A slab roller is a tool used to flatten and stretch clay into uniform slabs of constant thickness. This tool is useful for techniques such as hand modeling, allowing to create smooth and flat bases for the pieces. Slab roller can be manual or automatic, and are designed with adjustable rollers that allow the thickness of the clay slabs to be controlled according to the needs of the project.
In addition to flattening the clay, slab roller facilitate the creation of uniform and precise shapes, which is especially useful in the production of large parts or production runs. Using a proper slab roller can improve the efficiency of the shaping process, reduce the time spent preparing the clay and ensure that fired parts are consistent in terms of thickness and texture. Slab rollers can also be used to combine different types of clay or to incorporate additional materials, such as fibers or decorative particles, into the clay mix.
Interesting Fact
The slab roller is used in the neriage technique, by passing layers of different colored clay through the slab roller, multi-colored slabs can be created which are then folded, cut or assembled to form marbled or geometric patterns.
Helpful Tip
To maximize the efficiency of a slab roller, make sure the clay is well kneaded and free of air bubbles before passing it through the rollers. Adjust the thickness of the rollers according to the type of piece you want to create and practice with different settings to find the one that best suits your needs.
