HenryBurlingame Posted May 29 Report Share Posted May 29 (edited) Hi all, Aside from the fact that it would take up more space in the studio are there any downsides to a larger slab roller? I was planning on getting a Bailey DRD/II 24G w/ the 51" table, but my studio could also fit the 30G w/ 69" table. I don't plan on making 30" wide slabs at the moment, but if I decided I wanted to in the future I would probably regret not spending the extra couple of hundred bucks. Anyone have any recommendations with which size to go for (width and table length)? Thanks! Edited May 29 by HenryBurlingame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted May 29 Report Share Posted May 29 It would depend on what you plan to use it for. I have a old 28" Bailey, I bought the main unit new and got the plans to build the table from Bailey, I recently had Formica put on the table top. I use it mostly for tiles, I make a lot of tiles, I flip the tiles onto sheet rock and lay newspaper between the clay and sheet rock. The moisture from the clay can ruin the surface of the rock. I dry several layers stacked together. The largest sheet rock stacks I can handle are 30x36, I use about 60 inches of table and have a foot left over at the open end , my table is 72 inches long. My table is 25 years old looks good and works great. HenryBurlingame and Rae Reich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryBurlingame Posted May 30 Author Report Share Posted May 30 You are making the larger sizes seem pretty appealing lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted May 30 Report Share Posted May 30 If you have the space then go big with the roller, but a 6 foot table is really big and takes up a lot of room. I have a 30" that I picked up used for cheap and I really like it, but the 6' table was much too large for my space so I cut it down by about a foot and it still functions very well. The huge outfeed and small infeed on the 69 inch don't really make a lot of sense unless you want to use the outfeed side as a work space. That said, my shorter table still functions very well as a working surface- I do all my cutting there after rolling the slab. HenryBurlingame 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryBurlingame Posted May 30 Author Report Share Posted May 30 (edited) Thanks Neil, that is very helpful information! I was thinking the larger table (outfeed side) would be nice as extra work space when I was not rolling slabs (or when I am cutting after etc.). The video on the bailey website (which is of the 30" with larger table) didn't make it seem like it was too crazy big, but I will take some more measurements in the studio and see what I think I can do... there are some windows, awkward electrical outlet placements, etc. that may throw a wrench in my plans. It is a fresh studio so I have a lot of wiggle room since no equipment has a permanent home yet aside from the glazing table and cabinet along one wall. I would definitely have the space if I decided putting the electric kiln right under the indoor part of my mini split was OK, but not sure I want AC blowing directly on the kiln lol. Edited May 30 by HenryBurlingame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted May 30 Report Share Posted May 30 I forgot to mention that having some extra space gives me a place to put my canvas when I pull it off. I also store 5 gal buckets of chemicals underneath the table. No space is wasted. Denice HenryBurlingame 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryBurlingame Posted May 30 Author Report Share Posted May 30 Well I did a bunch of measurements today and I don't think the width makes a difference in my studio plan, so the 30" wide table would be fine (44" with handle etc.). As far as table length goes, the shorter 51" table would give me more options as far as shelf placement (and maybe a cink placement in the future if I feel the need). So I think I am going to go with 30" wide, but still have to think about the length... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryBurlingame Posted May 31 Author Report Share Posted May 31 (edited) Well I did my best trying to get a sense for the size of the different tables by watching various videos, and the 51" just seems too small (nearly a foot shorter than your cut down table Neil (if you cut a 72" down to 60")). Barely longer than 4ft total length and the working area is nearly half blocked by the large wheel. The 69" looks a lot more comfortable, so I ended up ordering a 30" wide with 69" table. Thanks for the help everyone, the studio is coming along nicely! Edited May 31 by HenryBurlingame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted May 31 Report Share Posted May 31 I don't believe you will regret the larger table, my local ceramic supplier sells used equipment. He usually has a couple of small slab rollers that people have traded in on a Bailey with the larger table. Denice HenryBurlingame 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryBurlingame Posted May 31 Author Report Share Posted May 31 (edited) Good to know, the long table did seem to be the more popular of the two when I was looking for videos etc., thanks Denice! Edited May 31 by HenryBurlingame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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