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pugmill q (vince)

updated wed 13 feb 02

 

Brian Molanphy on sun 10 feb 02


vince,

in discussing pugmill action, you wrote that you pug clay stiffer than
throwing or sculpting consistency. why? how do you wet it to throwing
consistency? with throwing slip on the wheelhead, or is there an
intermediate step?

brian

vince pitelka on sun 10 feb 02


> in discussing pugmill action, you wrote that you pug clay stiffer than
> throwing or sculpting consistency. why? how do you wet it to throwing
> consistency? with throwing slip on the wheelhead, or is there an
> intermediate step?

Brian -
Whenever I have clay around which has stiffened up a bit, and I want to
return it to plastic consistency, I run it through the pugmill, first
dipping it in slurry or water. I just break up the clay into chunks and dip
each one before tossing it in the hopper. If I have thick slurry on hand, I
use that, because it REALLY boosts the plasticity. If not, I just dip them
in water. Even if the clay is only slightly on the stiff side of ideal I
dip the chunks in water before pugging them, because the vacuum action on
the deairing mill always removes some water, and I always try to avoid
working with stiff clay.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/

L. P. Skeen on mon 11 feb 02


Even if the clay is only slightly on the stiff side of ideal I
> dip the chunks in water before pugging them, because the vacuum action on
the deairing mill always removes some water

Hey Vince,

My new VPM20 has a little tube thingy hanging off the back that has water in
it. I don't think the water was there when it was delivered. Is this bad?
Also, the little gold filter on the vacuum pump spits water when it's on. I
am not a machine type really, so don't know if these two things are bad.
Yes, I do have the little book that came with it, and have looked through it
for instructions on operation, but the tube thingy is not part of the
pugging process.

Thanks! :)

PS: your workshop is full and people are STILL calling to get in.....have
6+ on the wait list.

L

Tommy Humphries on mon 11 feb 02


Not Vince, but here goes

If the "little tube thingy" has a valve on the bottom open it to let the
water out...this is a dryer that acts like the ones on a compressor line. I
am assuming that this is on the line to the vacuum pump...right? if so and
the dryer is full of water then the excess water is getting to the pump and
being expelled from the outlet there.

If there is no valve on the bottom of the dryer, then give it a twist one
way or the other , and the body should separate allowing it to be emptied.

Tommy


----- Original Message -----
From: "L. P. Skeen"
To:
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 6:47 AM
Subject: Re: pugmill q (vince)


> Even if the clay is only slightly on the stiff side of ideal I
> > dip the chunks in water before pugging them, because the vacuum action
on
> the deairing mill always removes some water
>
> Hey Vince,
>
> My new VPM20 has a little tube thingy hanging off the back that has water
in
> it. I don't think the water was there when it was delivered. Is this
bad?
> Also, the little gold filter on the vacuum pump spits water when it's on.
I
> am not a machine type really, so don't know if these two things are bad.
> Yes, I do have the little book that came with it, and have looked through
it
> for instructions on operation, but the tube thingy is not part of the
> pugging process.
>
> Thanks! :)
>
> PS: your workshop is full and people are STILL calling to get in.....have
> 6+ on the wait list.
>
> L
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>

L. P. Skeen on mon 11 feb 02


o geez, this sounds like something I could easily break.......... Thanks;
will try it tomorrow.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tommy Humphries"
To:
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: pugmill q (vince)


> Not Vince, but here goes
>
> If the "little tube thingy" has a valve on the bottom open it to let the
> water out...this is a dryer that acts like the ones on a compressor line.
I
> am assuming that this is on the line to the vacuum pump...right? if so
and
> the dryer is full of water then the excess water is getting to the pump
and
> being expelled from the outlet there.
>
> If there is no valve on the bottom of the dryer, then give it a twist one
> way or the other , and the body should separate allowing it to be emptied.
>
> Tommy
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "L. P. Skeen"
> To:
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 6:47 AM
> Subject: Re: pugmill q (vince)
>
>
> > Even if the clay is only slightly on the stiff side of ideal I
> > > dip the chunks in water before pugging them, because the vacuum action
> on
> > the deairing mill always removes some water
> >
> > Hey Vince,
> >
> > My new VPM20 has a little tube thingy hanging off the back that has
water
> in
> > it. I don't think the water was there when it was delivered. Is this
> bad?
> > Also, the little gold filter on the vacuum pump spits water when it's
on.
> I
> > am not a machine type really, so don't know if these two things are bad.
> > Yes, I do have the little book that came with it, and have looked
through
> it
> > for instructions on operation, but the tube thingy is not part of the
> > pugging process.
> >
> > Thanks! :)
> >
> > PS: your workshop is full and people are STILL calling to get
in.....have
> > 6+ on the wait list.
> >
> > L
> >
> >
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> __
> > 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.
>

vince pitelka on mon 11 feb 02


> My new VPM20 has a little tube thingy hanging off the back that has water
in
> it. I don't think the water was there when it was delivered. Is this
bad?
> Also, the little gold filter on the vacuum pump spits water when it's on.
I
> am not a machine type really, so don't know if these two things are bad.
> Yes, I do have the little book that came with it, and have looked through
it
> for instructions on operation, but the tube thingy is not part of the
> pugging process.

Lisa -
This is something you should take up with the pugmill manufacturer. I do
not have any idea what the "thingy" is that you refer to. But your vacuum
pump should NOT be spitting water, because the water should never get in the
vacuum pump. It might be necessary to put in a water separator between the
pugmill and the vacuum pump, but you need to talk to the manufacturer about
it.
Good luck -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/

L. P. Skeen on tue 12 feb 02


o yuck. It'll prolly be something expensive as all hell to boot. :(
----- Original Message -----
From: "vince pitelka"
Subject: Re: pugmill q (vince)


> This is something you should take up with the pugmill manufacturer. I do
> not have any idea what the "thingy" is that you refer to. But your vacuum
> pump should NOT be spitting water, because the water should never get in
the
> vacuum pump. It might be necessary to put in a water separator between
the
> pugmill and the vacuum pump, but you need to talk to the manufacturer
about
> it.