primalmommy on fri 21 jun 02
I know the archives are full of specific recommendations for peter
pugger and assorted clay mixers and such, but I was wondering if anyone
could offer advice for a specific situation. Our potter's guild is
thinking about buying a mixer (maybe a mixer/deairing combination). The
sticking point is that different potters are using, making, or more
typically reclaiming different kinds of clay. Is there a machine that is
relatively easy to clean? Is it really possible to have a machine that
can be used, first for an iron-rich or oxide-colored clay, and then
later for a white clay or porcelain? What if we got one for light clays
and one for dark?
I'm curious about what folks in similar situations have worked out.
Thanks... Kelly in Ohio
(Who thinks that the female version of hero should be "she-ro"... and
having spent a very long week moderating clayart once, I think Joyce is
a she-ro of the first order...
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Bruce Girrell on fri 21 jun 02
> Is there a machine that is relatively easy to clean?
I find the Peter Pugger relatively easy to clean, but what I consider
relatively easy, you may find heinous. To completely tear down the machine,
scrub each piece, and rebuild it takes me about two hours of solid work. A
quick cleanout, where I simply scrape the majority of the clay out takes me
about 45 minutes.
I say that the machine is relatively easy to clean because the bolts that
you have to remove are easily accessible, the parts with all the nooks and
crannies, such as the mixer blades, are completely removable, and there
aren't all that many pieces. Also, the Peter Pugger deairing mills are
completely sealed, so any leftover clay inside never dries out.
> Is it really possible to have a machine that
> can be used, first for an iron-rich or oxide-colored clay, and then
> later for a white clay or porcelain?
Just plain no. There is no machine that can do that without a thorough
cleaning.
What you want to do is schedule your mixing so that you mix porcelain first,
light stonewares next, darker clays next, and end with the terra cotta. In
between each type of clay you only have to get the majority of the previous
type cleaned out - maybe a 15 min job. When you get to the end of the cycle
and need to change from terra cotta back to porcelain then you have to strip
down the machine for a thorough cleaning.
> What if we got one for light clays
> and one for dark?
Then you'd spend twice as much money, use twice as much floor space, and
have twice as many machines to maintain, though you'd probably have to clean
them out less frequently. I'm not sure it's an even trade.
Bruce and Lynne Girrell
who are celebrating their seventh "first time we laid eyes on each other"
anniversary today
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