Pitterpotter Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I'm looking to purchase or make a gravity feed slip trailer. Can anyone point me in the right direction or tell me how to make one? Thanks in advance and hope everyone has a great and prosperous New Year!! Debi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I don't know of a commercial product that does this. What I am guessing you seek is a constant pour of a thin line. Like a faucet on a low setting. The issue for a gravity system would fall onto the size of the hole. This hole size needs to work with the viscosity of the fluid and the height of the reservoir. And this is a tricky task; people work with many different thicknesses of slip and the height of the reservoir will be changing. So I personally don't believe relying entirely on gravity will do the trick. What I plan to do someday -- now that I am in my own location ideas I have had are becoming reality (slowly) -- is to use a small gear pump. Gear pumps can be capable of moving thick fluids such as a slip. With a variable speed control it could be possible to create a stream anywhere from slow drips to a thin line. This kind of pump is use industrially as injectors and there is a wide size range available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I'll also guess you don't want to spend $467... http://www.grainger.com/product/CONTROL-COMPANY-Metering-Pump-3KYU2?functionCode=P2IDP2PCP ...this pump would probably work like a dream for making a continuous trail of any slurry. A cheaper pump might be possible but first I would have to figure out how many liters/min is needed. So if you have a minute, carefully time out a minute and while pouring at the rate you want into a measuring cup. If you only have a small measuring cup, time how long it takes to reach the highest mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I made one from an old yellow mustard container by cutting off the bottom half. Used a pencil in the spout to control the flow. My ex and I wrote an article for CM in 1975 showing how to use it. Very simple to make. If you Google it look for Feathered Slip trailing and Mannino. 1975 “Feathered Slip Trailing†Ceramics Monthly, Sept. pp. 43-45. and Mannino. Dave Dontigny from Penn State made one from clay with 3 spouts for replicating the low fire Pennsylvania Dutch Slip patterns. The entire back issue with the article is available PDF only. $4.99 http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramics-monthly/ceramics-monthly-september-1975/ Maybe you can find it in a library..I would try to find it for you, but I am leaving town tomorrow and need to prepare for the trip. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRankin Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Im curious why It has to be gravity fed? With a little practice you can easily control the flow from a bulb syringe or commercial slip trail bottles. Some people even use bakery piping bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitterpotter Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks to all for your input. I currently do a lot of slip trailing on my work and love it! I have worked with mason stains in the past in a painting on fashion and maybe doing some scrafito (sp?). I have been watching some videos of other ways to use slip trailing in decoration and in doing so came across one where the lady was using a horn (like a bulls horn) with a quill it looked like to hold various colors. She had them lined up to the side and would pick up what she needed as she went along. I don't mind using the bottles and bulbs for my slip trailing work but a gravity feed would reduce the aggravation to a pinched nerve in my shoulder as well as just being another cool way of working. Debi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 http://ronphilbeckpottery.com/6blog/2009/1/7/mary-wondrausch-slip-trailers.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I have a vague memory of seeing an air-pressure operated slip-trailing system. The "pen" was about the size of a syringe, and you controlled the flow rate by moving your finger over a vent. It was fairly pricey, but had things like interchangeable cartridges holding different coloured slips. Had a quick google, but failed to find anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Gravity fed slip decoration is used in the feathering process because one slip is heavily than the other and they don't bleed. I found our 1975 article. The second page shows the applicator. sorry the type is so small. I think you can understand it from the photos. The base slip is somewhat thinner than the applied slip from the applicator. It sinks into the thin slip and stays separated. If you google feathered slip trailing, there are slip sloppy examples where drops are laid down instead if thin consistent lines. You get the thin consistent lines with well mixed and sieved slip through a gravity fed applicator. I have the air pen and have not yet mastered it. I wanted it for thin glaze lines. It has a steep learning curve. Will have to give it another try. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Thomson Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I made one using a plastic food container from Raley's market deli. (Ambrosia salad, yum) It has to have a tight fitting lid. Drilled 3 holes and using E6000 glued on pen nubs. (Find some old pens and use just the front part) A small air vent drilled into the back and you have a very inexpensive gravity three pronged slip trailer. OR, since you are a potter make one. Pennsylvania redware pottery slip trailing was made using three pronged fired clay trailers. P.S. be sure to screen the slip thoroughly. Have fun experimenting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Look up Airpen I have one and use it with underglazes it relieves the cramping in my hand from squeezing a bottle to slip trail. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Pugaboo: Look up Airpen Thanks, that's the one I was meaning. http://www.silkpaint.com/airpen/ http://www.silkpaint.com/pdf/AirPen%20Color.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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