David Hendley on wed 3 feb 99
At 03:13 PM 2/2/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Speaking of wedging, can anyone explain why a machine that is basically a
>motorized version of my grandmother's meat grinder costs so much? Forget the
>vacuum systems. What is there in a standard non-deairing pugmill that
>warrants the price that they bring?
Pugmills, and all equipment for potters, cost so much because
they are made in such low volume.
We are used to prices of consumer goods, where millions of the
same thing are made. The market for a potter's pugmill is minscule
in comparison. They are pretty much 'handmade'.
Consider a cast piece on a machine. It's a case of the first one
costing $5000, and every other one $50. The high initial cost
must be spread over very few machines. If cars were made on this
scale, a Ford Escort would be, I don't know, maybe $150,000?
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
Andrew Buck on thu 4 feb 99
I agree with David. Another analogy would be mugs. Try making a living
selling hand made mugs at K-Mart slip cast prices. Basicly, even though
there seem to be a lot of people playing with clay, we are still a small
market for specialized machinery such as pugmills. Add in the fact that
there are several manufacturers competing for sales in the small market.
Keeps everyone honest but cuts into the chances for expanded production
which might lower the cost.
Andy Buck
Raincreek Pottery
Port Orchard, Washington
On Wed, 3 Feb 1999, David Hendley wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> At 03:13 PM 2/2/99 EST, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Speaking of wedging, can anyone explain why a machine that is basically a
> >motorized version of my grandmother's meat grinder costs so much? Forget the
> >vacuum systems. What is there in a standard non-deairing pugmill that
> >warrants the price that they bring?
>
> Pugmills, and all equipment for potters, cost so much because
> they are made in such low volume.
> We are used to prices of consumer goods, where millions of the
> same thing are made. The market for a potter's pugmill is minscule
> in comparison. They are pretty much 'handmade'.
> Consider a cast piece on a machine. It's a case of the first one
> costing $5000, and every other one $50. The high initial cost
> must be spread over very few machines. If cars were made on this
> scale, a Ford Escort would be, I don't know, maybe $150,000?
>
> David Hendley
> Maydelle, Texas
> hendley@tyler.net
> http://www.farmpots.com
>
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