John Post on mon 20 apr 98
A short while ago I purchased a Bailey extruder. I've been making my own
dies and having quite a good time playing with the thing. That is until
it's time to clean the barrel. Clay seems to stick to the barrel's inside
walls. It's hard to clean the clay off them when it's wet, and it's hard
to clean it off them when it's dry.
So I happened upon the article in Pottery Making Illustrated about using
Press-Molds with WD-40. In a side panel in that article it says that "You
can also use WD-40 on the inside of the clay mixer's extruder barrel and
dies (but not on the plunger) to make them easier to clean." I tried the
WD-40 in my extruder barrel and whoa! it's way easier to clean. But the
can says "Flammable" all over it. I'm worried that the forms I've made may
explode in the kiln. Well.... maybe I'm not that worried about the forms,
but I'd really hate to screw up a nice electric kiln with a crazy experiment.
Has anyone on this list tried this WD-40 trick and are my concerns about
explosion realistic? I'm thinking maybe I should try Pam cooking spray
instead or Murphy's Oil Soap. Does anyone have any tips/tricks they use to
make extruder cleaning quicker and easier? Could you please share them.
thanks....
John Post
e-mail rp1mrvl@moa.net
Gil FREEDMAN on tue 21 apr 98
I use Pam since it's always on hand and it makes cleaning a lot easier. If ther
is something better please let me know too.
John Post wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> A short while ago I purchased a Bailey extruder. I've been making my own
> dies and having quite a good time playing with the thing. That is until
> it's time to clean the barrel. Clay seems to stick to the barrel's inside
> walls. It's hard to clean the clay off them when it's wet, and it's hard
> to clean it off them when it's dry.
>
> So I happened upon the article in Pottery Making Illustrated about using
> Press-Molds with WD-40. In a side panel in that article it says that "You
> can also use WD-40 on the inside of the clay mixer's extruder barrel and
> dies (but not on the plunger) to make them easier to clean." I tried the
> WD-40 in my extruder barrel and whoa! it's way easier to clean. But the
> can says "Flammable" all over it. I'm worried that the forms I've made may
> explode in the kiln. Well.... maybe I'm not that worried about the forms,
> but I'd really hate to screw up a nice electric kiln with a crazy experiment.
>
> Has anyone on this list tried this WD-40 trick and are my concerns about
> explosion realistic? I'm thinking maybe I should try Pam cooking spray
> instead or Murphy's Oil Soap. Does anyone have any tips/tricks they use to
> make extruder cleaning quicker and easier? Could you please share them.
>
> thanks....
> John Post
> e-mail rp1mrvl@moa.net
Linda Blossom on tue 21 apr 98
Dear John,
Actually, somewhere in the instructions from Bailey, they tell you to use WD=
40.
It does work, helps stop rust, makes the clay easier to remove. It is =
almost
easier to let the clay on the walls remain and then knock on the side of the
barrel the next day and let the dry clay fall out into something. You =
should
not inhale it or use more than you need. Use it on the dies and anywhere =
where
clay comes in contact.
Linda Blossom
2366 Slaterville Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
6075397912
www.artscape.com
blossom=40lightlink.com
Paul Lewing on tue 21 apr 98
John,
I always give my extruder a shot of WD-40 before I put the clay in,
and I spray the bottom of the plunger, too. It not only makes it
easier to clean, it helps prevent rust, and it makes your extrusions
smoother. A good idea all around.
No, nothing will explode. There is such a tiny amount of the stuff on
any piece of clay, and it has evaporated by the time you fire it
anyway.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
Mudnjoy on wed 22 apr 98
>I tried the
>WD-40 in my extruder barrel and whoa! it's way easier to clean. But the
>explode in the kiln. Well.... maybe I'm not that worried about the forms,
>but I'd really hate to screw up a nice electric kiln with a crazy experiment.
>Has anyone on this list tried this WD-40 trick and are my concerns about
>explosion realistic? I'm thinking maybe I should try Pam cooking spray
>instead or Murphy's Oil Soap. Does anyone have any tips...
I hope someone else gives you the chemical info, sounds interesting. All of
the chemicals you list will affect oxide & slip treatments of leather &
greenware & most likely will eliminate any single fire glazing. I'm
streamlining & simpflying sic my processes, I'd choose no additional chemicals
to buy, breath, misplace, run out of, yadda yadda .yadda.
Try dusting the inside with clay dust (The same as the clay you are
extruding).
On cleaning, I buy very rough scotch pads at the hardware store. For months
the stiff pads clean well and are easily rinsed in the nearest slip bucket. By
the time they are worn down I use them to sand clay. When they are really
trashed I throw them in a plastic mesh bag, (the type the grocery uses to
package onions), I use the whole packet as a scrub tool.
Joy in Tucson where I'm talking more about my studio than working in it. What
does that mean.
DONPREY on wed 22 apr 98
One other bit of info on the wd-40 issue. I can't remember where I read this,
but about a year or so ago there was an article dealing specifically with the
flammability issue. As I recall, the point was made that some folks had
gotten into trouble when spraying the material around an ignition source
(flame or hot engine exhaust). It seems that the propellant in that can is
propane. Anybody else remember that article, or did I dream the whole thing?
Don Prey In Oregon
VandRKatz on wed 22 apr 98
John,
I have used WD-40 quite a bit on hump molds & my hand-held-extruder AKA
caulking gun. I fire to bisque ^05 (electric) and ^5-6 glaze. Bottom line,
No Problems to report. I have recommended it to others & have not heard any
horror stories yet.
Good luck,
Vicki Katz
Katz Creek Pottery
Louis Katz on thu 23 apr 98
We used WD-40 to keep our 25 horse pugmill die from rusting after cleaning it.
It was amamzing how it helped our corners of our extrusions come out cleaned
and sharper for several tons of clay.
I would be careful not to breath it, or get it in your eyes, even in small
quantities.
We also used it for a release on a brick repressing operation where we stamped
designs into leather hard bricks.
I have not followed this whole thread, but WD-40 is available by the gallon
and can be run through a spritz bottle.
Louis
beth williams on thu 23 apr 98
Try wrapping a piece of denim around the plunger after you finish
extruding. You will be amazed at how well it works!!!!!
| |
|
