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peter pugger questions (re: successful operation)

updated fri 30 dec 11

 

Shula on mon 26 dec 11


Dear Clay Pals -

I ordered the small Peter pugger at the Phoenix NCECA several years ago. I =
have never successfully used it and am wondering what I am doing wrong. Whe=
n I had problems with the pugger several years ago when I attempted to use =
it, I called the company, left a message, and never heard back from them.

Today I decided to give it another try. I have the small pugger in which I =
am not supposed to place more than 25 lbs of clay.
- How do I know if I have put in too much clay?
- Is it possible to put in too little clay?
- During my first attempt to use the pugger, I followed the directions abou=
t mixing, starting the vacuum, and then pugging, but nothing came out. I co=
uld see the clay almost at the edge of the opening, but the pug wouldn't co=
me out.
- Today I put in about 25 lbs of clay and mixed it. Since I have put mostly=
wet clay with a little dried clay, I am leaving it in the pugger over nigh=
t. However, when I look in the business end of the pugger, I don't see clay=
. Is that normal or does it mean that I don't have enough clay in the pugge=
r?
- When you mix, how long do you mix and at what speed?
- Any other hints, suggestions, experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Shula
Desert Hot Springs, California USA

Shula
Desert Hot Springs, California USA
www.claymystique.etsy.com

Birgit Wright on tue 27 dec 11


Hi Shula=3D2C I got a peter pugger about 5-6 years ago=3D2C before my studi=
o wa=3D
s ready. When I got around to useing it=3D2C the vacumn pump wouldn't work=
.=3D
When I called=3D2C( I'm in northern Ontario=3D2C Canada) they said sorry =
but =3D
they had sent the wrong pump=3D2C it was too small. So they shipped the ri=
gh=3D
t one at no charge.I would continue calling their 1-800 no. till they call =
=3D
back=3D2C nothing like being a squeeky wheel to get service. The other th=
in=3D
g to try=3D2C although it is a pain=3D2C is=3D2C if the clay has been in th=
ere fo=3D
r more than a year=3D2C is to clean it out=3D2C take the bolts off the bod=
y of=3D
the pugger and remove it from the motor=3D2C there are instructions with t=
he=3D
manual. If the clay in the neck of the pugger has hardened=3D2C it is rea=
ll=3D
y hard to get out.Happy New Years=3D2C Birgit Wright

> Date: Mon=3D2C 26 Dec 2011 20:37:32 -0800
> From: purplelama@EARTHLINK.NET
> Subject: Peter pugger questions (re: successful operation)
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>=3D20
> Dear Clay Pals -
>=3D20
> I ordered the small Peter pugger at the Phoenix NCECA several years ago. =
=3D
I have never successfully used it and am wondering what I am doing wrong. W=
=3D
hen I had problems with the pugger several years ago when I attempted to us=
=3D
e it=3D2C I called the company=3D2C left a message=3D2C and never heard bac=
k from=3D
them.
>=3D20
> Today I decided to give it another try. I have the small pugger in which =
=3D
I am not supposed to place more than 25 lbs of clay.
> - How do I know if I have put in too much clay?
> - Is it possible to put in too little clay?
> - During my first attempt to use the pugger=3D2C I followed the direction=
s =3D
about mixing=3D2C starting the vacuum=3D2C and then pugging=3D2C but nothin=
g came=3D
out. I could see the clay almost at the edge of the opening=3D2C but the p=
ug=3D
wouldn't come out.
> - Today I put in about 25 lbs of clay and mixed it. Since I have put most=
=3D
ly wet clay with a little dried clay=3D2C I am leaving it in the pugger ove=
r =3D
night. However=3D2C when I look in the business end of the pugger=3D2C I do=
n't =3D
see clay. Is that normal or does it mean that I don't have enough clay in t=
=3D
he pugger?
> - When you mix=3D2C how long do you mix and at what speed?
> - Any other hints=3D2C suggestions=3D2C experiences would be greatly appr=
ecia=3D
ted.
>=3D20
> Thanks
>=3D20
> Shula
> Desert Hot Springs=3D2C California USA
>=3D20
> Shula
> Desert Hot Springs=3D2C California USA
> www.claymystique.etsy.com
=3D

pe canupp on tue 27 dec 11


Hi Shula

I had the same problem with my pugmill. The problem was that I did not
initially add enough clay. I had to pug about 50 pounds before anything
came out of the barrel.

Good luck.
Phyllis Canupp
Virginia Beach
PCanPotter

On Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 12:23 PM, Birgit Wright wr=
ote:

> Hi Shula, I got a peter pugger about 5-6 years ago, before my studio was
> ready. When I got around to useing it, the vacumn pump wouldn't work .
> When I called,( I'm in northern Ontario, Canada) they said sorry but the=
y
> had sent the wrong pump, it was too small. So they shipped the right one
> at no charge.I would continue calling their 1-800 no. till they call back=
,
> nothing like being a squeeky wheel to get service. The other thing to
> try, although it is a pain, is, if the clay has been in there for more th=
an
> a year, is to clean it out, take the bolts off the body of the pugger an=
d
> remove it from the motor, there are instructions with the manual. If the
> clay in the neck of the pugger has hardened, it is really hard to get
> out.Happy New Years, Birgit Wright
>
> > Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:37:32 -0800
> > From: purplelama@EARTHLINK.NET
> > Subject: Peter pugger questions (re: successful operation)
> > To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> >
> > Dear Clay Pals -
> >
> > I ordered the small Peter pugger at the Phoenix NCECA several years ago=
.
> I have never successfully used it and am wondering what I am doing wrong.
> When I had problems with the pugger several years ago when I attempted to
> use it, I called the company, left a message, and never heard back from
> them.
> >
> > Today I decided to give it another try. I have the small pugger in whic=
h
> I am not supposed to place more than 25 lbs of clay.
> > - How do I know if I have put in too much clay?
> > - Is it possible to put in too little clay?
> > - During my first attempt to use the pugger, I followed the directions
> about mixing, starting the vacuum, and then pugging, but nothing came out=
.
> I could see the clay almost at the edge of the opening, but the pug
> wouldn't come out.
> > - Today I put in about 25 lbs of clay and mixed it. Since I have put
> mostly wet clay with a little dried clay, I am leaving it in the pugger
> over night. However, when I look in the business end of the pugger, I don=
't
> see clay. Is that normal or does it mean that I don't have enough clay in
> the pugger?
> > - When you mix, how long do you mix and at what speed?
> > - Any other hints, suggestions, experiences would be greatly appreciate=
d.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Shula
> > Desert Hot Springs, California USA
> >
> > Shula
> > Desert Hot Springs, California USA
> > www.claymystique.etsy.com
>
>



--

Paul Haigh on thu 29 dec 11


If there's too much water on the slug of clay then you may get "the
spins" or "spinnies" where the clay is not being mixed.

Too little clay means that it may not mix/expel properly.

There's a couple of good videos on youtube with people using the Peter
Pugger. These may help you identify if it's mixing properly. When you
open the hopper you can look at the clay and know if it's mixing. See
the images at about 1:40-1:55 in this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DlCwF8W85i48

There's also a pic at:
http://dirt-kickerpottery.blogspot.com/2011/03/getting-hang-of-pugging.html

Notice the grooves in the clay? That means that it's mixing. If it's
smooth and wet then you have the spins- add a little dry clay dust or
lumps of already mixed clay, mix, repeat, until you solve the spins.
Activating the vacuum may solve spins as well. Make sure that you don't
have clay around the hopper seal or the vac. chamber seal.

I find that if I have too much clay then it doesn't produce a clean
slug. You will get dialed in on this and love the VPM9 as much as I
love mine.

-pH
Wiley Hill