Jarita Thomson on sat 30 aug 08
Hello=2C Everyone=2C
Thank you for all the feedback and advice on extruders. I actually think th=
at all the advice was very useful=2C but I should probably place special co=
nsideration to Gayle's. You see=2C 10 years ago when I took college classes=
=2C I had discussed with my professor my limitations in mobility. At that t=
ime=2C we had decided to explore handbuilding=2C hence I came to love and d=
evelop my coiling. I had not really given wheel throwing a chance although =
I did try it a couple of times. I don't really think of myself as handicapp=
ed and really hate it when my physical limitations interfere with my dreams=
or goals. So=2C a couple of years ago=2C I bought that wheel that I mentio=
ned before=2C determined to give it a chance. I have truly focused on it an=
d probably made more progress than anyone could have expected=3B realistica=
lly though=2C I really am limited. I am a naturally short person and my arm=
s are even too short for my body=2C additionally=2C I only have 40% normal =
rotation in my left wrist and 60% normal rotation in my right wrist. My wri=
st bones never developed fully and are excessively weak. My hands=2C legs=
=2C feet=2C and even my back were also affected although not as severely as=
my arms and wrists. In other activities I compensate for the wrist limitat=
ions by adapting my shoulder rotations and bending more at the waist. Somet=
imes=2C I have to ask for help or find a completely different solution to t=
he problem. Other times=2C I must accept that I am not meant to accomplish =
that task. I tried modifying my body position at the wheel and found more p=
ain and problems. In that case=2C I must both accept that I am not meant to=
perform that specific task and enjoy the handbuilding which is another sol=
ution to building with clay.=20
=20
I've already shared that I love coiling and have also been enjoying slab-bu=
ilding. Naturally=2C I would love to explore extruding also=2C but as Gayle=
has delicately reminded me=2C I must still keep in mind my physical limita=
tions. With this perspective=2C I took another look at the available extrud=
ers. NorthStar's Big Blue is definitely out (so sad because my slab roller =
is a NorthStar and I love it.) So then I thought about the standard leverag=
e style extruder. I'm sorry to say=2C but I think those too would be physic=
ally unreasonable for me. Does this put the extruder along side the wheel a=
nd beyond my options? Well=2C maybe not. Bailey has an extruder system that=
is pneumatic. It utilizes air pressure to force the clay through the die. =
Intriguing. Has anyone worked with one of these? Of course=2C it too is fra=
ught with problems. Expense probably being the greatest. Honestly it is bey=
ond my budget. It also requires a decent size air compressor to work. I kno=
w I said I wasn't interested in making my own extruder=2C but my darling hu=
sband is a master mechanic on heavy equipment which has a lot of hydraulic =
parts and stuff. He says many of the same principals apply. So=2C to shorte=
n a long story=2C he is designing me an extruder similar in theory to the B=
ailey pneumatic one. He hasn't worked out quite all the bugs yet=2C but I w=
ill try to update when he has it up and working. Of course=2C we will have =
to invest in an air compressor=2C but I think he was just looking for an ex=
cuse to buy one anyway for his tools anyway.
=20
Again=2C thank you for everyone's help=2C and yes=2C David=2C I joined the =
extruding yahoo group=2C but so far=2C I haven't received any emails from i=
t.
=20
Staying in touch=2C
Jarita
> From: claybair@comcast.net> To: jaritascoiledclay@HOTMAIL.COM> Subject: R=
e: Extruder Preferences> Date: Wed=2C 27 Aug 2008 17:47:25 -0700> > Jarita=
=2C> Please test them out. Do some homework and research them on line and >=
in clay magazines.> There have been several articles on them if I recall c=
orrectly Vince > wrote a very good article on them.> Then go to your local =
pottery supplier.> Like a wheel each is designed a bit differently and whil=
e one may be > perfect for one body type may not be for another.> Some take=
small amounts of clay others large amounts=2C some have round > barrels ot=
hers square=2C some are hydraulic or levered and North Star > has a huge wh=
eel like on a slab roller. But if you cannot use it > because of some physi=
cal restraint it does seem silly to buy before > you have actually tried it=
. If reaching high to pull the lever down is > an issue there are table mou=
nts.> These are all things you need to figure out before you buy or else yo=
u > will find yourself selling the extruder just like you did with the > wh=
eel. the thought occurred to me that you might have had a wheel that > was =
not suited to your physical needs.> I bought a North Star stainless steel o=
ne at a sale for $75 last April > though haven't used it yet. I've been too=
busy with other projects and > still figuring out how to mount it to suit =
my needs.> Look online like Potterbarter often people are selling items the=
re.> Good luck=2C> Gayle Bair> Bainbridge Island WA> Tucson AZ> gayle@clayb=
air.com> www.claybair.com> > > > > > On Aug 27=2C 2008=2C at 5:25 PM=2C Jar=
ita Thomson wrote:> > > Oh=2C By the way=2C does anyone have recommendation=
s 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 tha=
t wasn't > > to your liking=2C please share that too. I think I would prefe=
r 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=
=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008>=20
_________________________________________________________________
Get thousands of games on your PC=2C your mobile phone=2C and the web with =
Windows=AE.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/=
David Hendley on mon 1 sep 08
Good gosh Jarita, I wonder why you sent this in to Clayart
a few days ago.
> ----- 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.
Several people, including myself, took the time to send in
thoughtful recommendations based on their experiences.
I tailored my reply specifically to you, with "manufactured,
not homemade", and "inexpensive" as the main criteria.
Now, you tell us, oh never mind, I can't really use a hand
extruder, my husband will build me one, and I don't mind
the expensive option of a power extruder:
The exact opposites of all the parameters you mentioned.
It makes me wonder why I continue to make the effort to
respond to questions on Clayart. Especially since I also
know that this question has been asked many times before
through the years, and all that information is archived.
If you are still asking for suggestions, here are some
thoughts:
It seems like a lot of work and expense to build a
power extruder for a person who has never even
used one and is not sure if it will be an avenue they
wish to pursue.
It would take much less overall time on your
husband's part if he would simply come pull the
lever on a hand extruder when you need help,
compared to designing and building a pneumatic
extruder.
The cost would certainly be way less: a hand extruder
can be built for less than $30.
If I were to build a power extruder, it would be hydraulic,
not pneumatic. Several potters have built hydraulic
extruders, but I know of none who have gone pneumatic.
I think there is more control with hydraulic and I don't
know why Bailey made the decision to make their
power extruder pneumatic.
If you want to hear from the Yahoo Clayextruding
group, you need to send in a question or comment.
You could also spend time reading past postings that
are of interest.
Best wishes in your extruding adventures.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david(at)farmpots(dot)com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
Hello, Everyone,
Thank you for all the feedback and advice on extruders. I actually think
that all the advice was very useful, but I should probably place special
consideration to Gayle's. You see, 10 years ago when I took college classes,
I had discussed with my professor my limitations in mobility. At that time,
we had decided to explore handbuilding, hence I came to love and develop my
coiling. I had not really given wheel throwing a chance although I did try
it a couple of times. I don't really think of myself as handicapped and
really hate it when my physical limitations interfere with my dreams or
goals. So, a couple of years ago, I bought that wheel that I mentioned
before, determined to give it a chance. I have truly focused on it and
probably made more progress than anyone could have expected; realistically
though, I really am limited. I am a naturally short person and my arms are
even too short for my body, additionally, I only have 40% normal rotation in
my left wrist and 60% normal rotation in my right wrist. My wrist bones
never developed fully and are excessively weak. My hands, legs, feet, and
even my back were also affected although not as severely as my arms and
wrists. In other activities I compensate for the wrist limitations by
adapting my shoulder rotations and bending more at the waist. Sometimes, I
have to ask for help or find a completely different solution to the problem.
Other times, I must accept that I am not meant to accomplish that task. I
tried modifying my body position at the wheel and found more pain and
problems. In that case, I must both accept that I am not meant to perform
that specific task and enjoy the handbuilding which is another solution to
building with clay.
I've already shared that I love coiling and have also been enjoying
slab-building. Naturally, I would love to explore extruding also, but as
Gayle has delicately reminded me, I must still keep in mind my physical
limitations. With this perspective, I took another look at the available
extruders. NorthStar's Big Blue is definitely out (so sad because my slab
roller is a NorthStar and I love it.) So then I thought about the standard
leverage style extruder. I'm sorry to say, but I think those too would be
physically unreasonable for me. Does this put the extruder along side the
wheel and beyond my options? Well, maybe not. Bailey has an extruder system
that is pneumatic. It utilizes air pressure to force the clay through the
die. Intriguing. Has anyone worked with one of these? Of course, it too is
fraught with problems. Expense probably being the greatest. Honestly it is
beyond my budget. It also requires a decent size air compressor to work. I
know I said I wasn't interested in making my own extruder, but my darling
husband is a master mechanic on heavy equipment which has a lot of hydraulic
parts and stuff. He says many of the same principals apply. So, to shorten a
long story, he is designing me an extruder similar in theory to the Bailey
pneumatic one. He hasn't worked out quite all the bugs yet, but I will try
to update when he has it up and working. Of course, we will have to invest
in an air compressor, but I think he was just looking for an excuse to buy
one anyway for his tools anyway.
Again, thank you for everyone's help, and yes, David, I joined the extruding
yahoo group, but so far, I haven't received any emails from it.
Staying in touch,
Jarita
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