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heavy duty slab roller - rr

updated fri 4 mar 05

 

Ron Roy on wed 2 mar 05


I am searching for a very heavy duty slab roller - it will be used to roll
many slabs each day out of slightly stiff clay.

Does anyone know if any one manufactures a heavy duty guaranteed for heavy use?

Thanks in advance - please reply directly to me at:

ronroy@ca.inter.net

Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513

Millard Balfrey on wed 2 mar 05


Ron- I've used the Bailey w/ the masonite shims at the local
night school ceramic class- you're limited to the thickness of the shims. I was
taking clay to my friend's studio who has a Northstar 30" w/ 2" knurled aluminum
rollers, has a hand crank handle mounted onto a 8' homemade wooden table. He
made the table a little too low so after a short while I got back pains.

Last year I got a Northstar Super 30 w/ 4" knurled aluminum rollers that are
really geared down. It has a 24" wagonwheel w/ a 'brodie' knob. It is an
exceptionally well built very strong machine- I think it came w/ a lifetime parts
replacement warranty. I built a custom table
w/ 6"x6" pt legs, 2"x8" pt subframe, 3/4" pt plywood top w/ stainless steel
screws- sanded smooth w/ 4 coats of marine spar varnish sealing it. I wet/dry
sanded the last coat w/ 100 grit- it slides canvas smooth as silk. I built the
tabletop heigth to just above my bellybutton when standing. Also put a shelf
about 8" above the floor to store clay and molds. I use 4 sets of canvases-
white, light color, dark, and black- am thinking of trying a set of mats that I've
seen advertised when these canvases are worn out. It's alot of work smoothing
out the canvas pattern from the clay each time. "SlabMat" is the product
name, maybe could just have one set for all color clays?
BigCeramicStore.com sells the
Super 30" w/o the table for $900 shipping included w/ 1 set of canvas. I'm a
plumber by trade- it doesn't pay to buy cheap tools- it costs!
Best of Luck- Mill in S. Fla.
Ignorance is a powerfull
tool, When applied at the right time, it usually surpases knowledge

Jeanette Harris on thu 3 mar 05


>
>
>Last year I got a Northstar Super 30 w/ 4" knurled aluminum rollers that are
>really geared down. It has a 24" wagonwheel w/ a 'brodie' knob. It is an
>exceptionally well built very strong machine- I think it came w/ a
>lifetime parts
>replacement warranty.


I'm considering getting a new slab roller and North Star seems to be
a very good one. BUT I'm wondering about the slight lift that happens
when the clay goes in between the rollers. Could that build in a
slight warp memory?

Has anyone had trouble with this?

I would think that SlabMat would help, but it's a real bummer if you
keep having your tiles warp.
--
Jeanette Harris
in Poulsbo WA