Apparatus and method for skinning articles

A skinning apparatus, comprising:

• an axial skinning manifold to apply a uniform cement skin to an outer peripheral surface of a porous ceramic, the axial skinning manifold comprising:
• a curved adaptive pipe comprising a length to flow cement in a circumferential direction, an inlet to accept cement at a first position of the length, and an adaptive opening along the length to emit cement,
• a land disposed along the length of the curved adaptive pipe comprising a land channel at the adaptive opening to accept the cement, the land channel extending from the adaptive opening to an inner circumference land opening to equilibrate cement pressure along the land opening and dispose the cement on the outer peripheral surface of the porous ceramic;
• and
• a source of motive force to controllably urge the porous ceramic into and through the axial skinning manifold,
• wherein the land channel comprises a first thickness constant from the adaptive opening to the inner circumference land opening proximate the first position and a second thickness constant from the adaptive opening to the inner circumference land opening greater than the first thickness at a second position circumferentially spaced apart from the first position.