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
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
steve graber
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