Slab Roller Instructions

I don't - but 2 things you do need: plates that you can remove to change the thickness of the slab - and at least one very good, very even roller.

You might want to start out with a wringer from an ancient washing machine - you know - the two cylindars that you roll the clothes through. Then you might find out a way to change the distance between the two - or you might use one mounted on a fitting table with a "ditch" in it to put your slabs in. The top slab is always (imhe) covered in canvas.

Just some ideas. I don't know if you have a chance to find any of these bits, but it is worth a try. Antiques shops might have something.

Also - you might luck out like I did and find one used for a third of the new price! Have a look around at potters and pottery suppliers in your area.

Best of luck! My slab roller, although small, is great to have! No more rolling pins! YAY!

Marianne

Keep your eyes open for an old fashioned hand operated Clothes Mangle/Wringer. Several Potters locally use them. Very effective.

Steve Bath UK

In article , Suzan writes

Hi Suzan, do you throw at all? If so have you ever considered throwing slabs? Sounds mad I know but if you don't want huge slabs it is possible and you can get some interesting slabs. If you can centre and throw five kg of clay into a tall cylinder with no base (best done on a batt), when it becomes soft leather hard you can slice it vertically and open it out into a flat slab; you can also add some interesting tooling or finger markings and other decorations such as slip, before removing it from the wheel.

Des, who used to contribute a lot to this group, sent me some plans a few years ago. If I can find the plans, I will forward them to the group. Des, are you still out there?

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 00:01:45 +0100, Steve Mills wrote: Never got mine to work properly: by the time the rollers were sufficiently wide apart to give me the slab thickness I wanted, the gears had disengaged, and only the top roller rotated - the cloth 'enclosing' the clay would not properly draw into the rollers.

:(

Try here:

Pete