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So my whining on another thread about dealing with "infirmaries" brought on a suggestion for extruding by Min. (IP: 173.180.69.79) Posted Wednesday at 11:41 AM @Pres, how about using an electric caulking gun? Ryobi makes an inexpensive one ($40 in Canada) 500 lbs of push force. I know the battery and charger would be expensive but if you already have those? After about a week of thinking about it and researching, I spent part of an afternoon at a lumber/hardware store and came up with what I hoped would be a solution. I purchased the following: Length of 1 1/2" inside diameter plastic pipe. Reduction collar Electric Caulk gun sold without battery One battery and charger kit At home, I cut the pipe to 81/4 ", as a standard caulk tube is 8 1/2 inches. I also cut off the end of the reducer, which gave me a collar to add to the end of the pipe. I also used a 1 1/2" hole saw to cut a Plexiglas plug to fit between the end of the plunger and clay,as a caulk tube has a plastic plug on it to keep caulk from getting to the plunger. I then removed the plunger end from the toothed rod with the center screw, and then the screw that held the backing plate and the plastic plunger end together. Using my dremel with my drill, I set up a bit to grind/sand the metal and plastic to the 1 1/2" diameter extruder tube. Then replaced these back on the toothed rod. Well wedged clay was placed in the assembled extuder, the die on the end of the tube, the collar over top fitting on to the tube, then the clay( well wedged and rolled out to fit), and lastly the protection plate for the plunger with a little space in the end of the tube. Lastly the entire thing was placed into the caulk gun/clay extruder and within 3 minutes I had the three and a half lengths of handle around 8" long. So smooth, no cross lines from short pumps of the manual type handle, and so easy on my hands. Once again, Thanks to MIN! Caulk gun with battery 8 1/4" X 1 1/2" diameter pipe, handle extruder die, collar made from reducer coupling, end for plunger of caulk gun Only change on Caulk gun was to grind/sand plunger end to fit into 1 1/2 ID pipe Plunger has a metal backer for plastic front, I separated both by removing center screw and side screw-simple. Set up for drill to change diameter of any pieces needed to be ground, cut smaller. Full tube of new power extruder gave me these teapot handles till the plunger was at the end of run

I've watched a lot of videos, and I still don't get it. "Trim your pots when they are LEATHER HARD." "Attach handles when mug is as soft as possible." SO which is it? If things are too dry, or if there is too much difference in moisture content of mug and handle you can expect cracks where the handle meets the mug.. I'm getting my fair share of them. Maybe the answer is to throw mugs that are perfect and need no trimming. RIGHT. I'm using stoneware clay from Standard. How can I avoid cracks. How am I supposed to repair cracks before firing? ja

Hi - I am using porcelain for the first time, and while I knew it was persnickety, I am having an unexpected problem: it keeps breaking while I'm glazing. While one pot was a very thin (too thin probably) vase, I have had multiple cup handles break in the middle or away from their attachment site. The handles were not pulled - they were coils that I smoothed with a sponge, so I wondered if maybe the clay was not compressed enough? The handles were relatively small but the cup was small and thin, too, so I don't think that is the problem. It is a cone 10 Narra porcelain, and they were bisqued to cone 06. They seemed very stone-like and sturdy, no visible cracks, so the breaks were a big surprise. I'm getting really frustrated...any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Anita

I realize that mugs without handles are cups. However, I love mugs without handles like so many other people do. I have a small home studio, and I am testing my talent. I made my husband a fabulous mug without a handle. He says it's too hot and burns his hands. I personally love to feel the heat in my hands. It soothes the pains of years of computing. I made my hot chocolate in a commercially made mug and held it without using the handle. It was very hot. That's why you put handles on mugs right? Am I being selfish not putting handles on my mugs? I give them away mostly, but intend to sell them in the future. I guess I could make mug koozies and upsell them. LOL What is your opinion of handles on mugs? How could you not love this mug? (see attached.)

I was in the studio all day Sunday. I am having to fill a kiln with my firing partner so that I can get an order of 60 mugs out for February 5. It was a long day. I had made 12 5lb colanders. I put side handles on them. I trimmed the dozen plates that go under the colanders. I trimmed 34 mugs. My son came in at 4:00 p.m. to work on a clay slingshot that he is making. At about 5:00, I was getting tired. Still had about 20 mugs to put handles on. I said to my son;"You know, I never get tired of doing this." He said;"But Dad, that's because they are all different. everyone is a problem to solve." I looked at him and blinked, then smiled. Of course they are all different. Some are big or small, moist or dry, some handles work, others don't.I guess that's why I am still in the game. Have you heard a wise comment about your making recently? TJR. I forgot to say that my son is 16 [edit[.

Hello potter community! I'm trying to figure out how to attach a chunk of antler (sustainably sourced, of course) to the side of a stein to act as the handle. I've never done anything like this before, so I'm feeling really cluless as to the best way to go about it. Currently I have two lugs coming off the stein (top and bottom) and I was thinking of fastening the handle to the mug with leather strings that tied around the lugs and the antler. I'm making them for a medieval themed event. Is there a better/more professional way to go about this? I have been unsuccessful with trying to find tutorials online for this.. I've attached some photos of what I've got thus far.. they're still greenware so there's room to change things. Thanks in advance for your insight! Cheers! Erin Tiny Cat Pottery