SUCCESS Bumper Jack Extruder

So I had a bent bolt at the top of my extruder.  I had to fix that, other than that, well it has been very simple.

     

Things I did Differently than Mary Kate Sullivan

1. PVC pipe was 4 inches thick and 12 inches tall.
2. I reinforced the bottom with metal clips that were “L” shaped
3. I tried a store bought DIE Scott Creek 8 handle die and it works well
4. The bumper jack was a floor model
5. I changed the box to match the larger PVC Pipe

That was it pretty simple and it works.  Not perfectly, there is no cap for the die so a little squishes out like a golf ball size or less.  I also used reclaimed clay since my first clay seemed to dry for this process and not very plastic.  Soft clay worked fine if I didn;t walk far and had a slab to put it on.

   

First Mistake Bumper Jack Extruder

  Well it had to happen.  ALways when you are starting out, there’s a learning process called,sadly, Trial and Error.  My Error so far with my extruder is the BOLT.  The second time I used this extruder, it bent up at the TOP.  My welder friend gave me this bolt, hand made, so I thought it was REALLY really strong.  Hummmmmm  maybe not so strong?  Everything else about the box seems to work but this bolt couldn’t take too much pressure?

Daryl  Baird has a Book out called THE EXTRUDER which I haven’t gotten yet but can’t wait to get, I’m in line at the Lib for it.  Popular book cause I’m having to wait :O.  I like to review my books before I by them.  In this type of market, no sense in buying something I might not use.  For example, John’s Mastering Cone 6 Glazes.  I got the book at the Lib first, than I saw his Free site for computer software, I tried that for 6-8 weeks.  I bought both the book and Software.  I wouldn’t have purchased it tho if I hadn’t tried it out first.  I like to know that the Author is there for me, AND his work means something to me first.  Right or Wrong that’s the way I function.

Daryl runs a grp called clayExtruding http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clayextruding/ great start for beginners like me!  So I posted my dilemma regarding my first mistake with my extruder.  I’m not sure if it’s because the bolt wasn’t strong enough or maybe I need to make more of a box to hold the black part.  Most likely the clay I use is too hard for extruding?  I am wondering tho if extruding might be a good place for my reclaimed clay?  It’s softer and more plastic than what I like to throw with?  HUmmmmm. . .

  I did reinforce the bottom of my extruder with those Metal “thingy’s  A guy at the hard ward store recommended them and I think that was a good thought!.  Didn’t move a bit, not once.”  So the box,plunger,bumper jack, (even tho it’s the floor kind) all work.  Oh and the store bought die (whew).  Just that darn BOLT to ponder. . . . .