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clay dies for extruders

updated sat 15 jul 00

 

David Hendley on thu 13 jul 00


When hand extruders for studio potters first started
appearing in the '70's, clay was probably the first
material potters tried using for making homemade dies.
We found out that these dies just broke too easily.
Of course, if you wanted to stick with it, you could
probably make clay dies work by making very thick dies
or backing the fired clay with plywood or metal cut
slightly larger than the clay. I prefer thin dies, which
means metal dies. Using clay you would end up with
a very thick die.
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/




----- Original Message -----
From: tgschs10
To:
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 4:28 PM
Subject: Dies for extruders


I just ordered a Scott Creek extruder and have been reading two recent books
on the subject. In addition, there is a great deal written on the
construction of dies; usually they are made from plastics, wood or metals,
has anyone tried making ceramic dies. Fired to cone 10, clay dies would be
harder than any of the materials mentioned and easier to cut out; of course
they would lack the malleability of metals and one would have to compensate
for shrinkage; just curious.
Tom Sawyer
tgschs10@msn.com