The Venco Extruder: A Handle-Maker’s Best Friend
Let’s face it: pulling handles is an art — and not everyone loves it. Enter the Venco wall-mounted extruder, a quiet hero in the pottery studio. Whether you're making dozens of mugs or experimenting with new forms, the extruder helps you create clean, consistent handles in seconds.
A Venco extruder compresses and pushes clay through a shaped die to create consistent coils, handles, and slabs with minimal effort.
Here’s how to get the most out of this underrated piece of kit.
Step-by-Step: How to Use the Venco Extruder
1. Prepare Your Clay
Use fresh, well-kneaded clay.
Too dry and it’ll crack; too wet and it’ll sag. Think: plastic but firm.
A pugged batch works beautifully.
2. Choose and Attach a Die
For handles, select a handle-shaped die (oval, C-shape, or your custom design).
Bolt or screw it firmly in place — no wobbles allowed.
3. Load the Barrel
Roll your clay into a sausage and feed it into the barrel.
Pack it tightly with a wooden or rubber pusher to avoid air gaps.
4. Extrude
Push the lever slowly and evenly.
Support the extruding clay with your other hand to avoid bending.
Cut your handles to length with a wire or fettling knife.
5. Form and Dry
Gently bend the extruded strip into the desired handle shape.
Let them firm up on foam or a curved surface before attaching.
Cleaning the Extruder
Always clean out the barrel after use — especially in shared studios.
Remove the die
Use a wooden tool to scrape residual clay
Wipe with a damp cloth
Pro tip: a light oiling of the inside once in a while prevents stickiness.
Creative Tip: Not Just for Handles
You can also use the extruder for coil-building, textured strips, or even custom dies for sculptural elements. It’s a brilliant way to add consistency and speed to your builds.
