.potclays.co.uk/xiem-batmate-12
One of the easiest methods is using a batmate or similar grip mat.
This sits between the wheel head and the bat and helps hold the bat in place through friction. Once the bat is pressed down onto the mat it stays surprisingly secure while you throw.
This tends to work especially well with more absorbent bats like MDF, Masonite or plaster.
It’s also one of the cleanest options because there’s no clay involved and very little setup.
Using a damp chamois or cloth
Some potters place a damp chamois or similar material between the bat and the wheel head.
The slight suction and grip from the material can be enough to stop the bat from moving while you throw. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution, although results can vary depending on how wet things get.
Using clay to stick the bat down
This is the traditional approach. It works well, but it’s messier and takes a bit longer to set up and clean afterwards. Most people use a spiral of clay, which you then press the batt onto, which forms a suction effect, holding the batt down to the wheelhead firmly.
Use a batt system.
These usually use a gripmat, but can be a nice way to change the batts easily.
https://hartleyandnoble.co.uk/over-the-wheel-russian-doll-batt-system-no-batt-pins-399-p.asp
Should you add bat pins?
Some potters eventually add bat pins to their wheel, especially if they use bats all the time.
Many aluminium wheel heads can be drilled and fitted with pins fairly easily. The important thing is making sure the holes are drilled accurately, because if they’re even slightly off the bat will wobble.
That said, adding bat pins isn’t always necessary.
If you mainly throw smaller pieces, or you’re happy using a batmate or clay pads, you may never feel the need to modify the wheel at all.
The simple answer
Yes, you can definitely use bats without bat pins.
Bat pins are convenient because they make attaching and removing bats quicker, but they’re not essential. A grip mat, damp chamois, or clay pads can all hold a bat securely enough for throwing.
So if your wheel doesn’t come with bat pins, don’t worry. You can still use bats perfectly well.