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slabrollers

updated sat 12 aug 06

 

Jonathan Kaplan on wed 4 sep 96


Covered this before, but for my money the Bailey DRD electric series is the
goods. Compression of the slab from both sides, unlimited thickness,
etc.etc. I've had two Bailey's in my pottery life and they are excellent
machines. Top of the line in my book, costly, but well worth the
investment.

The usual disclaimers apply.......

Jonathan



Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design Group Ltd./Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477

(970) 879-9139*voice and fax * email jonathan@csn.net

"Show up, pay attention, be a good listener, tell the truth, don't be
attatched to the results!"

Wooltree on mon 15 dec 97

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

BARNSCHWA on wed 17 dec 97

I've been using a Bailey slabroller for several years now and I love it. I've
never had any problems with it and I have absolutely no complaints about it.
It rolls large hunks of clay with ease. I have the 36" roller with the large
wagon wheel.

Marion

pduncan on mon 5 jan 98

This past fall someone ran an ad in Ceramics Monthly for plans to build
a slabroller. If anyone on this list responded to the ad and recieved
the plans would you please e-mail me off list. TIA Pam

Jonathan Kaplan on sun 11 jan 98

Like poters wheels, we all have our preferences as to which equipment we
like and/or we feel works best for us.

I have use a motorized Bailey DRD 20 and a DRD 30 since the early 197's
when they becamce available. I have used the DRD 30 for the last ten years.


We use is in both a production and academic situation. And true, it may
carry a Cadillac price, but IMHO, it provides the quality of slabs with low
effort and ease of maintenance. They are built very well, and even though I
have had to replace the particle board clay entrance and exit areas, these
machines are the workhorse for my classes and production when needed. No
messing with cables, shims, etc. etc. The only maintenance that I do is
periodically adjust the tension on the motor hanger which adjusts the
tension on the chain, and replace the idler tension on the adjustable
roller. For me, I'd rather spend the extra money. With all the pros and
cons that go back and forth on this list vis a vis equipment, the opinions
are here for your information. Find a potter(s) that have the equipment in
question and see if you can demo a slab or two.

Then make your decision as to what works best for you, what you can afford,
and if you really need one. Perhaps a rolling pin and some would slats may
suffice until a machine is necessary.

Jonathan


Jonathan Kaplan http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign/

http://www.ceramicsoftware.com/education/clay/kaplan1.htm



jonathan@csn.net
Ceramic Design Group Ltd./Production Services Voice:
970-879-9139 POB 775112
FAXmodem: same
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80477, USA CALL before faxing

Plant Location: 30800 Moffat Avenue #13 Steamboat Springs Co 80487
(please use this address for all UPS, courier, and common carrier
shipments)

dch on mon 12 jan 98



Jonathan Kaplan wrote in article
...
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Like poters wheels, we all have our preferences as to which equipment we
> like and/or we feel works best for us.
>
>Greetings: I've been following this slabroller thread, and it has helped
me in deciding on a Bailey. However, I tried mightily last May through
August to get Bailey to ship the machine I had ordered...the whole affair
was a study in frustration ending when I finally cancelled my order. In
fairness to Bailey, Jim Bailey did contact me personally regarding my
letter of complaint. He assured me that my troubles were a fluke and all
would be well. I was still so ticked that didn't re-order, but now have
cooled off enough to consider buying from them. So....can anyone out there
tell me if they have had similar problems(shipping on time) with Bailey on
a regular basis, or were the clay spirits sending me a personal message.
Thanks All
chris in encinitas where, blast the luck, it's only 72 today.

Paul Jay on tue 13 jan 98

Cris I had a brent for years and it was a pain in the you know what. Grease
that wouldnt come off, broken wires. We finally bought a Bailey (manual with
wheel turn)and love it. As this was for our college and we were opperating
under a capital limit they agreeded to bill it as if the had sent it piece by
piece so that any one bill would not be over our capital amount! Thats
service.

dch wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> Jonathan Kaplan wrote in article
> ...
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > Like poters wheels, we all have our preferences as to which equipment we
> > like and/or we feel works best for us.
> >
> >Greetings: I've been following this slabroller thread, and it has helped
> me in deciding on a Bailey. However, I tried mightily last May through
> August to get Bailey to ship the machine I had ordered...the whole affair
> was a study in frustration ending when I finally cancelled my order. In
> fairness to Bailey, Jim Bailey did contact me personally regarding my
> letter of complaint. He assured me that my troubles were a fluke and all
> would be well. I was still so ticked that didn't re-order, but now have
> cooled off enough to consider buying from them. So....can anyone out there
> tell me if they have had similar problems(shipping on time) with Bailey on
> a regular basis, or were the clay spirits sending me a personal message.
> Thanks All
> chris in encinitas where, blast the luck, it's only 72 today.

John Hesselberth on wed 14 jan 98

I've also had great experience with a Bailey slab roller and excellent
service from them. Once I did a really dumb thing and wrapped my canvas
around one of the rolls, tried to extract it by being macho and broke a
weld on one of the brackets. Bailey replaced the part free and talked me
through installing it. Only problem I have had with them is that they
don't seem to carry inventory. When your order is placed you get a spot
on their production schedule so delivery may take a few weeks.



John Hesselberth
Frog Pond Pottery
Pocopson, PA USA
john@frogpondpottery.com

KLeSueur on wed 14 jan 98


In a message dated 1/12/98 1:48:07 PM, you wrote:

<tell me if they have had similar problems(shipping on time) with Bailey on
a regular basis, or were the clay spirits sending me a personal message.>>

I've always had good service from Bailey. Hope your experience was a fluke.

Kathi LeSueur

Galland/Stander on sun 16 aug 98

Hi - I am looking for a good used slabroller, one with two rollers
preferrably, if there's anyone out there changing directions or upgrading.
After a 15 yr. absence from pottery to do organic farming, I'm trying to
build a studio again and return to clay, as I promised myself I would do
when I decided to farm. Any other used equipment would be of interest too,
but no wheels - I've still got mine.

Plans for a nice small gas kiln would be appreciated also! Thanks - Nancy
Galland

Milton Markey on tue 18 aug 98

Nancy,

There's good news for you! In the past month, two fellow Clayart folks offered
plans for both a homemade slabroller, and a gas kiln. I have received plans
from these gracious fellow clayart writers. Here's where to find them:

Slab Roller:
Contact Greg LaMont GDLamont@iastate.edu

Gas Kiln
Contact JML@sundagger.com

Good Luck!

Milton MiltonsLin@AOL.COM

Got woke up by a 4.8 earthquake yesterday morning. No damage to the house, the
studio, or other ranch facilities. It jarred my nerves momentarily, then I
fell back into a deep slumber! California is on the roll again!

Ceramic Design Group on fri 22 mar 02


Not to be overly presumptuous here, but you can save alot of you own time a
the list can save alot of space if you get a copy of the 2001/2002 Potters
Guide published by ACERS/Pottery Making Illustrated. I authored a very
comprehensive review of the slab roller marketplace for that issue which
IMHO, covers many, if not all of the questions that have just started on the
list....again.

Its important perhaps to understand that everyone has a particular need and
works within a particular frame work and that every slab machine has its
positive points and negative ones as well. There are many considerations
when buying any piece of equipment for you studio, and the review in the
Potter's Guide not only was very objective and non-judgemental, and can help
you in your search for the right machine for you.

And I think that is the crux of it....."the right machine for you."

Respectfully,

Jonathan
--

Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
infor@ceramicdesigngroup.net www.ceramicdesigngroup.net
(use PO BOX for all USPS correspondence)
970 879-9139

Plant Location
1280 13th Street
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
(use PLANT LOCATION for all UPS, Common Carrier, and Courier deliveries)

beardiepaw on thu 10 aug 06


I am going to get a slabroller finally! I think I've settled on the Bailey
DRD/II 30 inch. I looked at the archives and there were a couple people who
had these. Do you still like it? I was looking at the long table, I don't
know if the 48 inch one would be long enough. Sher Morrow

marianne kuiper milks on fri 11 aug 06


Hell Sher,

I have the Rolling Thunder slab roller (over a year, still like new) and use it almost every day. I LOVE IT. I looked around and found a good price w free shipping. I have the 30"x48", but because I have very limited workspace, I put the end next to my workbench, which gave me another 5 feet whenever I need it.
I'm a very impatient person and must admit that I could have been arrested for Roller Abuse. It's still cranking perfectly. I have seen the errors of my ways.
Highly recommended. Have fun, whichever way you go.
Marianne Kuiper Milks

beardiepaw wrote: I am going to get a slabroller finally! I think I've settled on the Bailey
DRD/II 30 inch. I looked at the archives and there were a couple people who
had these. Do you still like it? I was looking at the long table, I don't
know if the 48 inch one would be long enough. Sher Morrow

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William & Susan Schran User on fri 11 aug 06


On 8/10/06 8:43 PM, "beardiepaw" wrote:

> I am going to get a slabroller finally! I think I've settled on the Bailey
> DRD/II 30 inch. I looked at the archives and there were a couple people who
> had these. Do you still like it?

We have one of these in our school studio and it gets lots of use and has
held up well.

It will take up a bit of room in a small studio and I would question the
need unless the individual plans on producing large quantities of slab work
or physically requires the assistance of the machine.

We have two canvases, one for red/brown clays, the other for white clays.

The clay is squeezed and stretched between the rollers, so some rolling in
an adjacent direction with a rolling pin is sometimes suggested depending on
the form being constructed.


-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu