search  current discussion  categories  tools & equipment - pug mills 

pugmill/mixer/cheap plaster bats

updated wed 11 feb 98

 

Darrol Shillingburg on tue 10 feb 98

Hi Mj,

I use plaster bats for drying and wedging both. Here's a cheap way to get
them.

Buy one large formica topped sink cutout. Many ceramic suppliers sell them,
some cabinet shops throw them away. I use round ones. Buy a couple of
strips of vinyl cove molding. The 4" to 6" works better than the continuous
adhesive backed type.

Staple the cove molding onto the bat, the particle board or plywood edge
takes staples easily. I use a light spray of Pam to easy separation, but
it's not required. Mix plaster ( I use pottery plaster for this), mixing
techniques have been discussed here recently. Pour to a depth you desire (
I use two inches or so).

The molding strips can be removed easily and restapled. In no time at all,
you can have all the plaster bats you want. Cheap!

Darrol in Elephant Butte, NM
DarrolS@Zianet.com

on the web at http://www.zianet.com/DarrolS

----------
From: Mj Burklund

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> In a message dated 98-02-08 22:57:44 EST, you write:
>
> > I use a commercially boxed clay and turn all my scraps in to slop to
> recycle it as I go. I put the slop from my bucket in with trimmings and
> broken pots (in a 5 gal. bucket) to let it all get soft. Then I dump it
into
> plaster bowls to let some of the moisture evaporate.
>
> Hi, I can't even be called a beginner, but am reading and watching
saving
> posts from pottery newsgroup and clayart.
> I have a question.... these plaster slabs I keep seeing in catalogs etc.
> Since they are so expencive, I'm assuming you just can't pour your own?
> Mix up some plaster and pour into a mold? If you can.... than why was a
> wedging board so blasted much money.
> MJ