Kemper Mini Clay Extruder
I spent a cold snowy afternoon (isn’t it spring already?) in the garagio yesterday afternoon, constructing some porcelain boxes for the group show I’m in the end of this month. I had already measured, cut and mitered my slabs of clay the day before, and set the pieces up conveyor belt style in an attempt to be a little more efficient.
The construction of slab built work necessitates that one add a small coil of clay into each joint for strength and stability. After building 3 boxes in the last week, I finally remembered the Kemper mini clay extruder that was still unopened in one of my drawers after purchasing it a few years ago. Wow – what a time saver! The boxes are pretty small, and I can still manage to smooth out the coil with my pinky finger – but also found my favorite wooden tool that does the trick too.
As I made these, I thought that it would be way easier if I were able to slip cast these – but there’s something in me that enjoys the meditative quality of hand building. Well, at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it since I have no other choice at the moment.
After getting several estimates, an electrician is coming out today to wire a plug receptacle for my new kiln and to up the amps on the circuit breaker to my garage to accommodate it. Ouch – it ain’t cheap, but having a larger kiln will make me so much more productive (in theory). I know I waited awhile after receiving the kiln last month to hook it up, but there was still some question whether we were going to keep on living in this house or move. We’re staying at least another year, so I’m forking over the mullah.
With the electrician coming over, I will be finishing the work for the show on my kitchen table today. It will be a bit of a luxury working inside today with heat. 
Hopefully, I won’t be too distracted.
Have a great weekend,
~Cynthia
