Electric jerky gun?

[Vicki C]

Hi all, I make embeds for my soaps sometimes, using either the small 18 mm Makin style extruder or a large extruder I bought from Lisa at I Dream in Soap. The problem is, I avoid using the larger one because it hurts my hands. I’m 63, I think it is the beginning of arthritis, which is frustrating. Has anyone tried using an electric jerky gun for extruding soap dough? It seems like it could work…
For my little clay extruder I printed an adapter on my 3D printer that fits on to the end so I can use a drill. Like this.



The extruder handle fits into that slot at the end. It works really well and is much faster than winding by hand. The big extruder works differently, it has a trigger that I have to squeeze and requires a lot of force, and I’m getting to the point where I can’t do it.

 

[AliOop]

What a great idea! I will be honest, I only have a large jerky gun with the hand trigger, so I had to look up a Makin's clay extruder to follow what you were saying. So your little one looks like this? If so, it seems like using the drill with your attachment would be a great help. The larger electric jerky guns look fun, too.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Oh snap! The drill is a great idea to use with the extruder! Brilliant, @AliOop - I’m gonna try it!

Very creative solution, @Vicki C

 

[Vicki C]

Yes @AliOop that’s what I mean by the small extruder and yes I’ll never go back to twisting it by hand - it’s really quick and easy, and you can unwind it in a second too. You do have to have a gentle hand - the first time I used it I went too fast and ended up bending the handle slightly. It’s fine it’s just a little wonky so the embeds sort of wobble as they are being extruded. Oh and they are available for sale you don’t have to have a 3D printer.
So nobody has tried an electric jerky gun - I was thinking maybe @TashaBird? I might buy myself one and experiment this winter with it.

 

[Vicki C]

This looks like a possible solution

 

[MelissaG]

What a fascinating idea. Do you think this could work with other things too like piping? The bags hurt my hands.

 

[Vicki C]

What a fascinating idea. Do you think this could work with other things too like piping? The bags hurt my hands.

Ooo that’s a good point. Piping hurts my hands too. It probably would work, you’d just have to put it on a slow setting.

 

[Cindy D.]

I was thinking about making a smaller 3D printed tube insert to put inside my sausage maker and replacing the pushing disk with a smaller one that fits the tube.... To lower the pressure needed to extruder the soap dough, no clue if it'll work though.

 

[Vicki C]

I was thinking about making a smaller 3D printed tube insert to put inside my sausage maker and replacing the pushing disk with a smaller one that fits the tube.... To lower the pressure needed to extruder the soap dough, no clue if it'll work though.

Is your sausage maker like the jerky guns I have seen?
This is another option I am pondering, I could just make discs to fit - but they all have pretty bad reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Aut...cphy=9002306&hvtargid=pla-2272899105020&psc=1

 

[Cindy D.]

Interesting, it looks like it would only hold a piece of dough about 2"by 4-4.5".
Well it's a jerky maker...HK Jerky Gun Kits, Jerky Maker Gun, Beef Jerky Gun, 2.1LB Stainless Steel Sausage Stuffer Jerky Making Gun with 5 Stainless Nozzles, 2 Cleaning Brushes, 1 Stomper https://a.co/d/fJVvNEG

 

[Vicki C]

Interesting, it looks like it would only hold a piece of dough about 2"by 4-4.5".
Well it's a jerky maker...HK Jerky Gun Kits, Jerky Maker Gun, Beef Jerky Gun, 2.1LB Stainless Steel Sausage Stuffer Jerky Making Gun with 5 Stainless Nozzles, 2 Cleaning Brushes, 1 Stomper https://a.co/d/fJVvNEG

Ah, right - your jerky maker is the same mechanism as my soap dough extruder - my problem is that my hands can’t do that squeeze trigger any more. It’s an age thing I’m afraid. So I’m looking for a mechanical assist. Yes you’re right the pasta maker doesn’t hold very much. I also don’t think it would be strong enough. The caulk extruders look like the way to go.

 

[Soaper2024]

What volume are you doing?

Electric chinking guns hold up to 30oz. They are made for chinking log homes, so essentially caulking mixed with grit/sand.
Though they are expensive, the end comes off for easy filling like a regular jerky gun.
Xmas present?
Here is a commercial one...

 

[Vicki C]

Wow 30 ounces is a lot! These look similar to the 12v caulking guns I am checking out - is there a difference?

 

[justsomeguy]

What a fascinating idea. Do you think this could work with other things too like piping? The bags hurt my hands.

I got one of these when the piping bag failed me

 

[Soaper2024]

Chinking uses a LOT of product (filling large cracks between logs of a log house), so it's super sized in comparison to a caulking gun. An electric caulking gun would be more useful for icing on a med to large cake.

 

[Cindy D.]

Ah, right - your jerky maker is the same mechanism as my soap dough extruder - my problem is that my hands can’t do that squeeze trigger any more. It’s an age thing I’m afraid. So I’m looking for a mechanical assist. Yes you’re right the pasta maker doesn’t hold very much. I also don’t think it would be strong enough. The caulk extruders look like the way to go.

If I was any good with drawing 3d objects I'd make a new cover for the jerky maker with threads and threaded rod to go through it(or buy a piece of threaded rod) add a couple locking nuts or one with a cap so a drill can be used to turn the rod and push a disk. I probably didn't explain it very good, but basically make the pushing end like the small extruder.

 

[curlycoat2]

I got one of these when the piping bag failed me

weirdly I want one of these now! That looks like a great solution to me - fab find thanks for sharing!

 

[Vicki C]

If I was any good with drawing 3d objects I'd make a new cover for the jerky maker with threads and threaded rod to go through it(or buy a piece of threaded rod) add a couple locking nuts or one with a cap so a drill can be used to turn the rod and push a disk. I probably didn't explain it very good, but basically make the pushing end like the small extruder.

I love the idea - I think the electric caulking guns might be the way to go for me. Later this winter when things slow down! I’m sure someone has tried it.

 

[Vicki C]

I got one of these when the piping bag failed me

Those look interesting - I think soap dough would be too stiff for them and again the squeeze mechanism is too much for me.
Help. I can’t even open jars any more. As my mom (who is 100 years old) says “old age is not for sissies.”

 

[justsomeguy]

Those look interesting - I think soap dough would be too stiff for them and again the squeeze mechanism is too much for me.
Help. I can’t even open jars any more. As my mom (who is 100 years old) says “old age is not for sissies.”

Love that saying! My version ends in "for the weak"