Clay Extruder lifespan?

[epicycledesigns]

Hello all,
I put my clay extruder to good use through various things that I create, and within the last month I have had two screw mechanisms fail on me. I'm using the Makin's Professional extruder -- it's green.
The first one lasted me over a year, but this second one only lasted about a month before busting. Something is wrong in the top where the screw attaches to the extruder -- it is eating away at the threads and has completely jammed. The first one that stopped working will no longer push anything out of the extruder -- it spins fine, but it jams when it hits the clay in the extruder tube.

Any suggestions? Is this kind of a typical extruder lifespan? Is there a better one I could be using? Any tips to make the ones I have work again?
Thank you for all of your help.

[Former_Member]

Maybe you could try the sculpy clay exicuter at micheals?

[BlueTurtleCrafts]

if you use it a lot there is one at polymerclayexpress.com that looks awesome.
http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/clay_extruder.html
it's bigger and has a lot of dies.
I don't use mine much (I have the makins one and a walnut hollow brand one) but that seems like a really short time :(

[epicycledesigns]

Oh, now that's what I'm talking about! I wasn't quite expecting to spend that much on a replacement, but at the rate I'm going through them it looks like a GREAT choice!

[epicycledesigns]

Okay, guys, we've been through this before (obviously, since I'm digging up one of my old threads from AUGUST. . . yeesh), but I've gone through two more Makin's extruders since then, the last one busted on me today.
The screw mechanism is aluminum, and it completely jammed on me, I can't even get the top cap off of the barrel this time. I am going BATTY over these things. I use mine a lot, obviously, and recently hooked it up with a drill socket so that I don't have to hand crank out my clay anymore -- lifesaver (and extruder-breaker, apparently, but that was something I assumed going in).

I've tried the Walnut Hollow and the Makin's extruders. Both work fine for a while. If I have to, I'll just keep purchasing and throwing them away as they break, but I'd love an alternative! You guys have recommended the Artway extruder from PCE a few times, and it seemed too pricey, but at the rate I'm going through the cheap ones I'm about ready to jump on board.

Does anyone that has the artway extruder know if the metal disks from the walnut hollow/makin's extruder will fit them?

I'd hate to pay $6/disk for the fancy extruder disks when I have three or four (or maybe five?) sets of the metal disks from my makin's extruders that fit what I do amazingly well. From what I've seen on PCE, the disks available from artway are mostly for quilt blocks, when what I use most are basic geometric shapes in various sizes.

Thanks, guys. Eventually I'll find something that works for me and I'll come tell you all THAT instead of ranting about my extruders breaking all the time. ;)

[epicycledesigns]

Also, in regards to my previous post, has anyone here used the silver Makin's extruder designed for metal clay (this one: http://www.amazon.com/Makins-Professional-Ultimate-Clay-Extruder/dp/B004VY6PJG/)? It is made of stainless steel, which I think will solve my troubles, but it is smaller, and costs a bit more. I'll use it if I can keep from stripping out the aluminum ones every couple of months, though!