Big Blue Extruder

Big Blue Extruder

The North Star Big Blue Extruder does not look like or work like any others. It is designed to be simple and safe yet powerful. This model features a 6 x 6 x 12 inch aluminum barrel that holds a full 25 pound pug of clay and can produce extrusions up to 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 inches, without an expansion box.

Other notable features include:

With this extruder, there are no heavy bars or levers to injure head or feet, no hydraulic pumps or air compressors with their inherent hazards. Instead, it is entirely hand driven. Turning the large handle drives a compound rack-and-pinion gear box which dramatically reduces the force needed to make an extrusion. No more than thirty pounds of force at the handle is needed to make an average extrusion!

The barrel and die simply lift out as a unit (no tools required) so that cleaning, changing dies and loading can be done while you sit or stand comfortably at your work bench.

Wall mounted.

The WagonWheel Handle and compound gear drive make it possible for anyone to make large extrusions without the help of the local moose..

The WagonWheel Handle is held in place by a quick release pin. It is removed with a pull (again, no tools) so the handle can be quickly set aside whenever it is in the way.

Dies furnished with the Big Blue Extruder include: Hollow round, square and hex (all 4-1/2 inch OD with 5/16 inch walls), plus one blank die.

Solid construction is worry-free and almost no maintenance is required.

The barrel is heavy-wall aircraft-alloy aluminum and only UHMW, aluminum and stainless steel can contact the clay. The housing is made of powder-coated steel and stainless steel. All gears and the gearbox are solid steel which has been either powder-coated or plated.

Adapter available to use from North Star standard (4 inch) extruders.

More stock dies will be made available as demand arises, including larger versions of most shapes available for 4 inch extruder.

Ships via UPS in two cartons. Weight approximately 10 and 55 pounds.

Warranty: One year.

Only the extrusion shape of the dies are shown. The shape, dimensions and written information and the drawings herein ARE NOT TO SCALE.

All dies are made of machined 3/4 inch UHMW polyethylene. In general, the walls of extrusions 3-1/2 inches OD or less are 1/4 inch thick, while larger pieces have 5/16 inch walls.

BASIC DIE SETS
	This most basic die set of all has one hollow round, hollow hex and hollow square dies. This group is made in three sizes, large, medium and small. The large set, along with one blank die and a brace to hold the center part of hollow dies, is *included with every Big Blue Extruder.*
	Item No.	Description
	992	Large Basic Die Set: Round: 4-1/2" OD (Outside Diameter) hollow; Hex: 4-1/2" OD hollow; Square: 4-1/2" OD hollow This set includes Stainless Steel Center Brace.
	991	Medium Basic Die Set: Round: 3-1/2" OD hollow; Hex: 3-1/2" OD hollow; Square: 3-1/2" OD hollow
	990	Small Basic Die Set: Round: 2" OD hollow; Hex: 2" OD hollow; Square: 2" OD hollow

TEST TILE DIE SET
	This set comprises three hollow dies. The proportions are approximately the same.
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	993	Test Tile Die Set: Large die: 4" tall by 2-3/4" wide Medium die: 3" tall by 2" wide Small die: 2" tall by 1-1/2" wide	5 lbs

TRAY TILE DIE SET
	This set comprises three dies, the base dimensions of which are 4", 3" and 2". All walls in this set are 1/4" thick and all sides are 1" (because it is a simple matter to modify this dimension with a bit of metal or plastic and some duct tape). These are not> hollow dies.
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	994	Tray Tile Die Set: Large die: 4" tall by1" wide Medium die: 3" tall x 1" wide Small die: 2" tall by 1" wide	5 lbs

HALF ROUND DIE SET
	The three dies in this set are all hollows. The small one has 1/4" walls and the others have 5/16" walls. The dimension given below is the maximum OD measured horizontally in the die on the left. Note that the flat side is a bit below the center.
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	995	Half Round Tile Die Set: Large die: 4-1/2" OD Medium die: 3-1/2" OD Small die: 2-1/2" OD	5 lbs

OVAL TILE DIE SET
	These are all hollow dies. The minor diameter is half the major diameter. Walls of the smallest die are 1/4".
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	996	Oval Tile Die Set: Large die: 5" by 2-1/2" wide Medium die: 4" tall x 2" wide Small die: 3" tall by 1-1/2" wide	5 lbs

BLANK DIE SET
	Set of 3 blank dies. Fully machined exterior with sidewall grove and center detent for making your own solid dies.
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	980	Blank Die Set: Set of 3 blanks	5 lbs

SOLID COIL DIE SET
	The three dies in this set are NOT hollow dies. Each extrudes a simple solid round coil.
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	981	Solid Coil Die Set: Large die: 1-3/4" OD Medium die: 1-1/4" OD Small die: 3/4" OD	5 lbs

DIE ADAPTER
	Enables the use of North Star 4" extruder dies in the Big Blue Extruder. All 4" dies made since March, 1997 (with rounded corners) will work. Only in this way are dies interchangeable. Big Blue dies cannot be used in 4" extruders and dies from 4" extruders made by other manufacturers will not work in the Adapter without modification.
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	982	Die Adapter: Two pictures in the left column show the Die Adapter by itself and also with a 4" die and die brace.	5 lbs

BIG BLUE DIE BRACE
	Stainless Steel Center Brace
	Item No.	Description	Weight
	983	Center Die Brace (Required on all hollow dies)	1 lbs