Pduncan on fri 6 dec 96
Well, it's begining to look a lot like Christmas around here and Santa
Claus may be bring me an extruder, as I have been very good this year.
What recommendations do any of you have? I have never owned or even
used an extruder, but it would be a great addition to my home studio. I
want one that has hollow extrusions capabilities. Which brands have the
advantage for ease of use? I am not sure how much I would be doing with
one, only time and experience will tell. Your help is greatly
appreciated.
I also feel that a page of FAQ might be the way to go to keep questions
like the above one from appearing every 6 months. What do you think?
back to work now, after shoveling "partly cloudy" off the drive here in
snowy Sheboygan, WI Pam
Pelly123@aol.com on sat 7 dec 96
I bought the Scott Creek extruder with all options and have been disappointed
with it. I bought it because it offered more shapes than the Northstar, only
to have Northstar come out with additional dies two days after it was
installed. I also noticed that I ordered every die they had and did not get
any six sided ones. It has a large 6" box on it with wooden or metal dies.
I got the wooden ones and found the thickness of the clay too great for my
use. hence I have gotten quite good with wire. My son made a new set for me.
I bought the same wood and drew what I wanted on it and he cut them up. I
am going to try most of them this weekend, although I have already tried one
of them successfully. The handle on the top has already bent down and I don't
like the way they have the slots on the back for the handle to go into. They
are half circles rather than slots that go down a bit. The end result is
that the lever came loose while I was pulling and I almost knocked myself
out. I would look seriously at the Bailey or the Northstar. I bought the
Northstar slab roller and have been very happy with it.
Pelly in Rochester
LINDA BLOSSOM on sun 8 dec 96
I have a Bailey with the expansion box and pneumatic plunger. I would not
have it any other way. When you are extruding a form it is necessary to
have two hands on the piece. Being able to extrude with a foot pedal isn't
just nice, it can be very necessary.
Linda Blossom
2366 Slaterville Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
blossom@lightlink.com
http://www.artscape.com
607-539-7912
Jan Bentley on mon 9 dec 96
I own a North Star Extruder and Slab roller. The slab roller I have been
very happy with; however the extruder could be better. It's fine for
small handles, coils, etc. - but doesn't hold much clay. The hopper is
much smaller than other extruders. It comes with a short and long handle
but I can't imagine anyone using the short handle. Even the long one I
have to put all my weight into to get even the softest clay to extrude!
Even my 6'2" assistant who works out regularly at the gym gets a workout
with this puppy! I bought it with the hollow extrusions, but because of
the hopper size, you're pretty limited there also.
I'd like to eventually trade up to a better one, but haven't really
settled on anything yet. I'll be interested to read more on this
subject.
This is my first use of your newsgroup (really, ANY newsgroup!) It's
great to find this. I'm a clayartist working full time in Yuma, AZ.
Jan
PJLewing@aol.com on wed 11 dec 96
Pam,
I have used a lot of different extruders in teaching workshops all around the
country.
I own a 6" round Randall and would not buy another. The large barrel is
nice- I can put in a full 25# block of clay, but the handle is too short. I
have to put a pipe over the end to get enough leverage.
Brent is OK. Small barrel, and I always pinch my fingers in the height
adjustment, but they're well made.
I've heard good things about Scott Creek, but have never used one.
Bailey is probably the best. If I buy another extruder it will be a Bailey.
Has the same pinching mechanism as Brent, and I'm not real thrilled with the
way dies are held onto the barrel, but definitely the best expansion box
going.
Noth Star is a toy. Unless you're only doing very tiny things, you'll be
reloading after every pull of the handle.
A word about dies. I saw a post on this thread complaining that the dies
that came with some extruder or other were not what they wanted. The only
creativity involved in extruding is in making the dies. If you want anything
original out of an extruder you MUST make your own dies.
I use 1/8" scrap aluminum, as my Randall will break plastic or wood dies. I
used to cut them out with a jeweller's saw, but now have a little motorized
jigsaw made by Dremel. I can make a new die in about 15 minutes. Of course,
I'm married to a woman with a complete metal shop. Gotta love a woman with
her own anvil!
Paul Lewing in rainy Seattle
Vicki Katz on sat 17 apr 99
Bonnie,
Frankly, we just installed the Bailey extruder at our university this week.
I helped putting the barrel on & the dies. It was AWFUL - everyone
complained that the pieces did not fit easily, my professor had to hammer
them into place, the plunger was too large to go into the barrel - they had
to take a saw to it. The directions are weak and there are so many washers &
nuts for each die - you would have to do a great deal of production to
justify all that set-up time.
Frankly, I admit that my experience is limited & take this advice with a
grain of salt - but I would try one before I buy any particular brand. Like
you, ease of instillation & maintenance is important to me. I was
disappointed in the Bailey & will not ask Santa for my own.
Vicki Katz
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