tony nankervis on wed 31 jul 96
Just loved Jonathan's story about the many times repaired and re-parted
soldner mixer.
Reminds me of my dad's solemny told story about his faithful axe which he
has had for 50 years. 10 new handles and 2 new heads later he would never
part with that reliable old axe which hed owned since he was a young man.
Tony Nankervis
Ceramics Dept
Visual Arts
Southern Cross University
Lismore 2480 NSW Australia
---===Diane Mann===--- on thu 25 sep 97
Does anyone have a used mixer for sale or know of where to purchase
one? I prefer the Soldner, either size. Or does anyone know where to get a
used de-airing pugmill?
I have been recycling with the turbomixer attached to a drill. The
results seem so slow with the humidity we have been having recently. I dry
the clay on plaster and wallboard, but it has been taking two weeks to dry.
I am tired of the ordeal and ready to get on with a quick fix. I guess I
am ready to break down and buy something that will mix a bigger batch at
once.
Or if anyone has any other suggestions how to mix clay without the
expense of purchasing a mixer, please explain the process. We tried a
cement mixer but the clay just stuck to the sides and went round and round!
Thanks for the response.
Diane Mann
Yesterday is History; Tomorrow is a Mystery; Today is a gift that we call
the Present.
Martin Schiller on fri 26 sep 97
> Or if anyone has any other suggestions how to mix clay without the
>expense of purchasing a mixer, please explain the process. We tried a
>cement mixer but the clay just stuck to the sides and went round and round!
When I mixed my own clay I had a mortar mixer. I removed the paddles from
the blade frame, and if memory serves, I mixed about 200 to 300 lb
batches. The clay was at the consistency that I used for throwing.
Mortar mixers are mild steel and cast steel for the most part, and may
have been responsible for some iron spotting, but never enough to cause
me concern. Here in California where stucco is king, mortar mixers are
pretty widely available used. But new machines are not unreasonably
(under $2k) priced, and can be equipped with either electric or gasoline
engines.
Bob Hanlin on thu 2 oct 97
Diane:
I have a Soldner Studio Mixer for sale. It's not the new design it's the
original design.
It's in a shed just outside my back door. I mixed clay in it for a while
and then it was
used exclusively for adding dry ingredients to reclaim. It works great.
Concrete tub and
bars are all in great shape. I'd like $750 for it. The big problem is
that it takes two
men and a boy to move the bugger. I live in Oklahoma City and have no idea
what crating
would cost. But if you're interested I'll get with some local craters and
see what we're
looking at.
I don't use it anymore because I don't mix clay anymore. I'm getting older
and want to
expend my energy making and firing pots.
Bob Hanlin
(405)943-0768 Home/Studio
Oklahoma City, OK
At 06:52 AM 9/25/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Does anyone have a used mixer for sale or know of where to purchase
>one? I prefer the Soldner, either size. Or does anyone know where to get a
>used de-airing pugmill?
> I have been recycling with the turbomixer attached to a drill. The
>results seem so slow with the humidity we have been having recently. I dry
>the clay on plaster and wallboard, but it has been taking two weeks to dry.
>I am tired of the ordeal and ready to get on with a quick fix. I guess I
>am ready to break down and buy something that will mix a bigger batch at
>once.
> Or if anyone has any other suggestions how to mix clay without the
>expense of purchasing a mixer, please explain the process. We tried a
>cement mixer but the clay just stuck to the sides and went round and round!
> Thanks for the response.
> Diane Mann
>Yesterday is History; Tomorrow is a Mystery; Today is a gift that we call
>the Present.
>
>
B A HARPER on wed 4 mar 98
Hi everyone-
Just a funny note on a soldner mixer. We use one here at Northern
Arizona University, and the clay always pushed the lid up. Often we
would sit on the lid to keep it from shutting off. I thought this
was a little ridiculous, but I figured that maybe it was a design
flaw or something. Anyways, Soldner is here and some people were
complaining to him that the clay pushes the lid up. He walked into
the mixing room, turned on the mixer, and says, "Oh, the barrel's
turning the wrong way." Turns out that it was repaired a few years
back and someone wired the box backwards or something. So the point
is that the soldner mixer even works backwards . . . you just have to
sit on the lid !
Brian Harper
Flagstaff, AZ
Jonathan Kaplan on fri 23 apr 99
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am considering getting a Soldner mixer and would appreciate advice from
>anyone who has had experience with one. I need it mostly for recycling
>rather than mixing new clay.
>
>Susan - milkpot@juno.com
I have had a Soldner mixer(professional model) since 1975. We still use it
on a weekly basis for reclaim as well as mixing bodies.
I have replaced the chain twice, the jackshaft and bearings twice, and a
few years ago as the stainless steel blade had worn quite a distance from
the interior wall and bottom of the concrete tub, we removed it with a
Sawzall, repositioned it with an 1/8" gap, reweled it and it is still going
strong. We also replaced the capacitors in the motors once.
We have also sandblasted the frame and lid a while back and repainted it
with an epoxy paint.
The mixer is raised up off of the floor on 3 large 16" cinder blocks. This
way bending over to remove clay is eliminated.
This mixer has been a real work horse for 24 years. An undisputable testimonial.
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan, president
Ceramic Design Group LTd/Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
(970) 879-9139 voice and fax
http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign
Susan Fox on fri 23 apr 99
I am considering getting a Soldner mixer and would appreciate advice from
anyone who has had experience with one. I need it mostly for recycling
rather than mixing new clay.
Susan - milkpot@juno.com
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David Cuzick on sat 24 apr 99
I have a Soldner mixer and have used other brands as well (studio models). I
think that the Soldner is an excellent mixer for reclaiming clay, the best.
You will need bags of dry materials to add to the slurry to make a workable
clay. For cone 10 additions I add 2 parts goldart : 1 part ball clay : 2
parts fireclay and grog as needed.
You really need a pugmill to adequately prepare the clay for throwing.
David Cuzick
Rebecca Mott on sat 24 apr 99
Susan,
We purchased a Soldner mixer at our school a few years ago. (We had
problems with the concrete tub rubbing against the metal bar inside the
mixer.) At Soldner's they said two things: 1. to use it and the metal would
wear down and the problem would go away and/or 2. they gave me the number of
the contractor who made the concrete tub and told me to complain to him. I
did both and the weld broke on the inside metal bar and the contractor
ignored my multiple attempts to solve the problem. (Why I didn't demand
Soldner's to do this is beyond me.) Anyway, we rewelded the bar, so it is
fixed.
What I don't like about it using it for reclaim (and if anyone has
suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them) is that the clay must be quite soft
or it will just bunch up in front of the bar as the barrel moves and the
belt begins to slip. So I have to mix up fairly soft clay and generally put
it on plaster to make it workable. I've tried varying amounts of clay so I
know the problem isn't overloading.
Other people say they love them though.
Rebecca Mott
West Shore Comm. College
Scottville, Michigan
Vince Pitelka on sat 24 apr 99
>I am considering getting a Soldner mixer and would appreciate advice from
>anyone who has had experience with one. I need it mostly for recycling
>rather than mixing new clay.
>Susan - milkpot@juno.com
Susan -
You would need to be doing a GREAT DEAL of recycling to justify the cost of
a Soldner mixer. If you have a good pugmill, you can already recycle clay
very effectively. As I have stated before on this list, I love the Soldner
mixer. I think they are very fine machines, and I am a serious connoisseur
of machinery. But I do not like the small Soldner mixer, because of the
belt-drive to the mixing tub. The pro-model is near perfect, but it costs
$4000. If you are operating a serious cottage industry, recycling tons of
scrap every month, then perhaps you can justify this expense. Or if you
have money to burn, and you like fine machines, then you do not have to
worry about justifying it.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Louis on sun 25 apr 99
If your mixer has a motor with good thermal protection or is three phase, try
tightening the belts. On my mixer this is done with a turnbuckle arrangement.
The motor as you tighten the turnbuckle rotates around the tubing it is
attached to.
I have found that I can mix up clay way too stiff to wedge in our machine if I
keep the load size down.
Louis
--
Louis Katz, mailto: lkatz@falcon.tamucc.edu
The Island University
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)
Traditional Thai Pottery Video, Guide and Dictionary, Melted Man Productions
tgschs10 on sun 25 apr 99
Susan,
I purchased a soldner mixer about 3 years ago. Last year, I sold it and an
old blue bird pug mill and purchased a Peter Pugger. This is the best potter
purchased I ever made. The Peter Pugger is both a mixer and pugger. I can
put any consistency of clay into the mixer - wet or bone dry - add water or
more dry clay as needed and pug out de-aired clay. The mixer compartment
will take a whole bag of clay at a time instead of small balls. My
grandchildren, friends, and high school students that work in my studio can
now throw away and practice to their hearts content and it takes little work
to reclaim the clay for my use. I've virtually eliminated scrap buckets and
if somethings just not right, I throw it away without having to worry about
reworking the scraps. You have no idea how much time I've saved. Every
potter should have one. I've told people that if I were to have one piece of
equipment, I would take the Peter Pugger even over a wheel. I bought my
Peter Pugger from Axners [407-365-2600]. Where else? To satisfy the "truth
in e-mail" on this listserve, I should admit that I am an investor in
Axners. I have been a hobby potter for about 25 years and really don't
interfere with the day-to-day running of the business. I've hesistate to
give endorsements because of my connections with the business but I am
really enthusiastic about the Peter Pugger. Soldner's mixer and the smaller
blue bird pug mill work ok for their intended purposes and if that is what
is affordable, you'll find the soldner mixer very good mixing but it still
requires quite a bit of hard work. The blue bird pug that I previously owned
was very difficult to use because of its limited size and output; as a
matter of fact, I quit using it altogether. I do understand that they have
larger models that allow larger bunches of clay to be processed.
-----Original Message-----
From: Rebecca Mott
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Saturday, April 24, 1999 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: soldner mixer
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Susan,
We purchased a Soldner mixer at our school a few years ago. (We had
problems with the concrete tub rubbing against the metal bar inside the
mixer.) At Soldner's they said two things: 1. to use it and the metal would
wear down and the problem would go away and/or 2. they gave me the number of
the contractor who made the concrete tub and told me to complain to him. I
did both and the weld broke on the inside metal bar and the contractor
ignored my multiple attempts to solve the problem. (Why I didn't demand
Soldner's to do this is beyond me.) Anyway, we rewelded the bar, so it is
fixed.
What I don't like about it using it for reclaim (and if anyone has
suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them) is that the clay must be quite soft
or it will just bunch up in front of the bar as the barrel moves and the
belt begins to slip. So I have to mix up fairly soft clay and generally put
it on plaster to make it workable. I've tried varying amounts of clay so I
know the problem isn't overloading.
Other people say they love them though.
Rebecca Mott
West Shore Comm. College
Scottville, Michigan
Earl Brunner on tue 16 nov 99
We have a Soldner mixer at the art center where I work. Lately it
seems to not be able to handle quite as much clay. I tightened the
belts underneath, and lubed all the bearings while I had it on it's
side. The chain seems loose and I can't seem to find any way to tighten
it. Is this not possible? And if not, does that mean I need to be
getting a new chain and drive gear? The gear doesn't seem to be worn
excessively
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Louis H.. Katz on wed 17 nov 99
Hi Earl,
Look close at the bolts that hold the too bearings on the jack shaft to the
frame. You will see that they can be used in conjuntion with thier locking
nuts to adjust the distance between the jack shaft and the frame to tighten
or lossen the chain.
You may find that the bearings need replacing or that the chain is worn
out. If this is the case also replace the gear on the jack shaft.
Just did this all on our machine.
If the machine is just blowing the circuit breaker , it may be that the
breaker is old and defective.
Jack shaft; a shaft supported by bearings that is driven by a belt, chain,
or gear from the power source and in turn drives another shaft. Jack shafts
have two sizes of gears pulleys or belts and are used to reduce or increase
speed.
Louis
Earl Brunner wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> We have a Soldner mixer at the art center where I work. Lately it
> seems to not be able to handle quite as much clay. I tightened the
> belts underneath, and lubed all the bearings while I had it on it's
> side. The chain seems loose and I can't seem to find any way to tighten
> it. Is this not possible? And if not, does that mean I need to be
> getting a new chain and drive gear? The gear doesn't seem to be worn
> excessively
>
> --
> Earl Brunner
> http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
> mailto:bruec@anv.net
Curt Lacross on wed 17 nov 99
Hello Earl,
We just tightened our chain on our soldner mixer.There is a bolt which
you need to loosen before tightening the chain. I hope this helps.
Curt
Kenneth D. Westfall on wed 17 nov 99
You tighten the chain by adjusting the four bolts on the pillow block
bearings that support the small chain gear. You may have to remove the
housing guard to get into it. Not sure cause its been a long time. Don't
make the mistake by over tightening the chain like a belt there should be
some play in it.
At 06:23 PM 11/16/1999 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>We have a Soldner mixer at the art center where I work. Lately it
>seems to not be able to handle quite as much clay. I tightened the
>belts underneath, and lubed all the bearings while I had it on it's
>side. The chain seems loose and I can't seem to find any way to tighten
>it. Is this not possible? And if not, does that mean I need to be
>getting a new chain and drive gear? The gear doesn't seem to be worn
>excessively
>
>--
>Earl Brunner
>http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
>mailto:bruec@anv.net
>
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
Earl Brunner on mon 19 jun 00
There is a potter in the Las Vegas, Nv. area that asked me
if I knew where she could advertise a clay mixer for sell on
the internet. She was going to advertise in CM, but I told
her I would send it here first.
Soldner Mixer, mixes 75 lbs of clay at a time, great
condition. Can send digital image on request. available for
pickup in the Vegas area or will ship, buyer to pay the
shipping. I think she is asking $800.00
Billye Singer (702) 566-0055, leave a message.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Marta Matray Gloviczki on thu 9 sep 04
i just received the new clay times magazine,
and thought of the latest clayart discussion
about the soldner mixers ...
there is a nice ad in the magazine :-))
so, i would say the price is right!
soldner mixer ad - page 65
cheers from marta
(as arti used to say he-he-he.)
=====
marta matray gloviczki
rochester,mn
http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/marta/
http://users.skynet.be/russel.fouts/Marta.htm
http://www.silverhawk.com/crafts/gloviczki/welcome.html
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Nils Lou on fri 26 feb 10
turns clockwise as you look down upon it...
--of course, if you are underneath looking up
it would be counterclockwise. In any case, both are correct.
nils lou, professor of art
http://nilslou.blogspot.com
www.tinyurl.com/bpc5nm
503.883.2274
"Play is the essence of creativity", and
"What is not brought forward into consciousness....
we later call Fate", Carl Jung
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