Its amazing that something posted so long ago is still useful today. Just finished making my own slab roller after watching this video. So wonderful of you to post it all those years ago. Works perfect and I'm sure the grand children are going to love it! (they hate the roller pin)
oh funny about the grand kids; I feel glad it worked out for you. I always intended this one to be my 'working prototype'.. but it actually works fine for what I do. Be sure to add plenty of structure under the table top for nice even slabs. I believe someone else posted the same design but used oak boards and filled the rollers w concrete.. both great improvements. I wish you well edward
Thank you so much for posting. This is not only going to fill out the wife's studio equipment list very nicely, but it will be the coolest Christmas present EVER!
I have been dreaming of making my own die cutting machine. I did figure out how to make one that uses a lever after watching many RU-vid videos. I still kept wondering what it takes to make one that uses a roller. Thank you very much for posting this video. Now I know that I am one step - a HUGE step - closer to making my dream come true, alhamdulillah! I like that it truly is so easy. May Allah reward you for generously sharing your knowledge.
Thanks. I believe the larger thicker PVC is best for up top. You can also do it with smaller tube down below with crank on it for greater torque. Take care.Bill
yes I've heard of doing that sounds like a good idea; at least for the upper roller. You can also use a smaller roller on the bottom and put the crank there for more leverage.And the table obviously doesn't need to be that deep. Mine is the working prototype; the final would be made from channel iron. But his is a cheap way to get a slab roller I wish you well, Bill
Built mine last week. Super awesome. I will cut 3/4" plywood parts (latest design) for lower 48 folks (for $100 plus wood/materials and shipping) if folks want them.
Now I like this one simple design and operation sweet only thing I would do different would be to make it table top or with fold away legs as I have a very small work shop so Foot print is always a worry. Great idea.
to make drum more rigid add caps to each end and fill with tightly packed mud before second cap there is a guy on youtube that does wood working that made a thikness planer that has a bed adjustment design you might barrow so you can do away with the extra planks. it is also very inventive in its design. By using simple geometry he has it to were he can adjust it a little or a lot as his need dictates.
I made my own and it works very well. The only issue I have is that the cable walks along the rollers and the rollers don't stay parallel to each other. I've tried to make sure the tension is the same by making them the exact length and the eye bolts tightened to the same length. Any advice?
hi 2L,I've not had that issue; but, thinking about it 'bout the only thing I can imagine is that the distance between the two rollers is different one side to the other.. in other words the two sides upon which the rollers ride are of unequal thickness dimensions. also i found it a little difficult to get the two rollers to start out exactly from the same place; finally i turned the thing on end and secured the two rollers all the way to one end and to the frame before I ran the cables around the figure "8" pattern. Are the cable both wrapped in exactly the same pattern. Or just loosen the cables enough that you can gragually work them both back all the way to one end then snug up the cables.
hi Ayala my rollers are 4 1/2" diameter but the diameter doesn't matter too much bigger better for one that contacts clay you can use a smaller one on bottom and put crank there for more leverage I would keep distance between rollers close... mine are probably too far i wish you well Bill
hello Sara, I used mostly 1x6 boards, 2x4s under table top for strength; masonite sheets to govern slab thickness. also 5" PVC pipe steel cable, cable clamps, "I" bolts with wing nuts to tension rollers and a wooden dowel through holes to turn the top roller. hope that helps
magnificanet! I am going to build one like this. Can you specify what size the table is? and what is the diameter of the roller? What shall be the distance between the rollers? (I was thinking to make the internal surface 60X100 cm and to use 4" diameter pipes as a roller ). Your response will be gighly appreciated.
@nicksmiley Hi nick, yes I've heard of that.. these dont flex enought to even notice Probably if the thing was wider they would but yea I'm sure that would eliminate flexing I wish you the best Bill
that will depend on the size of the slab roller and the diameter of the rollers; you'll figure it out as you go... maybe assemble the table and rollers and use a length of string to run it as I ran it w cable then go get a little more than that length of the cable you want to use
+John Gleeson Hi John that's a great Idea. Actually this is only a working prototype; I have a couple steel rollers about same diameter as these PVC pipes I plan to use on the final version
you make it seem as if the cable is one length that goes from one end of the table, around the rollers, to the other end of the table. I don't believe that's the actual case. It seems like you have cables on each side that keep the roller in line with the table and figure 8s on each side of the table going around both rollers and inside of the cables on each table side. Amiright??@@newearthclaypottery
yes it works well; not as precise as I imagine the final welded metal with metal rollers will work.. but it suite me for the amount and size of slab work I do
@@newearthclaypottery I am thinking of making one! copying the idea of 2 pvc pipes, filling it with concrete to make sold . Attach both of them to the same side holders. Make the lower one as a drive by adding handle to the side. While The upper piper will move up and down for variable thickness!! What do you think?
@@mibrahi05 well a crank on lower (possibly smaller one for more 'leverage') roller seems like a good idea.. but it's easier to just change thickness by lowering and raising the bed than trying to create a rising upper roller. I wish you success
