Jonathan Kaplan on sun 17 aug 97
Jeff Lawrence asked about stainless props, blungers, etc.
Many industrial suppliers, especially McMaster Carr Supply in Chicago are
excellent sources. Perhaps the best source is the source itself, Lehman
Manufacturing, Kentland Indiana. Chuck Lehman, who gets my vote for the all
time nice guy award is a plethora of information and has most everything
you need from tanks, to motors, to props, shafts, couplings, etc.
Use a blunder for mixing your slip. Use a Sweco or some other device for
efficient screening of your slip. Use an air operated diaphragm pump to
move your slip. You'll need to make a "sweep" system to fit into another
tank, for gently agitating your slip after blunging, screening, and
transfering. We are currently making sweeps to fit 50 gal. fiberglass
tanks, powered by variable speed DC motors. Sweeps are made from stainless
steel, have flat blades, and gently agitate the slip and fold it over at
about 30-50 rpms. We are using standard of the shelf stainless stock, 5/8"
shaft, a coupling, two collars with set screws, etc. etc. We have some high
torque DC motors with solid state speed controls that will mount vertically
and drive the sweeps. The entire unit(s) will be on wheels.
We have, three 100 gallon high speed blungers for each of our clay bodies
that we cast in volume. Several small blungers for others. We mix the slip
and blunge overnight. Using the Sweco and the diaphragm pump, we can
tansfer the slip into the new 50 gallon tanks with and sweep mix it before
pouring. We either pour via the diaphragm pump or by hand, depending on the
project.
Good Luck
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan http://www.craftweb.com/org/jkaplan/cdg.shtml
http://www.ceramicsoftware.com/education/clay/kaplan1.htm
jonathan@csn.net
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