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extruder preferences

updated sat 30 aug 08

 

Jarita Thomson on wed 27 aug 08


Oh=2C By the way=2C does anyone have recommendations on a quality extruder =
that isn't outlandish expensive? If you have a favorite=2C please share why=
you prefer it and if you have used one that wasn't to your liking=2C pleas=
e share that too. I think I would prefer buying a manufactured one to makin=
g one myself. Thank you in advance.
=20
Jarita
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Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to share.
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hoto_Gallery_082008=

David Hendley on thu 28 aug 08


It all depends on what you want to do with it ( for example, only
make handles & coils, extrude whole pots, etc.)

For "general use", I usually recommend the 4" round Scott
Creek - rustproof, good die holder, and you can buy the
expansion box later if you want to go big.

Second place, the 4" square Bailey. Well built, but the die holder
is poorly designed because it requires a tool to tighten it. In
spite of the thumbscrews, which infer that it can be tightened
by hand, it's impossible to stop all the leakage with hand
pressure. Plain steel can rust. I like the shackle more than
the notches on the Scott Creek.

Third place, 4" round Brent. Same shackle as the Bailey. The
die holder works well as long as your die is the correct thickness,
which could be either a plus or minus depending on how you
make or acquire your dies. Also the "ledge" that holds the die
is too wide, meaning that the maximum size that can be extruded
is not as big as the other brands.

Do not buy the 4" square North Star or similar copycat models
with a fixed handle that cannot go up and down the back of
the extruder. They do not hold enough clay and require more
pressure to use. The North Star "Big Blue" is OK, but it is a
larger, more expensive extruder.

There are several people who are making and selling, at places
such as eBay, "Bailey copy" extruders for cheap prices.
Extruders are so simple and easy to build, these no-name
cheapos are probably just fine.

You can read lots more by mining the Clayart archives.
Also, consider joining the Yahoo Clay Extruding group for
lots more advice and things to consider:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clayextruding/

Happy extruding
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david(at)farmpots(dot)com
http://www.farmpots.com







----- Original Message ----- Oh, By the way, does anyone have
recommendations on a quality extruder that isn't outlandish expensive? If
you have a favorite, please share why you prefer it and if you have used one
that wasn't to your liking, please share that too. I think I would prefer
buying a manufactured one to making one myself. Thank you in advance.

Z Jacobson on thu 28 aug 08


Oh=2C By the way=2C does anyone have recommendations on a quality extruder=
=0A=
that isn't outlandish expensive? If you have a favorite=2C please share=0A=
why you prefer it and if you have used one that wasn't to your liking=2C=0A=
please share that too. I think I would prefer buying a manufactured one=0A=
to making one myself. Thank you in advance.
=0A=
=20
=0A=
Jarita

Hi Jarita=2C

I have a Scott Creek - Super Duper Clay Extruder - yep weird name but I thi=
nk it works really great because of the notching system that makes it easie=
r to pull the handle down. A lot better for those of us not super tall or s=
uper strong

Good luck
Z
=0A=
________
Z Jacobson=0A=
Wildly Energetic Ceramics=0A=

www.zjacobsonart.com =0A=
z@zjacobsonart.com=0A=
1204 Agua Fria=0A=
Santa Fe=2C NM 87501=0A=
505.570.0313

John Post on thu 28 aug 08


I went with a Bailey 4 inch in my classroom and in my studio.

If you choose to make your own dies it is slightly easier to cut
square blanks than it is to cut round blanks.
The Brent extruder needs round blanks. The Bailey takes square blanks.

I like the locking mechanism on the Brent die holder better than I
like the locking mechanism on the Bailey. The Bailey leaks a little
clay from around the die as you extrude but it's not really a big
deal, it's just a tad annoying.

I mount my Bailey extruders to the wall, but have used them in the
past with their counter top mount and that works well too.



John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan

:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org






On Aug 27, 2008, at 8:25 PM, Jarita Thomson wrote:

> Oh, By the way, does anyone have recommendations on a quality
> extruder that isn't outlandish expensive? If you have a favorite,
> please share why you prefer it and if you have used one that wasn't
> to your liking, please share that too. I think I would prefer buying
> a manufactured one to making one myself. Thank you in advance.
>
> Jarita
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to
> share.
> http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008
>

Alisa Clausen on fri 29 aug 08


I have used the Bailey 10 x 10cm. extruder for a few years now. I like it a
lot. However, I think the metal braces for the hollow tubes are very thin
and easily bend. They, of course, can be hammered back to be straight, but
I think they are weak.

The extruder itself is fine, easy to clean out, etc.

Go to Mike Sherrill's Mud Tools website. There you can buy the best, best,
best, round tube dies. Set of 4, so worth the pricey money. They are solid
and one piece. They do need to be assembled, like the others. (small die on
a brace which is rested on the outside die to create the hollow). The braces
is ridged and makes the clay go right through and heal perfectly. There is
no seem and no weakness. I can't use them enough and they are wonderful.
Kelly and Mike both know that I am waiting for the square die.....


I also have the Bailey Big Blue. It is Big. It requires two people, I
think, One to extrude and one to catch. The cylinder takes 10 kilos clay,
and after I have lifted that up into the shaft about 6 times, I am beat. I
think the forms are worth the effort, but it is not for weaklings.
(The wheel is easy to turn, but it is not that that is tiresome. It is the
lifting)

Mike's dies are one of a kind. He is so clever and a wonderful tool
engineer.

Best regards from Alisa in Denmark



On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:14 PM, John Post wrote:

> I went with a Bailey 4 inch in my classroom and in my studio.
>
> If you choose to make your own dies it is slightly easier to cut
> square blanks than it is to cut round blanks.
> The Brent extruder needs round blanks. The Bailey takes square blanks.
>
> I like the locking mechanism on the Brent die holder better than I
> like the locking mechanism on the Bailey. The Bailey leaks a little
> clay from around the die as you extrude but it's not really a big
> deal, it's just a tad annoying.
>
> I mount my Bailey extruders to the wall, but have used them in the
> past with their counter top mount and that works well too.
>
>
>
> John Post
> Sterling Heights, Michigan
>
> :: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
> :: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 27, 2008, at 8:25 PM, Jarita Thomson wrote:
>
> Oh, By the way, does anyone have recommendations on a quality
>> extruder that isn't outlandish expensive? If you have a favorite,
>> please share why you prefer it and if you have used one that wasn't
>> to your liking, please share that too. I think I would prefer buying
>> a manufactured one to making one myself. Thank you in advance.
>>
>> Jarita
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you. Find new ways to
>> share.
>>
>> http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008
>>
>>