Israel Shmueli on thu 16 jan 03
I own 3" Venco deairing pugmill about 10 years.
I had problems from the beginning to de air softer clay bodies.
The machine worked well only with too stiff (to my taste) clay.
As a thrower I prefer to work with soft clay.
The clay that was at my preferable working consistency simply extruded
itself into the vacuum chamber and blocked the opening that connect the
vacuum chamber to the machine body. Without air (or vacuum) flow the
machine worked much slower, clay had air pockets in it, and plasticity
sometimes broke. I made many experiments including enlarging the opening
between vacuum chamber and machine body (was disastrous).
Today I use it with out inner screen and without vacuum pump as non de
airing pug. Mainly to soften factory prepared clay and as recycling aid.
As non-deairing pug mill the machine works really nice but little slow.
Do any of you, ClayArters, also faced similar problem with your Venco
pugmill?
Does bluebird pugmills handles soft clay better?
Israel Shmueli
bpottery@netvision.net.il
http://www.botzpottery.co.il
Martin Howard on fri 17 jan 03
When the soft clay goes up into the vacuum chamber, just switch off, close
the de-airing tube, the key switch just next to the vacuum chamber, and then
switch it back on. It automatically creates a hole for the vacuum to work
through the extruded clay. You can see what is happening from the reading on
the dial.
Once in a while, remove the clogging clay.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 2nd January 2003
Lorraine Pierce on fri 17 jan 03
Hello Israel, because of rheumatiod arthritis I pug and use very soft clay
in my three inch Venco pug mill and have never had the problems you
describe. If the pugs are to be stored for later use I wrap them in a
plastic skin like Saran wrap; if a pug dries out and becomes too stiff I
wrap a wet towel around it and it is OK the next day. You might consider
pugging it as soft as you can, then wrapping it in a wet towel to
recondition it to your liking. Do others find this a problem with your
Venco...that the clay is too hard for most users? Or is the problem unique
to you? Lori Pierce in New Port Richey, Fl.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Israel Shmueli"
To:
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 6:30 PM
Subject: Venco pugmill problems
> I own 3" Venco deairing pugmill about 10 years.
> I had problems from the beginning to de air softer clay bodies.
> The machine worked well only with too stiff (to my taste) clay.
> As a thrower I prefer to work with soft clay.
> The clay that was at my preferable working consistency simply extruded
> itself into the vacuum chamber and blocked the opening that connect the
> vacuum chamber to the machine body. Without air (or vacuum) flow the
> machine worked much slower, clay had air pockets in it, and plasticity
> sometimes broke. I made many experiments including enlarging the opening
> between vacuum chamber and machine body (was disastrous).
> Today I use it with out inner screen and without vacuum pump as non de
> airing pug. Mainly to soften factory prepared clay and as recycling aid.
> As non-deairing pug mill the machine works really nice but little slow.
>
> Do any of you, ClayArters, also faced similar problem with your Venco
> pugmill?
> Does bluebird pugmills handles soft clay better?
>
>
> Israel Shmueli
> bpottery@netvision.net.il
> http://www.botzpottery.co.il
>
>
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Kathi LeSueur on fri 17 jan 03
bpottery@NETVISION.NET.IL wrote:
>I own 3" Venco deairing pugmill about 10 years.
>I had problems from the beginning to de air softer clay bodies.....
> Do any of you, ClayArters, also faced similar problem with your Venco
>pugmill?
>Does bluebird pugmills handles soft clay better?>>
>
>
>I've owned a Bluebird pugmill since 1977. First a small studio model without a deairing option and now a Powerstar deairing that's about 15 years old. The 77' model is still in use at another potter's studio. I've never had a problem with the Powerstar. I pug all consistancies of clay from very firm for slab to extremely moist. Never a problem. If this is a problem consistant with Vencos it would be just one more reason to go with the Bluebird.
>
Kathi
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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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