[scoobydoozie]

Does anyone know where I can buy a plaster mold to make a threaded neck for soap dispensers? I tried Axner on-line and couldn't find it.

Thanks!

[Marcia Selsor]

In his book Pioneer Pottery, Michael Cardew shows how to make threaded necks starting on p. 270.
Marcia

[Ben]

Are you looking to make clay threads that will thread onto the plastic soap pumps?

If so, I'm not sure that such a thing exists.

I'm not saying it couldn't be made, but due to the difference in claybodies, shrinkage rates, firing cycles, I'm not sure one could be made that would work for lots of people.
You might could make one for your own needs but the original would need to be made in a machine shop with computer controlled machines and could be cost prohibitive (depending on how many soap pumpers you make in a year).

Exactly why do you need threads on the clay?
I thought the soap pumps were two piece and you glued one fo the pieces to the clay. Isn't that how most folks do it?

[Mudslayer]

they come in 2 sizes, i have both if I can remember where I put them. If you want them I can send them to you, if you will pay the postage.... I don't use them anymore, they are a bit tricky to use, i just use the regular pumps and attach with e6000.



Margaret

[Mark C.]

Here they are
http://www.axner.com/collar-molds.aspx


MARK

[DallasGypsy]

I generally use the two piece set ... glue the collar to the ceramic piece and, when it's dry, screw on the pump top.

But, you can order molds in various sizes if you want to make your own screw top ... http://www.onedreamd...1f6b15ffe5939ea

[Mark C.]

After 30 some years of selling pottery you hear a lot of customer feed back. I lost count of dissatisfied customers who had their glue on collars with e-6000 come off from other potters. They also have brought in lotion bottles that where not glazed inside and the soap or lotion weeps thru the body-I always glaze the insides and never glue a collar on. Take the time to attach a threaded collar-Better products make for return customers.
Mark

[Mudslayer]

yes, you do need to glaze inside of the dispensers, but I can say after selling over 200 of these, i have only had 1 come back due to the glue coming undone, but this particular person was using a lotion so thick i was surprised it even came out of the dispenser in the first place.


I don't make these much anymore, there are so many really nice ones out there commercially, (I know, me bad) that I concentrate on other things, but I do have them all around my home....



if you can make the screw ons and put them on the dispenser really nicely, then yes that is the way to go. I just had a hard time doing that part for some reason.

[Mark C.]

Mudslayer
Keep in mind you only got one back but that does not represent all the failed ones of the 200 made
A few things to remember is you never know what the public will do with your work once you sell it-some may try to put peanut butter in the pumps.
The return rate on failed items is a small one at best as most do not bother tracking down the original seller or they bought at a gift shop and have no idea where it came from or whatever reason you never hear about it.
My customers always point out things with pottery they have gotten from (joe blow) that went south-or was not well made or whatever. I tend to listen and have never made pumps till I master making them right.
I buy the pumps in 1,000 lots and am now on my third batch so I have seen a few pumps go by in my day.
The glue is not a good solution when one can make a better functional pot to start with by putting threads on it. E-6000 holds better to glass or ceramic than plastic and over time will fail-thats just the way it is.
As a functional guy I want failure not to be what occurs with my products-I see it all the time in poorly made items -like pumps with corks they wear out right away-so why use corks?
Thats the same way I feel about glue on plastic .
As a potter making a living on the street having the public angry on failed pots does all of us potters a disservice overall.
I have explained why their pot/glue failed more times than I care to just like why the lotion unglazed they own is weeping.
Sorry but this point is a pet peeve with me.
If I can start someone making them RIGHT from the start its better for everyone,
Forget e-6000 and thread the tops its quick and easy and the right way to do it.
Mark

[OffCenter]

I saw Michael Cardew demostrate making threaded jars. Basically, he used a wooden tool to cut a grove on the inside of a short cylinder then cut the cylinder vertically and reattached it so that the bottom on one side was halfway up the other side. He also used a wooden tap and die set to make threaded jars but it was so long ago that I don't remember how he did it. Probably covered in his book that Marcia mentions above. The only molds I know of are the small ones mentioned above that are pretty useless unless you want to make those crappy-looking soap dispensers you see at unjuried sales. But, you could make your own molds using any size jar with a good but simple thread. The ones from Axner are made inside a slice of PVC pipe which is a great idea.

Jim

[Mark C.]

Jim
(crappy-looking soap dispensers you see at unjuried sales)

All my shows are juried ones and I sell soap dispensers at each of them???
Mark

[scoobydoozie]

Mark C., on 24 July 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:

Here they are
http://www.axner.com/collar-molds.aspx


MARK

Thanks, Mark! Searched on every word EXCEPT collar. LMAO!

[scoobydoozie]

DallasGypsy, on 24 July 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:

I generally use the two piece set ... glue the collar to the ceramic piece and, when it's dry, screw on the pump top.

But, you can order molds in various sizes if you want to make your own screw top ... http://www.onedreamd...1f6b15ffe5939ea

Oooh!! Awesome site. Thanks bunches!

[OffCenter]

Mark C., on 25 July 2012 - 02:51 AM, said:

Jim
(crappy-looking soap dispensers you see at unjuried sales)

All my shows are juried ones and I sell soap dispensers at each of them???
Mark

Sorry, Mark. I've just never seen any that in my not so humble opinion don't look crappy. But then I've never seen your soap dispensers so maybe they are the exception. How 'bout a picture?

Jim

[Mark C.]

Jim
Mine are just as crappy as all the rest off them as they are functional items in the utilitarian sense-ie they are made to hold and pump fluids-not a lot of room for artsy look- They are made to work and are priced to sell.
I make pots for people to use everyday not put on the mantle
Nothing wrong with mantle pots just not what I'm doing anymore (yes in art school mantle pieces where the goal to some)
I unload a small glaze fire today and I will shoot some photos and post tonight
Mark

[OffCenter]

Mark C., on 25 July 2012 - 02:13 PM, said:

Jim
Mine are just as crappy as all the rest off them as they are functional items in the utilitarian sense-ie they are made to hold and pump fluids-not a lot of room for artsy look- They are made to work and are priced to sell.
I make pots for people to use everyday not put on the mantle
Nothing wrong with mantle pots just not what I'm doing anymore (yes in art school mantle pieces where the goal to some)
I unload a small glaze fire today and I will shoot some photos and post tonight
Mark

Mark,

Don't mind me. I'm just still pissed off that I didn't get into this year's Strictly Functional so I'm not my usual charming self. I'm sure some soap dispensers look great. I think I'll get on Etsy and buy one.

Jim

[Old Mudder Hubbard]

scoobydoozie, on 24 July 2012 - 07:47 AM, said:

Does anyone know where I can buy a plaster mold to make a threaded neck for soap dispensers? I tried Axner on-line and couldn't find it.

Thanks!

[Mark C.]

http://www.axner.com/collar-molds.aspx

[Mark C.]

Jim
Sorry to hear about the show
Heres my crappy lotions-with threaded tops-You will not find them on Etsy or any of mine stuff there
These will be at The Juried Anacortes Art Festival In Wa. State in two weeks.
Mark

[OffCenter]

Mark C., on 25 July 2012 - 10:51 PM, said:

Jim
Sorry to hear about the show
Heres my crappy lotions-with threaded tops-You will not find them on Etsy or any of mine stuff there
These will be at The Juried Anacortes Art Festival In Wa. State in two weeks.
Mark

Nice glazing. It's the plastic pump that ruins them for me. I think I saw an ad somewhere (maybe Ceramics Monthly) for rather nice-looking brass pumps which would help some, but then they'd cost more and I'm sure you and your customers are happy with them just the way they are. Thanks for the picture. Why not Etsy?

Jim