Slab roller help

Have been looking at Axner Rolling Thunder, Northstar, and Bailey. Have
been informed that Axner has aluminum gears, Northstar has nylon, and
Bailey has steel. How important is the material used?

Rollers...aluminum vs steel?

Bearings for the rollersor is this a problem for the one person potter who
is not into production?

Disregarding the price difference, would sure appreciate opinions.

Thanks in advance.

J.R.L.

Max:
I've been told that slab rollers having only
ONE roller can tend to cause thinner slabs
]to warp as they dry. Personally, I have
not had that problem, but my slabs
tended to be over 1/2 inch thick (13mm).
You might want to consider a TWO
roller slab roller, where the clay
passes between them, with canvas on either
side. I understand that they are also
easier to adjust for thickness.

Stay away from nylon gears.
They don't work in cars
either (as timing belt gears).
Steel rusts, so you might want
to go with aluminium.
(Personal opinion of course.)
Hope that helps,
Wayne Seidl

"Max Kanter" wrote in message
...
Have been looking at Axner Rolling Thunder, Northstar, and Bailey. Have
been informed that Axner has aluminum gears, Northstar has nylon, and
Bailey has steel. How important is the material used?

Rollers...aluminum vs steel?

Bearings for the rollersor is this a problem for the one person potter who
is not into production?

Disregarding the price difference, would sure appreciate opinions.

Thanks in advance.

J.R.L.

i've used the baily MASSIVE slab roller and it'll squash ANYTHING you want to
put into it. i like that roller design.

i acquired a northstar slab roller 10 years ago and have yet to even use it
other then as a table. it's just too cheesey looking to actually work, i
think. it looks like you need to flatten clay before using it, which is WHY i
want a slab roller anyway!

i slap out slabs of clay by hand instead. one of these days i'll sell that
stupid northstar slab roller but hate the idea of pasing something like that
onto another potter! ~~~maybe i can find a beginner??

see ya

steve




Subject: Slab roller help
From: "Max Kanter"
Date: 12/4/2003 6:38 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

Have been looking at Axner Rolling Thunder, Northstar, and Bailey. Have
been informed that Axner has aluminum gears, Northstar has nylon, and
Bailey has steel. How important is the material used?

Rollers...aluminum vs steel?

Bearings for the rollersor is this a problem for the one person potter who
is not into production?

Disregarding the price difference, would sure appreciate opinions.

Thanks in advance.

J.R.L.










steve graber