Jonathan Kaplan on sat 1 feb 97
While all the posts regarding pugmill comparisons are good and really show
users preferences and likes and dislikes, what is absent from this
discussion is the fact that no matter which manufacturer, brand, model you
prefer, the machine is only as good as the maintenance schedule and
procedures that you, as the user, do on a regular basis.
Example. I have a Bluebird 750 SV that I purchased in the late 1970's. This
machine is approximately 20 years old and still pugs and deairs clay like
it is new. I maintain all my equipment on a monthoy basis. Check the chain
tension and lubrication, check the oil level in teh gear reducer,
lubircate, if necessary, the bearings. I have rebuilt this machine probably
4-5 times with new bearings, chain, sprockets, vacuum rod, etc. The final
barrel end, was replaced last year for the first time due to excessive
pitting. I did replace the Speedair vacuum pump years ago with a rotary
carbon vane Gast pump that functions better at this altitude.
I see no reason why this machine will not last me another 20 or so years.
If you take care of your stuff, it will provide years of service for you.
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design Group Ltd./Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
jonathan@csn.net
(970) 879-9139*voice and fax
http://www.craftweb.com/org/jkaplan/cdg.shtml
Craig Martell on sun 2 feb 97
At 03:17 PM 2/1/97 EST, Jonathan Kaplan wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Example. I have a Bluebird 750 SV that I purchased in the late 1970's. This
>machine is approximately 20 years old and still pugs and deairs clay like
>it is new. I maintain all my equipment on a monthoy basis. Check the chain
>tension and lubrication, check the oil level in teh gear reducer,
>lubircate, if necessary, the bearings. I have rebuilt this machine probably
>4-5 times with new bearings, chain, sprockets, vacuum rod, etc. The final
>barrel end, was replaced last year for the first time due to excessive
>pitting. I did replace the Speedair vacuum pump years ago with a rotary
>carbon vane Gast pump that functions better at this altitude.
Jonathan: Pardon me if I'm missing something but this sounds like an
excessive amount of repair and maintenence even in a 20 yr period. Even
with good care and regular maintenence, you have had to rebuild your mill 4
to 5 times? Jeez! It's stories such as this that made me a bit
apprehensive about Bluebirds. I bought a 4" Venco mill in 1980. It has
been in constant use since then by 2 potters in the same studio. I mix my
own body and my partner uses commercial clays. We clean it every 6 months,
change the gear reducer oil and Vac. pump oil regularly and grease the "o"
rings. That's it, no break downs and no rebuilds in over 16 yrs.
I don't mean to badmouth Bluebird and I have nothing at all against them. I
owned a Bluebird claymixer for a couple of years and was glad to see it go.
The engineering was less than I would have hoped for, and it was underpowered.
I am no longer and agent for Venco mills and have absolutely nothing to gain
by giving their products favorable reviews, as if I had any credibility
anyway! I purchased the mill that I own before I represented the company.
Regards, Craig Martell-Oregon
Jonathan Kaplan on mon 3 feb 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>At 03:17 PM 2/1/97 EST, Jonathan Kaplan wrote:
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>>Example. I have a Bluebird 750 SV that I purchased in the late 1970's. This
>>machine is approximately 20 years old and still pugs and deairs clay like
>>it is new. I maintain all my equipment on a monthoy basis. Check the chain
>>tension and lubrication, check the oil level in teh gear reducer,
>>lubircate, if necessary, the bearings. I have rebuilt this machine probably
>>4-5 times with new bearings, chain, sprockets, vacuum rod, etc. The final
>>barrel end, was replaced last year for the first time due to excessive
>>pitting. I did replace the Speedair vacuum pump years ago with a rotary
>>carbon vane Gast pump that functions better at this altitude.
>
>Jonathan: Pardon me if I'm missing something but this sounds like an
>excessive amount of repair and maintenence even in a 20 yr period. Even
>with good care and regular maintenence, you have had to rebuild your mill 4
>to 5 times? Jeez! It's stories such as this that made me a bit
>apprehensive about Bluebirds. I bought a 4" Venco mill in 1980. It has
>been in constant use since then by 2 potters in the same studio. I mix my
>own body and my partner uses commercial clays. We clean it every 6 months,
>change the gear reducer oil and Vac. pump oil regularly and grease the "o"
>rings. That's it, no break downs and no rebuilds in over 16 yrs.
>
>I don't mean to badmouth Bluebird and I have nothing at all against them. I
>owned a Bluebird claymixer for a couple of years and was glad to see it go.
>The engineering was less than I would have hoped for, and it was underpowered.
>
>I am no longer and agent for Venco mills and have absolutely nothing to gain
>by giving their products favorable reviews, as if I had any credibility
>anyway! I purchased the mill that I own before I represented the company.
>
>Regards, Craig Martell-Oregon
The early Bluebird mills had a very poor seal between the hopper and one of
the bearings. This needed constant attention. I think that at the time of
the rebuilds, I replaced all of the wearing drive components. I also think
that 4-5 times in 20 years is not bad, considering the heavy duty use of
these things. Clay is extremely abrasive and wears out the bearings when in
contact. Also, I think that the older blubirds, an in -line design, were
not particularly well designed. The newer ones with the cast barrels and
heavy duty drive systems are extremely durable and well designed.
If it were me and money were no object, I would purchase a small pre-pugger
and a drop box vacuum pug mill and then have a clay mixing system that both
mixes and pugs.
Remember, clay mixers are for mixing clay. Pug mills, while they can be
made to mix, the quality of the clay is quite poor when using these
machines as mixers. A pug is an indispensible machine for de-airing and
making the already mixed batch homogeneous.
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan
http://www.craftweb.com/org/jkaplan/cdg.shtml
(aka "Scooter)
jonathan@csn.net
Ceramic Design Group Ltd./Production Services Voice:
970-879-9139 POB 775112
FAXmodem: same
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80477, USA CALL before faxing
"Arrive on time, tell the truth, be a good listener, and don't
be too attatched to the results. Above all, maintain a sense of
humor!"
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