vince pitelka on thu 23 nov 00
> I'm looking for
> information about how to prepare my pug mill for an unheated, cold climate
> winter. My pug mill happens to be a Peter Pugger, although I believe the
> information should be the same for most pug mills.
Bonnie -
If you want to prepare the mill for next season, clean it out. I would not
leave it full, because the clay will expand when it freezes and it could
crack the barrel. Expanding water creates extraordinary pressure, enough to
crack a cast-iron engine block. So at the least, turn on the mill and let
it pump out all the clay it can. Then it would be safe, but you's still
have to take it apart and clean it out before using it next spring. So the
most sensible option would be to clean it out now.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on thu 23 nov 00
Hi Everyone,
As the turkey cooks in the oven, filling the house with fabulous smells (for
those of us who are not vegetarians, that it ), I'm looking for
information about how to prepare my pug mill for an unheated, cold climate
winter. My pug mill happens to be a Peter Pugger, although I believe the
information should be the same for most pug mills.
Do I need to clean out the clay from the interior? All the clay? Most of the
clay?
My situation is that my pug mill is located in SW CO where it will live in
an unheated studio all winter, and I'd prefer not to have to remove all the
clay, unless it's absolutely necessary. I can remove most of the clay
reasonably easily, but don't relish the thought of having to clean it
completely. After I leave here in a week, I won't return until after
winter.
If someone wants to talk on the phone, I'd be happy to telephone.
Bonnie
Bonnie Hellman
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on fri 24 nov 00
Hi Vince,
Thanks so much for the reply. Unfortunately you've given me the answer I
didn't really want to hear . I pugged out as much clay as I could before
we left CO in September, but left the stuff in the nozzle. It was unusually
cold in early November (and the house was at 26 degrees F when we arrived)
so everything that hadn't been drained had frozen. I just got the Peter
Pugger this summer, so I didn't bring any unfrozen clay with me, knowing
that I had lots of clay here, and knowing that I could use the Pugger. After
the temp in the studio got up to the high 60's and I was REALLY ready to get
to clay, I not only found that the 25 lb blocks of clay were still frozen,
but the clay in the Pugger nozzle was still too cold to extrude out. I
debated getting the hair dryer over there, but instead removed the end
piece, and dug out some very stiff clay. Then the pugger started pugging.
I spoke to the people at the Peter Pugger company in CA (Carlos in
manufacturing) who said that he hasn't had any personal experienced, but he
understood that their Alaska customers would remove all but the clay that
lines the pugger's walls before leaving the machine in freezing
temperatures. AS you probably know, the de-airing Peter Pugger seals very
well, so there is no worry that clay will dry out, only that it is going to
freeze.
You're right that it would be easier to clean out the machine before I leave
than to do it after I get back. Since the last think I'm usually doing is a
bisque firing, I usually have time to clean up before I go.
Hope you enjoyed a good Thanksgiving. We did, with an excellent
unadulterated turkey and all the fixings, and the good company of one
daughter (the one who recently moved to Tucson), and 2 sets of friends, one
couple who live in the area, and another couple who own land next to us and
are hoping to build this coming summer.
Bonnie
----- Original Message -----
From: "vince pitelka"
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2000 9:04 PM
Subject: Re: Pugmills in Freezing Weather
> > I'm looking for
> > information about how to prepare my pug mill for an unheated, cold
climate
> > winter. My pug mill happens to be a Peter Pugger, although I believe the
> > information should be the same for most pug mills.
>
> Bonnie -
> If you want to prepare the mill for next season, clean it out. I would
not
> leave it full, because the clay will expand when it freezes and it could
> crack the barrel. Expanding water creates extraordinary pressure, enough
to
> crack a cast-iron engine block. So at the least, turn on the mill and let
> it pump out all the clay it can. Then it would be safe, but you's still
> have to take it apart and clean it out before using it next spring. So
the
> most sensible option would be to clean it out now.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
> 615/597-5376
> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> Appalachian Center for Crafts
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
michael wendt on sat 25 nov 00
Bonnie,
I'm sorry I didn't have time to reply before you did all that work. Far
easier than tearing the mill apart is wrapping just the barrel and nozzle in
electric heat tape (the kind found at the hardware store to prevent pipes
from freezing) if you have reliable electrical service to the building.
Next, get a large cardboard box like a washer or dryer comes in. Cut it down
until it fits tightly to the floor around your pugmill, tape up all gaps and
holes and you have freeze proofed your mill unless the power is off for
days.
Even though it is too late this year, try the idea now and check out the
temperature inside on the barrel by leaving a thermometer there. If it never
gets very cold, you have a solution which allows you to have clay all winter
for years to come without fear of freeze damage. For added thermal mass,
stack as many pugs of clay inside the box on the floor. They will act as a
thermal flywheel, evening out the temperature.
Regards,
Michael Wendt wendtpot@lewiston.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Saturday, November 25, 2000 4:43 AM
Subject: Pugmills in Freezing Weather
>Hi Vince,
>
>Thanks so much for the reply. Unfortunately you've given me the answer I
>didn't really want to hear . I pugged out as much clay as I could before
>we left CO in September, but left the stuff in the nozzle. It was unusually
>cold in early November (and the house was at 26 degrees F when we arrived)
>so everything that hadn't been drained had frozen. I just got the Peter
>Pugger this summer, so I didn't bring any unfrozen clay with me, knowing
>that I had lots of clay here, and knowing that I could use the Pugger.
After
>the temp in the studio got up to the high 60's and I was REALLY ready to
get
>to clay, I not only found that the 25 lb blocks of clay were still frozen,
>but the clay in the Pugger nozzle was still too cold to extrude out. I
>debated getting the hair dryer over there, but instead removed the end
>piece, and dug out some very stiff clay. Then the pugger started pugging.
>
>I spoke to the people at the Peter Pugger company in CA (Carlos in
>manufacturing) who said that he hasn't had any personal experienced, but he
>understood that their Alaska customers would remove all but the clay that
>lines the pugger's walls before leaving the machine in freezing
>temperatures. AS you probably know, the de-airing Peter Pugger seals very
>well, so there is no worry that clay will dry out, only that it is going to
>freeze.
>
>You're right that it would be easier to clean out the machine before I
leave
>than to do it after I get back. Since the last think I'm usually doing is a
>bisque firing, I usually have time to clean up before I go.
>
>Hope you enjoyed a good Thanksgiving. We did, with an excellent
>unadulterated turkey and all the fixings, and the good company of one
>daughter (the one who recently moved to Tucson), and 2 sets of friends, one
>couple who live in the area, and another couple who own land next to us and
>are hoping to build this coming summer.
>
>Bonnie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "vince pitelka"
>To:
>Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2000 9:04 PM
>Subject: Re: Pugmills in Freezing Weather
>
>
>> > I'm looking for
>> > information about how to prepare my pug mill for an unheated, cold
>climate
>> > winter. My pug mill happens to be a Peter Pugger, although I believe
the
>> > information should be the same for most pug mills.
>>
>> Bonnie -
>> If you want to prepare the mill for next season, clean it out. I would
>not
>> leave it full, because the clay will expand when it freezes and it could
>> crack the barrel. Expanding water creates extraordinary pressure, enough
>to
>> crack a cast-iron engine block. So at the least, turn on the mill and
let
>> it pump out all the clay it can. Then it would be safe, but you's still
>> have to take it apart and clean it out before using it next spring. So
>the
>> most sensible option would be to clean it out now.
>> Best wishes -
>> - Vince
>>
>> Vince Pitelka
>> Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
>> 615/597-5376
>> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
>> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
>> Appalachian Center for Crafts
>> Tennessee Technological University
>> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
>> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>>
>>
>___________________________________________________________________________
_
>__
>> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>>
>> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>>
>> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
>>
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
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