Pres Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnolia Mud Research Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 You are GOOD to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Power extruders are always good. Glad you like yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Well done, Pres! Considering the volume you've been putting out, this will be a real thumb-saver ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted August 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 This is getting a bit of use. I have more teapots to do, and 60 more mugs to finish up. I have also been looking at some design options with added on decoration and some hand built galleries for altered thrown forms. This because of the rise in the center walls when squaring a thrown bowl for lid. Lots of thinking to go yet. I have also heard from some that intend to do the same as they are running into similar problems. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 You gave me a great idea! I have a metal cookie press set that has heavy duty components, I think I can convert it to be used with with the power extruder. If I have trouble with it I will just show it to my husband. He loves to figure things like that out, he is disappointed when I do a project like this without his help. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Excellent Macgyvering Pres! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graybeard Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Been using a cookie press fer about 2 years, works great but you REALLY NEED to KEEP the THREADS CLEAN. graybeard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted September 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 The good thing about the caulk gun is the wide toothed drive system with no exposed area to the clay. I have found clean up to be simple, take the extrusion tube out of the gun after retracting the drive rod then put pieces in bucket of water to soak until clean. Have used this now for 60 mugs and 10 teapots. . . so much easier. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 I have been extruding handles since the 80's-stronger handles-less time and always the same. I use a die in my extruders as I have so many handles per week. 3 sizes of handles for all my size mugs Glad to see you embrace this everyone. Used to be more critics due to the lack of taper thoughts. Never was an issue for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted October 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2018 I find that I have been using the power extruder now for white and a darker hazelnut clay. Have been taking great care a cleaning the tube and end collar out well, but realized I still have some pipe left over, and a new collar is cheap, so I built a second one for the white clay. Oh yeah, and the collar is made from a 1 1/2" trap adapter part number Everbilt C9000 a google search will find them all over. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 HI folks, This month the article that Min and I wrote about modifying and using the power caulk gun as an extruder is in Ceramics Monthly, March issue. Titled Tips and Tools: extruder conversion, page 62 & 64. I hope that those of you having some of the same problems I have had will find it helpful. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Nice! Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitchmss Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Nice idea! Makes me think of another DIY inspired tool. There is a sausage stuffer that is made using PVC pipe, and a water pump; Its called the Kirby Cannon..a little google searching will show you in all its glory. Would more than likely have enough power to force out clay instead of meat. It would probably cost more to make than the powered caulk gun, but you could make a tube which would allow you to extrude 20-30 pounds of clay at a time....could be useful for large extrusions, and would be cheaper than commercially manufactured power extruders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 17 minutes ago, hitchmss said: Nice idea! Makes me think of another DIY inspired tool. There is a sausage stuffer that is made using PVC pipe, and a water pump; Its called the Kirby Cannon..a little google searching will show you in all its glory. Would more than likely have enough power to force out clay instead of meat. It would probably cost more to make than the powered caulk gun, but you could make a tube which would allow you to extrude 20-30 pounds of clay at a time....could be useful for large extrusions, and would be cheaper than commercially manufactured power extruders. Pnuematic sausage stuffers would work, I just havent had time and money to order one yet. I use a standard caulking gun extruder and the key for me to not get pump marks on it was to get the cheap style, not the dripless style. Dripless caulk gun will pull back a little when you let up on the handle, a cheap one stays in place so you don't get a line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Also if you don't want to make the dies like above, you can order these PVC internal fit dome caps which work fantastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Electric caulk gun is around 48. . then the battery and charger around 60, for a little over 100 . Pressure of the caulk gun is 500 ft/lb! best Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitchmss Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 @Pres Id have to guess that if one were to make a nice size Kirby Cannon extruder it would cost in excess of $2-300. Those big pvc tubes cost a fair bit. The caulk gun is a great idea for small extrusions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Another nice thing about the caulking gun extruder is the charger and battery for the brand Pres used can be used on any of the 18V products that Ryobi makes so the battery and charger can be used for far more than the caulking extruder gun alone. Brings the actual cost down substantially if the battery is used for other tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 11 minutes ago, Min said: Another nice thing about the caulking gun extruder is the charger and battery for the brand Pres used can be used on any of the 18V products that Ryobi makes so the battery and charger can be used for far more than the caulking extruder gun alone. Brings the actual cost down substantially if the battery is used for other tools. Or if you're handy and cautious a pair of alligator clips and any 16-20v tool battery and you're all set! When I was looking for powered caulk guns I saw a Makita and it was 200+!!! Would be way cheaper to get the Ryobi and just jump it to my Makita batteries. Disclaimer: don't attempt this, would be pretty easy to shock the crap out of yourself or start a fire. When I mean handy and cautious I mean stupid and carefree (which is a dangerous combination) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 so, who among you is going to be the toolmaker we can all hire, i am not doing business here but suggesting that you think about it. successful tool makers started somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 Someone just needs to make a kit with the end of the plunger already sized, the barrel and the collar. maybe a die or two. Talk about dies, I was in at HS where I taught, a new tech guy there will be teaching with laser cutter and 3D printer. Took me to his lab, and he made a handle die on the computer, cut it with a laser-center and inside cut. in less than a minute! 1/4 inch plexiglass. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 12, 2019 Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 Nice writeup piece from you both in CM this month. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.