Karen B

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Joined:: 11-September 10
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Karen B student forever

Posts I've Made

In Topic: Another pug mill question(s)

Posted 3 Jun 2013

yedrow, on 01 June 2013 - 06:10 PM, said:
Great advice everyone. The one I use at work has hundreds of pounds of clay a day run through it. But the one I get for home will not be used for weeks at a time. I really appreciate the advice about putting a damp sponge on the end and keeping the chamber as empty as possible. That will prevent me from likely having had to learn that the hard way.

Joel.

Hi Joel,
I'm like "clay lover" and leave it full (Shimpo) with the rubber covers that come with.

Just wanted to add one tip. I do scrape down the square hopper at end of use for the day and found that a 4" plastic paint scraper fits perfectly.

(In case you use Porcelain, you can't leave it in an aluminum pug mill for any length of time.)

Karen
In Topic: My NEW Slab Roller

Posted 30 May 2013

Forgive me if you already know this, but I was instructed, when I got my slab roller, to soak the canvas (and dry it) before using to soften it up. That prevents it from forming permanent wrinkles if it should fold while rolling.

Yes, your pug is adorable!
In Topic: Pugmill shopping

Posted 30 May 2013

yedrow, on 29 May 2013 - 11:06 PM, said:
I will likely be purchasing a pugmill in the next few weeks. I've used a 3" Venco and like that machine, but it may be too pricy for me. I'm currently using a Bailey and I'm not a big fan, but it may just be set too high (my main complaint is the work it takes to pull the lever down). I've also used a small Bluebird and that isn't an option at all. The Peter Puggers look way over priced. I don't know anything about the Axner or the Shimpo. Does anyone have any recommendations or suggested bullet points to take into consideration?

Joel.

I bought a Shimpo 4 years ago and it serves me well with my stoneware clay. The handle to pull down on came facing where the clay came out. I found that having it placed in that direction did not have the best leverage, so I just easily unbolted it, rotated it and reattached so it faces the side.

I am thinking about purchasing an extrusion dye that attaches easily for coils.

When it was delivered, I had to hire a big strong man to pick it up (even unassembled) off the floor and put on my reinforced table. I was 51 at the time, and you may have a stronger physique.

If I had to do it over again, I would have spent the extra $$ and gotten the stainless steel version. I did not know at the time that porcelain gets aluminum stains from sitting in an aluminum chamber.
In Topic: Convince me...

Posted 28 Apr 2013

Peter Pugger = good marketing.
In Topic: Convince me...

Posted 23 Apr 2013
After 30+ years of potting, I inherited a few thousand.
- I bought a Bailey slab roller and a Shimpo pug mill.
- I pug the clay and cut it when it is the length of the slab rollers width.
- Place the long clay on the slab roller and pat down the side and roll.
- So much faster than doing by hand.
Random info: Had to hire a big guy to lift the pugmill onto my table as it's so heavy, even in pieces.