Thanks so much for the medical info, Lee. However, I just consider this a fact of getting older. My doctor is aware that I do have osteoarthritis and agrees with my minimal treatment regimen. I do appreciate that others, though, have a situation that requires more care than my situation does. I just want to be sure that any process that I do follow does not exacerbate my current situation. I do pretty well except for the ugly lumps forming on my joints -- oh, well, I have potter's hands anyway, so what are a few more lumps? Being able to play in dirt all day and get paid for it is reward enough for me.
Pres, thanks so much for the information on the hand-made extruders. I'm impressed!! Don't know if I'm up to building my own, though. Wish I were, but I have to accept my own strengths and weaknesses, and building something that fidgety and complicated is beyond my level of comfort. But maybe when I look at the prices of the ones in the pottery store, I'll change my mind again! (Oh, and that Murray fellow has a lot more fun than most of us, I would say! What a delight!)
Dottie