Eva Gallagher on tue 2 sep 08
Hello David - although not directed to me, your extruder response was of
great interest - I have printed out all the repsonses for our Guild as we
are in the market for an extruder. So it was not a waste of time! Thanks!
Eva Gallagher
Deep River, Ontario
http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hendley"
To:
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 10:39 PM
Subject: Re: Extruder Preferences, kind of long
> 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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