Tapandye on thu 8 jan 98
would like opinions on brent slabrollers.
looked in archives and found limited information.
we are looking into purchasing one.
would appreciate clayart member advice.
thank you in advance.
Erin Hayes on fri 9 jan 98
Hi All!
I've used a Brent slabroller since I started in my first clay class in
college, and I think they're very reliable. Adjusting the thickness is
not so easy, since you have to add or remove masonite shims, but it's
only inconvenient, not difficult.
Replacing the cables when one breaks is a real pain, but I imagine
that's never fun on any brand of slabroller.
I have seen slabrollers with adjusting carraiges like a printing press.
Does anyone have one of these?
Erin.
KLeSueur on fri 9 jan 98
In a message dated 1/8/98 4:51:47 PM, you wrote:
<looked in archives and found limited information.
we are looking into purchasing one.
would appreciate clayart member advice.
thank you in advance.
>>
My first slabroller was a Brent. It is a well-built, serviceble machine. I
used it daily for about 8 years without any mechanical problems. But..........
I could never get slabs that were uniform in thickness across the whole slab.
Over time the boards curled on the sides and affected the thickness. I also
disliked that I didn't have infinite control over the thickness of slabs and
the unweildiness of changing thickness by putting in more or fewer shims.
I bought a Bailey electric about 7 years ago and love it. It's easy to change
thickness, the slabs are absolutely even, and my 100 lb. 5' partner doesn't
ruin her arms trying to use the machine. If you can afford it, that would be
my recommendation, especially if you do lots of slab work.
Kathi LeSueur
Patti M. Fox on fri 9 jan 98
I just recently purchased a new Brent slabroller-- not a lot of
experience with it yet, but two factors that influenced my decision to
buy Brent (vs. Bailey) were 1) ease of use for one person and 2) ability
to alter surface texture beyond the standard canvas look. So far both
expectations have been proven correct, and I'm quite pleased with this
new equipment. Long way to go on my handbuilding technique, though.
Patti
Tapandye wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> would like opinions on brent slabrollers.
> looked in archives and found limited information.
> we are looking into purchasing one.
> would appreciate clayart member advice.
> thank you in advance.
OWL POTTER on fri 9 jan 98
We purchased our slabroller from Robert Brent in California in 1976. It has
held up really well, rolling 30 - 40 slabs a day in our production studio. We
replace the cables at least once a year (they simply wear out) and have worn
out two of the canvas beds.
The drawbacks are that it rolls uneven (thickness) slabs right from day one.
And it is extremely tiring to turn that wheel and turn out production.
If I were purchasing a slabroller today, it would be an electric Bailey.
Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
Vince Pitelka on sat 10 jan 98
I have been watching the posts on Brent slabrollers. I have used Brents and
Baileys in academic settings, and in my experience the Brents have been much
less trouble. I do know people who have the electric Bailey, and I agree
that it is probably the best choice for high-production. But for a simple,
no-nonsense, low-maintenance machine the Brent is a good choice.
Several of the posts about Brents have commented on the uneven slab
thickness that is usually inherent in these machines. There is a simple
explanation, and also a simple solution. Beneath the particle-board sheets
and masonite shims, the system of V-shaped support members is simply not
heavy-duty enough. It is the only thing about the machine which is poorly
designed (aside from the fact that no accommodation is provided for storing
the shims beneath the bed - what could be more obvious, for #$%&@ sake?).
The V-shaped steel members provide poor support, and warp quickly.
The solution is simple - it eliminates almost all unevenness, and anyone can
do it. Take off the masonite shims and particle board sheets. Remove the
V-shaped support members and toss them in the scrap-iron pile. Purchase a
supply of good-quality 2x4s, and cut them into lengths that fit across the
space formerly occupied by the V-shaped support members. Lay them flat (1
1/2"-thickness - same as the V-shaped support array) and cut enough of them
to SOLIDLY fill the space from one end of the machine to the other. Put the
particle board sheets and masonite shims back in place, and roll slabs. And
if you REALLY want to eliminate all unevenness in slab thickness, use
hardwood instead of the standard hem-fir 2x4s.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
ArialMT on tue 13 jan 98
I HAD A 24'' brent slabroller a time ago and mechanically it had no problems
however there are some concerns that caused me to sell it.
1) IT HAD MASONITE SHIMS TO BE USED IN THE BED THAT ALLOWED YOU TO ADJUST THE
THICKNESS OF THE SLAB BUT UNLESS you liked the increments of the masonite's
thickness you would have to improvise to get whaaatever thickness you need
2)THE PATTERN OF THE CANVAS GLUED TO THE MASONITE PLAYED A PROMINANT AND
DOMINANT PART IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE SLAB SURFACE WITHOUT ALTERATION
3)the texture on the rollers was prone to rusting off leaving them bare and
causing the traction to be lost when rollling clay between the canvas covered
masonite and the sheet of canvas used to cover the clay ' top
surface.-unfortunately I encountered the same problem with the Bailey here in
our humid southern climate.I talked to a potter in Seagrove selling Northstar
and he said that brand has solved that problem and maybe Brent and Bailey
have since i had mine but check it out.I bought a mechanized 40" Bailey and
would have gotten the wheeled one then ordered the mechanicising motor drive
afterward if needed as I could not get them to send me a wheel when I FOUND
THAT IT TAKES 2 TO RUN THE ELECTRIC MODEL DUE TO SAFETY FEATURES THAT KEEP ONE
FROM GETTING CAUGHT UP ACCIDENTALLY IN THE ROLLERS.I WORK ALONE SO THAT WAS AN
ISSUE AS WITH THEIR ELECTRIC EXTRUDER AS WELL.
JUST MY HUMBLE OPINIONS FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WHICH MAY BE OUTDATED BY
NOW
MARGARET-SORRY I'M TOO TIRED TO FIX THE SCREWED UP TYPING
OWL POTTER on tue 20 jan 98
My Brent slabroller is 22 years old this year. Bought it from Robert Brent in
California and shipped it to Michigan. It is 22 inches wide and after rolling
30 - 50 slabs per day in my production studio, it is still going strong. We
have replaced the cables on a yearly basis (sometimes more often) and have
worn out two of the canvas beds. Drawbacks are that it makes uneven slabs -
right from day one. We simply live with and work with it. It is also back-
breaking work to turn that wheel and turn out production.
To sum up, if I were purchasing a slabroller today, I'd buy an electric
Bailey.
Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
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