While we are on the subject, does anyone know if a pasta maker can
be used as a rolling mill if you only need it to texture metal?
Janet, Phila.
No, it dosen’t really work. It works just a little if it’s really
think metal. I’d suggest: buy a hydraulic press instead and
impress textures; or texture Precious Metal Clay in the Pasta
Maker/by hand.
-Elaine
Hi Janet,
Someone posed this question, here or elsewhere, a while back. The
consensus was that a pasta maker would probably break trying to
generate the pressure necessary for roll printing. The mechanism
holding the rollers in place on a pasta maker are not made to
withstand the stress that roll printing would generate.
I don’t know that anyone in the conversation had ever tried it, I
believe it was just a hypothetical discussion (much like this?).
Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
http://www.sebaste.com
While we are on the subject, does anyone know if a pasta maker can be used as a rolling mill if you only need it to texture metal?
I don’t think so . . . pasta makers work well with clay, therefore
I will have to assume that they aren’t strong enough to work with
sterling . . . GREAT thought, though. I use a “paper cutter”
instead of bench shears.
I purchased an inexpensive (relatively speaking, under $300.00)
rolling mill . . . it came with three other rollers (two different
patterns on two rollers - one plain and one that could be used for
half round wire.) I like it. I haven’t used it much, but it has
worked very nicely so far.
Good luck!
Yes, for about 4 rolls then it has a permenant dent and all of
your pasta after that time will come out lumpy!!! Been there,
ruined that…
Joy in a flora Illinois
Hmmm. I was wondering the same thing myself. I guess I’ll have to
spring for the rolling machine then – anyone know which one is
best, and about how much $$ we’re talking?
thanks,
Wanda
SInce the general consensus is that pasta makers make rotten
rolling mills I’ve been looking for the real thing. There is an ad
in the current issue of Lapidary Journal for Karat Mini Rolling
Mill from Arjan Enterprises for $199.00 with a flat roller, $225.
for wire and flat, and $245. for flat, shallow half rounds and
pattern. It has a built in reduction gear with 4:1 ratio. Has
anyone heard of this company? Bought any of these products? This
deal sounds too good to be true…anybody know if it is?
Janet in Philly
Arjan Enterprises for $199.00 with a flat roller, $225. for wire and flat, and $245. for flat, shallow half rounds and pattern. It has a built in reduction gear with 4:1 ratio. Has anyone heard of this company? Bought any of these products? This deal sounds too good to be true
The old attage is “if it sounds too good to be true it probably
is.” My Durston mini mill cost $400, 4 years ago with single gear
reduction. Be careful.
Hi Janet,
There is an ad in the current issue of Lapidary Journal for Karat Mini Rolling Mill from Arjan Enterprises for $199.00 with a flat roller, $225. for wire and flat, and $245. for flat, shallow half rounds and pattern. It has a built in reduction gear with 4:1 ratio. Has anyone heard of this company? Bought any of these products?
I bought one of these mills (Karat) about a year ago. They’re made
in India. The base & side plates are made from 22mm thick steel.
The rolls a re 42.5 mm in diameter. The bearings on the lower roll
are bronze. The upper roll is adjustable, up & down. Maximum roll
opening is aprox 5mm. The upper roll is gear driven by the lower
roll. All the gearing (4 to 1 reduction & upper roll) are exposed.
The rolls are ground, but do not hav e a high polish. The mounting
brackets for the 4 to 1 gear reduction system limit unobstructed
rolling of sheets to a maximum of 57 mm (2 1/4") wide. If y ou
plan to use it embose patterns on large pices of metal, these
mounting brackets could present a problem.
The mill I have has square, round & 1/2 round wire groves on each
side. T he center of the rolls can roll a flat strip 25.4 (1")
wide. I’ve heard ther e are a several different rolls, patterned,
flat & groved available for thi s mill. Supposedly they’re
changable by the customer.
The mill doesn’t have the beef or fine finish of the Italian mfgd
mills, but then the price is a l;ot less too. The base has 2 holes
drilled throu gh it for bolting the mill to a bench or stand. For
the amount of use I give it, it fills the bill. It’s done evrything
I’ve asked of it. If I had to do it over, I’d still buy it.
FWIW: I motorized mine, since some jobs require a 2nd pair of
hands, whic h I don’t have.
I bought mine from a dealer at a show, so I have no knowledge of
the deal er you referenced.
Dave
I believe Joe Stachura in Uxbridge Mass is now carrying a similar
one
I purchased the shallow half round and pattern mill and find it to
do what I want it to do! There is a 1 year warranty on it too!
Mine arrived with a broken handle- which was immediately replaced
with a new one.
Another too-good-to-be-true rolling mill offer comes from Treize
Ltd of Branchvilee, NJ 973-948-4157. $264.00 buys a complete mill
package. Does anybody have experience? Alan
I believe Joe Stachura in Uxbridge Mass is now carrying a similar
one
Russell
http://www.RussellsofCamden.com.3d.htm
Who is Joe and how can I reach him,
Janet in Phila., PA, USA
Who is Joe and how can I reach him,
JOSEPH P. STACHURA CO., INC. 435 Quaker Highway Rt 146A Uxbridge
MA 01569 1-508-278-6525
Allen: I owned one of these and I have a quick change kit.
Charles Lewton-Brain knows of this mill a recommended it . It is
made in India. Its not a cadillac model but it is well made and
works well. Comes with 3 different rollers that are easy to change
with the quick change kit. Ron from Idaho
Another too-good-to-be-true rolling mill offer comes from Treize Ltd of Branchvilee, NJ 973-948-4157.
I bought this mill from Treize. This is the same company Charles
Lewton-Brain mentioned (maybe a year ago) that is run by a former
student of his. I believe it is the same thing as the $245 Karat
mill, as can be seen in this month’s Lapidary Journal.
This mill comes with three extra rollers, and Treize has developed
a “quick change” kit for about $10 that supposedly make changing
rollers a breeze.
I haven’t used the mill much, but it has certainly been adequate
for what I’ve thrown at it! At the time, the company only
accepted money orders, but was fine to work with beside that.
FWIW,
Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
Another too-good-to-be-true rolling mill offer comes from Treize Ltd of Branchvilee, NJ 973-948-4157. $264.00 buys a complete mill package. Does anybody have experience?
Hi Alan, I tried to buy the pattern mill from them, but they no
longer had it. They do have a flat/wire mill (with covered gears.)
Which would be fine if that were all I would be using it for. But,
I really wanted (and got) the pattern mill (elsewhere).
Now, I’m wondering, are there really more pattern wheels
available???