Linda Fletcher on sun 15 oct 00
Hello All,
Back a while ago I asked for feedback on extruders. I received some, but =
am looking for more specifics on the North Star
Big Blue Extruder. I am considering this machine because of its =
advertised advantages:
> the wheel, rather than a lever-type plunger, is supposed to be =
easier..."a child can use it"
>the box can be removed from the wall to fill it and to clean it
> the larger size of hollow extrusions=20
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has used this extruder. =
Please feel free to reply directly to me.
Thanks !
Linda in NH
Emily Lees on fri 29 apr 05
I am thinking of getting a Northstar Big Blue extruder. I read some of
the old messages re this extruder, and it sounds as if potters who own
one are pleased. My question is: can this be operated by a single
person, or do you need one person to turn the wheel and a second to
catch the extrusions? I would appreciate any help/comments/advice.
Gayle Bair on sun 1 may 05
Hi Emily,
I have a friend who owns a Big Blue.
She is very happy with it.
I did a show at her studio where I helped her
with some extrusions.
It can be used by one person but
she admitted it was a lot easier with 2 people.
As I recall most difficulty was in the assembly.
We struggled for 15 minutes getting the pin seated properly in the back.
Also loading 25lbs of clay was easier with 2 people.
See Manual instructions
http://www.northstarequipment.com/products/manuals/bigblue.html
Now the extrusions didn't need "catching" however with 2 people
we were able to manipulate the extrusion e.g. giving it a twist
or curve as it came out.
We made some very interesting vases and teapots that weekend.
It is a very nice piece of equipment and the wheel makes
extrusions very easy.
When I'm ready for an extruder it will likely be a Big Blue.
Gayle Bair
-----Original Message-----
From: Emily Lees
I am thinking of getting a Northstar Big Blue extruder. I read some of
the old messages re this extruder, and it sounds as if potters who own
one are pleased. My question is: can this be operated by a single
person, or do you need one person to turn the wheel and a second to
catch the extrusions? I would appreciate any help/comments/advice.
Alisa Liskin Clausen on sun 1 may 05
>I am thinking of getting a Northstar Big Blue extruder. I read some of
>the old messages re this extruder, and it sounds as if potters who own
>one are pleased. My question is: can this be operated by a single
>person, or do you need one person to turn the wheel and a second to
>catch the extrusions? I would appreciate any help/comments/advice.
Last week I received my Big Blue extrduer. I had ordered it before NCECA,
because I wanted to make larger extrusions than my other North Star
extruder makes.
I am very happy that I had the chance to work the extruder together with
Daryl Baird and Jim Robison. Having these experts showing me how to use it
gave me confidence to get it installed and start using it right away. It
was like a mini course to get started. They also gave me ideas. And they
are really nice people. When I got my first extruder, it was mostly trial
and error to learn how to get the best extrusions. What I learned from the
first extruder holds also for the big blue, as far as soft, grogged clay,
slow extrusions and how to right the extrusions.
I have used the extruder exclusively for a about 5 days. My first reaction
was, my NCECA experience made me more confident to get started. However,
without that, the extruder is easy to use. It is very important to make
sure the quick release pins are in place, with every extrusion. The barrel
with 20 lbs. of clay in it could injur a foot it may fall on without the
safety pin, that makes that impossible to occur. The pin on the barrel can
be hard to get in and out at first, but after a while, it eases up and
requires less pressure.
The wheel handle and press are very easy to use, much less straining on the
shoulder I experienced with my other extruder. Turning the great big wheel
and looking out of the window lets me relive my sailer days.
One observation is that one needs to be strong and steady to load the
extruder. My arms are strong but even so, lifting the loaded barrel,
steadying it under the press and getting it engaged in the barrel catch
gets tiring after a morning of extruding. It is a physical job and it
depends on how strong and what shape you are in, like many other studio
chores, what your endurance is. The plan for me is to make less extrusions
at one go. I also watch my back posture and push up the barrel with
strength from my legs.
The hollow dies require up to three nuts to secure the middle piece on to
the brace. I would order as many braces for as many hollow dies I have, to
save time screwing together the dies and also to avoid losing the nuts in
the clay to be extruded. Did that, so I am especially careful with the
nuts when changing the braces.
Extruding. It is great. The wheel is almost effortless to turn with all of
the dies. Your concern about a helper to catch the extrusion is a good
one. If you can have a helper to catch the extrusion, I would take
advantage of that. However, I will not have this luxury until I get an
apprentice again in October. If the clay is too soft, it is impossible to
extrude, cut and catch the extrusion without distorting it. However, that
said, I cut the extrusion with a wire and as I come through the last
corner, I throw the wire on the floor, quickly catching the extrusion with
both hands. I lay it down on a board. I use a ruler to flatten out the
side I squeezed in with my hand when I caught the extrusion. Later on, in
leather hard stages, I right the extrusion as much as I need. At the
moment, I am enjoying the waves in the extrusions, and using them in what I
am building. I am going to try a clay with bigger grogg in it, but they
advise not to use too rough of a clay because it will put more wear on the
dies.
Air holes are much less of problem with this extruder than my other one. I
turn the wheel quite slowly and have almost no holes or bubbles.
Although I bought the adapter plate so that I can use the smaller dies in
the Big Blue, I have both extruders mounted. I used them both either
simaltaneously or separately.
Conclusion at this point in time, is that I am very satisfied with my Big
Blue. Because the bigger dies make bigger forms, requiring more clay, the
barrel can get heavy. Other than that, I just have to limit my joy a bit
by extruding a bit less than my initial ambitions. I think it is a good
piece of equipment. I have always had helpful service when I call North
Star and Keith (if I remember correctly) gives me the feeling that they
care about the perfomance of their equipment. They take time to talk and
are good to give tips and advice to get the best out of the equipment.
regards from Alisa in Denmark
URL Krueger on sun 1 may 05
> > can this be operated by a single person,
> > or do you need one person to turn the wheel and a
> > second to catch the extrusions?
> Turning the great big wheel and looking
> out of the window lets me relive my sailer days.
I prefer working alone so I'm always looking at ways to
allow me to do that. My first reaction to this subject was
to add a motor with a foot control to turn the wheel on the
extruder. An older throwing wheel might be scavenged for
this purpose.
If the wheel is really easy to turn a lower tech approach
might be to create a windlass. One could create a drum by
cutting a 5 gal plastic bucket in half, inserting plywood
disks into the open ends for strength and attaching to the
wheel. Secure one end of a rope to the wheel and wrap it
around the bucket drum and attach a weight to the free end
of the rope. When you want to extrude let the weight fall
pulling on the rope which will turn the drum and extrud the
clay. You might need to rig up a foot operated brake
mechanism so you could control the speed.
Or, if the wheel is really, really easy to turn and you like
animals you could attach a wire drum to the wheel and put a
couple of hamsters on it. Of course it might take a while
to train the hamsters to start and stop on command. ;-)
Enough fun for now, back to the yardwork.
--
Earl K...
Bothell WA, USA
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