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?slabrollers

updated thu 18 dec 97

 

Leslie Ihde on tue 16 dec 97

Ma4rtha- it depends on what you want it for. I have a north star which I
am very happy with for tile and slab work. If you're doing bigt wor4k-
architectural work for example, I've been told by Peter Kingt in Fla, a
Bailey is better.
Leslie

On Mon, 15 Dec 1997, Wooltree wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I would like a recommendation for a slab roller. Some people have
> recommended Northstar. Do you agree? What are the advantages of each brand
> that you recommend? Thanks for your help.
>
> Martha
>

Tim Stowell on tue 16 dec 97


We own a Northstar 24" slabroller, I like it. When we bought it
they didn't have a 36" model available. If I were to buy a slabroller
today I would probably purchase the larger Northstar. If price were no
object I would buy Bailey's large electric Slabroller.
The only problem I have with the Northstar is the knurled rollers
leave a nasty, deep texture in the clay (of course they all leave a
canvas texture). I asked one of their technicians one time about just
applying the knurling to the outer few inches, which would still be
enough to grip the clay and move it. They were not impressed.
To remove the texture I use a large flexible taping knife and
apply even pressure as I drag it across the clay and then flip the slab
over onto newspaper and smooth the other side. I hate slab built
dinnerware that has a canvas pattern on the backside. It's as bad as a
poorly trimmed foot.
The one definite piece of equipment I would not do without on a
slabroller is a wagonwheel. It' the greatest attachment on a slabroller,
short of an electric motor.
Good luck choosing a slabroller. They all have their strong
points. Try to use a few, either at local colleges or with other potters.
Most of us I'm sure would let you roll out slabs for us. I've never met a
slabroller I didn't like. Sometimes I still throw slabs it's fun too.
Tim

Tim Stowell Gerard Stowell Pottery
Stacey Gerard 290 River Street
tstwll@juno.com Troy, NY 12180
(518)272-0983

Virginia Gibbons on wed 17 dec 97

I have a North Star and it is ok, but I do large sculptural pieces and wish
now that I had saved a bit longer and bought the bigger Bailey.

Keith Chervenak on wed 17 dec 97

Martha,

I have a Bailey DRD II, 30" with work table. It is great! Well built and
sturdy, easy to adjust thickness of the slab by turning only one knob.
I've had it about a year and have no complaints. They do make smaller
sizes, depending on your needs. I've used the Northstar and prefer the
Bailey by far. Good luck in deciding.

Keith

Keith Chervenak
kac2@po.cwru.edu
216-368-4944
Case Western Reserve University
Department of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Cleveland, Ohio U.S.A.

Stovers on wed 17 dec 97

I'm putting my two cents in here too. I've had a 24" Northstar for about 10
years and been very happy with it. Just bought their 30" heavy duty model.
I was actually considering a Bailey, liking the one-knob adjustment, til I
discovered that their introductory price had expired and they were about 50%
more than Northstar, and also unable to ship for several months. Northstar
has always been very responsive. I, too, hate mechanical texture on slabs
(actually I use heavy interfacing to get rid of cloth texture), and so I
ordered the rolls (the 'rolling-pin' parts) with about half the depth of the
normal knurling. Seems to work fine for me so long as I don't try to get a
2" wad of clay down to a 1/4" slab.
----------
From: Tim Stowell
To: Multiple recipients of list CLAYART
Subject: Re: ?slabrollers
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 09:35:48 EST

----------------------------Original message----------------------------

We own a Northstar 24" slabroller, I like it. When we bought it
they didn't have a 36" model available. If I were to buy a slabroller
today I would probably purchase the larger Northstar. If price were no
object I would buy Bailey's large electric Slabroller.
The only problem I have with the Northstar is the knurled rollers
leave a nasty, deep texture in the clay (of course they all leave a
canvas texture). I asked one of their technicians one time about just
applying the knurling to the outer few inches, which would still be
enough to grip the clay and move it. They were not impressed.
To remove the texture I use a large flexible taping knife and
apply even pressure as I drag it across the clay and then flip the slab
over onto newspaper and smooth the other side. I hate slab built
dinnerware that has a canvas pattern on the backside. It's as bad as a
poorly trimmed foot.
The one definite piece of equipment I would not do without on a
slabroller is a wagonwheel. It' the greatest attachment on a slabroller,
short of an electric motor.
Good luck choosing a slabroller. They all have their strong
points. Try to use a few, either at local colleges or with other potters.
Most of us I'm sure would let you roll out slabs for us. I've never met a
slabroller I didn't like. Sometimes I still throw slabs it's fun too.
Tim

Tim Stowell Gerard Stowell Pottery
Stacey Gerard 290 River Street
tstwll@juno.com Troy, NY 12180
(518)272-0983

Stephen Mills on wed 17 dec 97

An old fashioned hand Mangle perhaps. Advantages= possibly
cheaper, certainly robust, nicer looking...................
A lot of people over here use them, but then we're querky like that!
BUT they WORK, 'nuff said
Steve
Bath
UK

In message , Wooltree writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I would like a recommendation for a slab roller. Some people have
>recommended Northstar. Do you agree? What are the advantages of each
>brand
>that you recommend? Thanks for your help.
>
>Martha
>

--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home tel: (44) (0)1225 311699
work tel: (44) (0)1225 337046

Judith Enright on wed 17 dec 97

Regarding the knurling imprint left by the Northstar's roller: I use
old cotton sheets cut to the appropriate size and sandwich between the
canvas and the clay. Leaves a smooth surface. The sheets are also
fun and flexible for creating scrunch or line textures, as well.

Judith Enright @ Black Leopard Clayware

jenright@wsgr.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: ?slabrollers
Author: Tim Stowell at Internet
Date: 12/16/97 9:35 AM


----------------------------Original message----------------------------

We own a Northstar 24" slabroller, I like it. When we bought it
they didn't have a 36" model available. If I were to buy a slabroller
today I would probably purchase the larger Northstar. If price were no
object I would buy Bailey's large electric Slabroller.
The only problem I have with the Northstar is the knurled rollers
leave a nasty, deep texture in the clay (of course they all leave a
canvas texture). I asked one of their technicians one time about just
applying the knurling to the outer few inches, which would still be
enough to grip the clay and move it. They were not impressed.
To remove the texture I use a large flexible taping knife and
apply even pressure as I drag it across the clay and then flip the slab
over onto newspaper and smooth the other side. I hate slab built
dinnerware that has a canvas pattern on the backside. It's as bad as a
poorly trimmed foot.
The one definite piece of equipment I would not do without on a
slabroller is a wagonwheel. It' the greatest attachment on a slabroller,
short of an electric motor.
Good luck choosing a slabroller. They all have their strong
points. Try to use a few, either at local colleges or with other potters.
Most of us I'm sure would let you roll out slabs for us. I've never met a
slabroller I didn't like. Sometimes I still throw slabs it's fun too.
Tim

Tim Stowell Gerard Stowell Pottery
Stacey Gerard 290 River Street
tstwll@juno.com Troy, NY 12180
(518)272-0983