LOWELL BAKER on wed 13 dec 00
I am the proud new caretaker of a Bluebird 800 de-airing pugmill. I
purchased this wonderful tool a few months ago and just took
delivery. The long wait was a killer, but well worth it. I have only
run a few hundreds pounds of clay through it but I can already say
the love affair has begun.
Clay comes out of the barrel faster than one person can catch it.
there are no bubbles and all of the student garbage is caught in the
screen. My students will continue to wedge their clay because I
think they need the time to feel the clay and think about the work,
but I may never wedge again. New clay works and feels like it is
months old.
This weekend while waiting for cones to fall I made several extruder
dies for the machine. Once again the performance was flawless. I
squirted out shapes by the yard having no Idea what I will do with
them. It was just fun to watch the ribbons of clay come from the
machine. I am changing my spring syllabus to take advantage of
these wonderful clean extrusions that fire out of the machine at
fifteen feet per minute.
I will keep you posted as time moves on but for now there is
absolutely no buyer's remorse.
W. Lowell Baker
The University of Alabama
Martin Howard on thu 14 dec 00
Lowell writes:-
continue to wedge their clay because I think they need the time to feel the
clay and think about the work,
but I may never wedge again.>
Yes, all garbage will collect behind the screen. So open it up at regular
intervals. The collection will remind you of things you never thought you
had lost :-)
But, why cause the students to wedge ad infinitum. I had 20 years of that
and it has ruined my thumb joints. Now I just pug BUT draw up and down 3
times on the wheel before throwing. Yes, teach students HOW to wedge, but
spare those joints for posterity, please.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
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