this is how I feel with my basic Makins clay extruder - I haven't got the strength to push the clay through and have to rely on my husband doing this part of the design.

If money was no object which clay extruder would you go for and why? 

Many thanks

Lunes 

I like the metal Makins extruder. never tried any other though, sorry... 

Do I understand that the one you currently have is the kind where you push the plunger with your thumb, as though you were using a hypodermic needle?  If so, get a different one.

There is a green one from Makins which has a twist-bar across the top and it's not too pricey.  You rotate the bar and it causes the barrel to move down through the extruder quite easily and smoothly.  Make sure you get the newer version which has a brass core down the middle to push the clay out.  I got mine at Michael's.  They are also available online.  There are also some extra attachments you can get that form tube beads with different sizes of holes down the middle.  I got those from The Clay Store online.  HTH.  

Yeah, if you have the plastic Makin's gun (with the disks that aren't flat and metal), you have the one that's intended for use with their very-soft air-dry clay.  You need the other gun (and disks)!

 There are various types and sizes of clay guns... IMO none are perfect, but depending on what you want to do with it and whether you have finger-hand-arm problems, among other factors such as size, there are different ones which could suit you better.

 If you want to read about all the types, and lots more about how to use them, clean  them, etc., check out this page:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/claygun.htm

 (If I had unlimited funds, I'd probably still go with my small plunger type guns as long as I could use them with my wood bellows as a pusher... that's the fastest way I found and the easiest on my body.  However, I'd still probably get an All Metal gun from Polymer Clay Express with the smaller barrel that can fit inside and loads of disks and play toys that can be bought for it.  If I didn't use it much, and didn't have physical problems, I might go for the metal Makins' one... don't know, have to think about it more).

 Diane B.

The plastic Makins extruder can't be used with polymer clay - at all.

 If money were no object, I'd get the extruder made by Polymer Clay Express.

I have a Makins pro (metal) extruder and it works great. I also have a small Kemper gun with a caulking gun pusher and that does me fine, too.
 

 Hello all and many thanks for your support & feedback. The one I have at the moment is a Makins one which you have to push down on - I juts can't push!

I am torn between the Makins pro witha screw / wind down turn and the Polymer Clay Express guns.....I intend to use it regularly for a variety of things too - so am happy to spend the money (I am when Hubby says go for it too - which he has!)

Many thanks

Lunes 

I have the Makins green metal one that you turn a handle to get the clay out. I love it and it's easy to use.

I have two of the metal extruders from Temper Tools, and I have actually only recently strated using them again. In one fo the MANY books I have, there was a detailed explanation of how to modify the extruder for use in a standard calking gun, involving a short length of PVC piping, a large metal washer, and some sort of rubber chair slider thingy (you know-- one of those things you put on the bottom of a chair leg to keep it from mucking up your floors). I was a bit dubious of the technique, but it really works. With a few cranks of the handle on the calking gun, you get a pretty smooth extrusion. Another thing I found was that wrapping the clay with waxed paper before adding to the barrel of the extruder, leave no clay in the barrel at all! No more cleanup! If I can remember, I will try and find out which book has the extruder modification, and pass that along.

(There are instructions for using a caulking gun as a clay gun pusher on the link I mentioned above, as well as for making and using a wood bellows type pusher ...that latter type is easier on fingers and hands and also extrudes clay more quickly, as well as being less bulky to have around, so it's my preference)

Diane B.

Lunes, trust me...I know your pain and my hulk of a man even has difficulty with the extruder I use....I actually dread using it but I need it for certain designs...I am going to shop around and check out some of the other extruders that others have mentioned here.

 Well I think I may have the answer with the current model. My husband has made me a wood press to sandwich the extruder between and as a consequence I can manage to push the clay out. It's great! I'll try and take a photo and post it here.