Susan Fox-Hirschmann on mon 8 sep 03
The Bluebird 440 is a wonderful piece of equipment....I have had mine since
1987 with very few repairs...and even better is the tech support they give you
at the factory. I believe it is NOT underpowered....as it pugs I think 350
lbs an hour, if you are non stop pugging, which you can really only do with
someone helping you.
That is plenty for me!
They help you thru "issues" like the last time that I replaced a part and it
still would not deair...and eVEN CALLED ME to see if it was working!
I would definitely recommend them without hesitation.
good luck!
Susan
Annandale, VA
Donn Buchfinck on mon 8 sep 03
I purchaced the shimpo add a vac pug mill and I am realy happy with it.
It comes apart easy so I can clean it for different clays.
it is small and compact, deairs quite well.
for procuction it does take awhile to pug some clay, but it is a small pug
mill not like the venco my studio mate uses.
Donn Buchfinck
Sherrill on mon 8 sep 03
I am also interested in buying a pugmill and would like to have some =
feedback. I have been considering the new small Bailey (it's such a good =
price) or the VPM20 Peter Pugger. I want to reclaim everything from =
slurry to greenware, add moisture to clay that is too dry, and want it =
deaired. To those of you that have a Peter Pugger, does it really =
function well as a mixer and a pugger? How does it do with deairing? The =
price of the Bailey is inviting, but I want to be sure I am purchasing =
something that is the most versatile and that is going to meet my needs =
now and in the future.=20
I would appreciate any information you can share with me.
Thanks!
Sherrill Eatherly
Paul B on mon 8 sep 03
That's a good question. They certainly are not overbuilt, that's for sure.
i have looked over the specs for all their mixers and pugmills and was
amazed at the tiny motors and even smaller vacuum pumps that they get by
with. But i have been using a 440 for almost two years now and, although it
is slow, it does the job. I am building a much more powerful machine right
now and the components will be far more heavy duty than anything found on
any of their machines, but at the time i bought the 440 i could not even
weld so i had no choice. Soon i plan to sell mine. But, anyway, i think the
440 does a reasonable job and i think they get by with that small motor
because the barrel is very small the the shaft rpm is quite slow, so it
really does not take much hp to do it. In fact, the 440 does not even have
a thermally protected switch so they must figure there is no way it will
get overloaded under normal use.
Paul B
Falmouth, ky
Vince Pitelka on mon 8 sep 03
Scott Ackerman wrote"
"I am interested in buying a small studio pugmill. I don't need it for
production reasons, I need it because my left wrist is yelling at me big
time and my Tai Chi isn't helping. I am looking at a Bluebird 440 primarily
because it is made here in Ft. Collins and I like to support local business.
I am a little concerned that maybe it is underpowered, it seems that a lot
of other small pugmills run on 220v. Any thoughts?"
Scott -
I think that the little Bluebird deairing pugmill is a real beauty. It will
serve you very well, and it is not at all underpowered. If you want a real
testimonial on this pugmill, contact your fellow Colorado citizen Jonathan
Kaplan in Steamboat Springs at jonathan@ceramicdesigngroup.net. He has one
and he loves it, and he is using it in very demanding high-production
circumstances.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
Norman van der Sluys on mon 8 sep 03
The Bluebird 440 is a perfectly serviceable machine for a small studio
situation. I used one for years and wish I still had one. If you
aren"t using several tons of clay a year, I'd go for it. It is a well
made little machine and the folks that make it are very helpful. Just
don't let it sit there and dry out between pugging sessions ;^)
Norman van der Sluys
Benona Pottery
Near the shore of Lake Michigan.
Scott Ackerman wrote:
>
> I am interested in buying a small studio pugmill. I don't need it for
> production reasons, I need it because my left wrist is yelling at me big
> time and my Tai Chi isn't helping. I am looking at a Bluebird 440 primarily
> because it is made here in Ft. Collins and I like to support local business.
> I am a little concerned that maybe it is underpowered, it seems that a lot
> of other small pugmills run on 220v. Any thoughts?
>
Louis Katz on mon 8 sep 03
We have had one in our school studio for 15 years or so (guess). The
vacuum pump just died.
The use is not as hard as it would be from one production potter, but
its held up well. It runs on its own 20 am circuit.
Louis
On Monday, September 8, 2003, at 09:43 AM, Scott Ackerman wrote:
> I am interested in buying a small studio pugmill. I don't need it for
> production reasons, I need it because my left wrist is yelling at me
> big
> time and my Tai Chi isn't helping. I am looking at a Bluebird 440
> primarily
> because it is made here in Ft. Collins and I like to support local
> business.
> I am a little concerned that maybe it is underpowered, it seems that a
> lot
> of other small pugmills run on 220v. Any thoughts?
>
> "Every improvement in the standard of work men do is followed swiftly
> and
> inevitably by an improvement in the men who do it" - William Morris
>
>
> Scott Ackerman
> 1133 Riverside
> Suite B
> Fort Collins, CO 80524
> 970-231-9035
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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.
>
David Hendley on mon 8 sep 03
The Bluebird 440 is a fine choice as a replacement for hand wedging.
The motor is small, but it has adequate power. The small size is
actually an asset in a small studio, and it is cheaper than larger
models. I've had mine for 5 years.
If I lived in Ft. Collins, I wouldn't consider any other brand.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
I am interested in buying a small studio pugmill. I don't need it for
production reasons, I need it because my left wrist is yelling at me big
time and my Tai Chi isn't helping. I am looking at a Bluebird 440 primarily
because it is made here in Ft. Collins and I like to support local business.
I am a little concerned that maybe it is underpowered, it seems that a lot
of other small pugmills run on 220v. Any thoughts?
Gene and Dolita Dohrman on mon 8 sep 03
Scott, Have you looked at the new small Bailey? It is going for less than
$2000 this month. I have no personal connection but I am taking a serious
look at it for my new studio. Dolita in Kentucky
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Ackerman
To:
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 10:43 AM
Subject: Buying a pugmill
I am interested in buying a small studio pugmill. I don't need it for
production reasons, I need it because my left wrist is yelling at me big
time and my Tai Chi isn't helping. I am looking at a Bluebird 440 primarily
because it is made here in Ft. Collins and I like to support local business.
I am a little concerned that maybe it is underpowered, it seems that a lot
of other small pugmills run on 220v. Any thoughts?
"Every improvement in the standard of work men do is followed swiftly and
inevitably by an improvement in the men who do it" - William Morris
Scott Ackerman
1133 Riverside
Suite B
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-231-9035
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
Scott Ackerman on mon 8 sep 03
I am interested in buying a small studio pugmill. I don't need it for
production reasons, I need it because my left wrist is yelling at me big
time and my Tai Chi isn't helping. I am looking at a Bluebird 440 =
primarily
because it is made here in Ft. Collins and I like to support local =
business.
I am a little concerned that maybe it is underpowered, it seems that a =
lot
of other small pugmills run on 220v. Any thoughts?
"Every improvement in the standard of work men do is followed swiftly =
and
inevitably by an improvement in the men who do it" - William Morris
=20
Scott Ackerman
1133 Riverside
Suite B
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-231-9035
Reg Wearley on tue 9 sep 03
Sherrill,
We have been using a Peter Pugger at Val Knight
Studio for well over 5 years now and recommend it
ever so highly. It does everything that you
mentioned that you wanted it to do.
--Reg
--- Sherrill wrote:
> I am also interested in buying a pugmill and
> would like to have some feedback. I have been
> considering the new small Bailey (it's such a
> good price) or the VPM20 Peter Pugger. I want
> to reclaim everything from slurry to greenware,
> add moisture to clay that is too dry, and want
> it deaired. To those of you that have a Peter
> Pugger, does it really function well as a mixer
> and a pugger? How does it do with deairing? The
> price of the Bailey is inviting, but I want to
> be sure I am purchasing something that is the
> most versatile and that is going to meet my
> needs now and in the future.
> I would appreciate any information you can
> share with me.
> Thanks!
> Sherrill Eatherly
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> 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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Tracy Wilson on thu 11 sep 03
I like my small de-airing bluebird. It needs a little maintenance every
few
years but the staff is helpful with info. I have to dry my slurry out on
plaster slabs if it's really wet but it has worked for my studio for the
last 8 years...
Tracy Wilson
Saltbox Pottery
4 Shaw Rd.
Woolwich, ME 04579
207-443-5586
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