Robin Wolf on sun 27 nov 11
After asking for and receiving a great batch of advice & information from
Clayarters on my choice for a new pugmill, I am pleased to announce the
delivery of my Peter Pugger VPM-9, Stainless Steel. She is a robust piece
of equipment, and required the studio be cleaned up and re-organized to
accommodate her size. I did build a solid work stand for her, and attached
heavy duty locking casters so that PP can be moved if needed. Setting her
up went off with no hitches, partly because I actually took the time to sit
down and read all of the instructions.
I have ran about 100 lbs of clay through her so far, the first batch I mixe=
d
& pugged was very stiff B-mix trimmings, the rest have been bone dry B-mix
trimmings. After a couple of hours of trial and error, I was happy with th=
e
consistency and feel of the pugged clay. My next batch will be scraps &
trimmings that have set outside in barrels for up to 3 years. I will let
you know how that turns out.
All in all, I am very happy with my purchase. I had enough scrap clay save=
d
up to offset about 25 percent of the cost of the machine, so that makes the
money spent more palatable. Spending this class of money is a huge step fo=
r
any potter, but I know that the savings in wasted clay, the extended
longevity of my hands and elbows, and the improvement of my work due to not
thinking that saving three dollars worth of clay outweighs the quality of
work produced. We've all been guilty of "I can make this work" when a piec=
e
is less than acceptable. With the pug mill, I no longer even consider
"making it work". If the piece is not great when it comes off the wheel, i=
t
goes straight to the Peter Pugger.
Robin Wolf
Robin Wolf Pottery
Kingfisher, OK
405.368.0919
www.robinwolfpottery.com
"We are the ones, the ones that we're waiting for." - Melissa Ethridge
Patty Kaliher on sun 27 nov 11
Time to tell my Peter Pugger saga of a Pugmill in Paradise.
1. At NCECA in Phoenix in 2009, my husband got excited about extruding. I
wanted a pug mill but had a hard time justifying the expense, I'm a
hobbyist. I showed him the Peter Pugger, they were extruding with it at th=
e
booth and made the sale vpm-9.
It did not arrive until July or August and we did not use it to recycle my
porcelain until October. Left the residual in the barrel as they
recommended in their adds. I saw notes on the web about corroding barrels
but hoped my porcelain would be an exception. In February of 2010 we put
another batch of recycled porcelain through the pug mill and it was a mess.
Full of little metallic bits. My husband dismantled the pug mill and found
the interior of the barrel was pitted.
2. At NCECA in Philadelphia, we talked to Peter Pugger and they said we
could exchange for one with an epoxy coated barrel or pay the difference in
price and get the stainless steel. We opted for a stainless steel
replacement. They said they would be able to send us a new stainless barre=
l
and we could return the aluminum barrel to them.
The months went by, they had to find a new supplier for the stainless
barrels, more months went by, the barrels they had received were all
rusting. More months, they had to find a new supplier, etc, etc. In
February of 2011 they were ready to ship. But now do to new engineering,
the new barrel would not fit our model. We could bring in our 18 month old
pugger and get a new stainless model and pay the difference in price. But
we live in Hawaii, can't just drive to their factory. So Peter Pugger
suggested that they try to sell our old model in Hawaii. They came up with
a fair price for the used pitted model that will do an excellent job with
stoneware and advertised it on their website. We agreed to give it until
the next NCECA. I called and e-mailed every potter I knew on Kauai giving
them the full story, but doubted it would sell. Then the week before we
left for NCECA, I got a call. The man had heard of the pugmill from a
potter at a local craft fair. He was a little skeptical until he realized
that we knew each other and he and my husband are both officers of the
woodturners association. He called Peter Pugger and made the deal. Said h=
e
did not have time to come look and it and did not need to see it before
buying as he trusted us. He would pick it up after we got back from Tampa.
3. At NCECA in Tampa we did the paper work for the new pugmill with
stainless barrel paying only the difference in price between the aluminum
and stainless models (plus shipping always an expense for Hawaii residents)=
.
We were told that the epoxy resin coated barrels developed peeling epoxy an=
d
were not longer being sold. Once again it was several months before the
pugmill arrived and in the interim, Ray and Diane made the long (for them)
day trip from the other end of the island to pick up the aluminum model.
I've recycled twice in the past 5 months and John has been extruding
stoneware with it since my last usage. I'm throwing with a much softer bod=
y
than I learned with but it is also easier on my wrists. The extruded clay
is easier to handle than 25 pound blocks. I'm happy with my vpm-9 and feel
that Peter Pugger treated me fairly. Then again here in Hawaii we have
learned patience when it comes to shipping etc.
4. At NCECA in Seattle, I hope to see all of you.
Patty Kaliher
Steve Mills on mon 28 nov 11
Dear Robin
On behalf of Equipment Retailers everywhere THANK YOU for setting an exampl=
e=3D
and reading the instructions FIRST.=3D20
It makes the whole thing easier for BOTH of us; Customer and Retailer.=3D20
(You'd be amazed how many don't, and guess who they blame when it goes wron=
g=3D
)
:-)
Steve M=3D20
Retired Materials and Equipment Supplier!
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my Ipod touch
On 27 Nov 2011, at 20:10, Robin Wolf wrote:
> After asking for and receiving a great batch of advice & information from
> Clayarters on my choice for a new pugmill, I am pleased to announce the
> delivery of my Peter Pugger VPM-9, Stainless Steel. She is a robust piec=
e=3D
> of equipment, and required the studio be cleaned up and re-organized to
> accommodate her size. I did build a solid work stand for her, and attach=
e=3D
d
> heavy duty locking casters so that PP can be moved if needed. Setting h=
e=3D
r
> up went off with no hitches, partly because I actually took the time to s=
i=3D
t
> down and read all of the instructions.
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> I have ran about 100 lbs of clay through her so far, the first batch I mi=
x=3D
ed
> & pugged was very stiff B-mix trimmings, the rest have been bone dry B-mi=
x=3D
> trimmings. After a couple of hours of trial and error, I was happy with =
t=3D
he
> consistency and feel of the pugged clay. My next batch will be scraps &
> trimmings that have set outside in barrels for up to 3 years. I will let
> you know how that turns out.
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> All in all, I am very happy with my purchase. I had enough scrap clay sa=
v=3D
ed
> up to offset about 25 percent of the cost of the machine, so that makes t=
h=3D
e
> money spent more palatable. Spending this class of money is a huge step =
f=3D
or
> any potter, but I know that the savings in wasted clay, the extended
> longevity of my hands and elbows, and the improvement of my work due to n=
o=3D
t
> thinking that saving three dollars worth of clay outweighs the quality of
> work produced. We've all been guilty of "I can make this work" when a pi=
e=3D
ce
> is less than acceptable. With the pug mill, I no longer even consider
> "making it work". If the piece is not great when it comes off the wheel,=
i=3D
t
> goes straight to the Peter Pugger.
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> Robin Wolf
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> Robin Wolf Pottery
>=3D20
> Kingfisher, OK
>=3D20
> 405.368.0919
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> www.robinwolfpottery.com >=3D
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> "We are the ones, the ones that we're waiting for." - Melissa Ethridge
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