I’ve had an extruder for a while now, but haven’t used to it’s fullest potential. Late last year I made a special effort and now using it to make bottles.
For Christmas I bought myself two new dies, nothing to do with Dignitas, not yet. My new dies were laser cut by the lovely Tina at http://www.northshoremetalprofiles.co.uk based on Hayling island, I met Tina on the Hayling art trail and Red Lion Xmas fair where I gave her the patterns.
The following photos show how it all works .
Looking down the barrel of an extruder at the die fixed into the holding plate.
load up the barrel lets have a barrel of clay
Fresh extrusion
The three parts of the bottle ready for joining
The thrown bottle top rested on the bat and then the body centred upon it, joined with slurry
next the bottom
Bits joined trimmed and blended ready for some slip
Dipped into Devon ball clay white slip
Fresh slip good enough to eat
Wet sgraffito decoration using bristle brush and rubber tool. Ready for the two firings, the darker pattern burning through.
Whitecroft Pottery 