I designed this custom clay extruder to be highly flexible and incredibly easy to use directly on a tabletop. This project has been entirely handmade and redesigned by Michael George Parry-Thomas, combining smart engineering with practical studio needs.
The main purpose of designing this system was to make it adaptable for different projects and, most of all, effortless to operate.
Key Features of the Design
- Hydraulic-Assisted Power: A built-in hydraulic jack is used to make clay extrusion practically effortless. On the hydraulic side, there is a sliding mechanism that helps to transfer maximum pressure evenly across the clay being extruded.
- The “Clay Saver” Small Die Adapter: The main clay chamber can be converted easily to accommodate small dies with a simple adjustment on the plunger. I like to think of this as a “clay saver” because you are not forced to fill a large chamber full of clay just to use a small die. I designed a simple adapter that slides right into the main clay chamber, making the changeover exceptionally fast and easy.
- Large Die Attachment: For larger extrusions, I made an attachment that fits into the bottom of the main chamber. This expands the diameter, allowing you to use much larger dies.
- Hybrid Prototyping: The whole of this project was initially printed in 3D. This allowed me to test and find the absolute best way to achieve an adaptable, easy-to-use extruder. The finished project is a durable combination of stainless steel and 3D-printed components.
Materials and Build Quality
I wanted this extruder to last, so it is built using high-quality materials and metalwork:
- Main Clay Cylinder: Made from a piece of durable, heavy-duty, long-lasting piping, featuring 2 orange locating rings.
- Base Board: Stainless steel locating pins securely fasten the cylinder to the base board. Below the base board, you can attach the expansion box to these same pins, easily locking them in place with wing nuts.
- Mounting System: Features a single mounting board that slides into the steel metal frame for easy removal and cleaning.
- Metalwork & Finish: Steel tubing is used throughout, painted with a rust-preventer zinc coating and finished with matte black paint. Red paint has been applied to the main plunger connecting fittings.
- Hardware: The build utilizes stainless steel bearings and shafts, stainless steel link pins with locking collars, and heavy-duty galvanized fittings.
⚠️ Important Extruder Tip
As with any extruder, always use soft clay. Using hard clay on any extruder may damage your equipment. Always make sure the clay you use is suitable for the type of extruder you are operating.
Samples of the extruded clay used in the hydraulic press
