Millie on sat 11 oct 03
I need some help before I do damage to my bluebird pug mill. I have
not done any work in a little over three months. Since I didn't plan
this, I didn't clean it out and the clay that was in it is now bone
dry. should I take the bolts off the nozzle and chip the clay free?
If I do this can I damage the screen or some other part of it. or
should I pour water into the hopper in hopes of the moisture wicking
through the clay to soften it. or is the solution something fairly
simple. I am pretty sure that turning it on with dry clay in it would
not be in its best interest.
Millie in Md. trying to get it back together again.
Vince Pitelka on sun 12 oct 03
> should I take the bolts off the nozzle and chip the clay free?
> If I do this can I damage the screen or some other part of it. or
> should I pour water into the hopper in hopes of the moisture wicking
> through the clay to soften it. or is the solution something fairly
> simple. I am pretty sure that turning it on with dry clay in it would
> not be in its best interest.
Millie -
You are going to need to disassemble the entire barrel and remove all the
dry clay. If yours is like the other Bluebirds I have used, there is a row
of bolts down the side of the barrel which will allow you to remove the top
half. Is this the way yours is set up? If so, it is a fairly simple matter
to remove the upper half, giving you ready access to chip away the dry clay.
If you just poured water down the hopper, it would take months to soften the
clay enough to be able to pug it out of the machine. If you try to turn on
the machine when it is filled with dry clay, you will likely do serious
damage.
If the clay really has dried completely, it has also shrunk, and that should
make it easier to remove the barrel sections.
Good luck -
- 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/
dneese on sun 12 oct 03
Millie, my opinion is that it would be better to unbolt and clean everything
instead of trying other methods. Make sure it is unplugged. Take this time
to thoroughly clean everything and do some maintenance as recommended by the
manufacturer. If the pug mill is a de-airing model you may have to apply new
silicone gasket seal to prevent air leaks from occurring.
Then after the next working session, cover the nozzle by putting a damp
sponge in a plastic sack and twist tie it closed around the opening. If the
pug mill is not to be use for over several weeks then you can pour a cup of
water in the hopper, cover with a damp cloth and place a plastic bag over
the opening.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
San Antonio, Texas USA
Kenneth D. Westfall on mon 13 oct 03
>I suggest if your going the water down the pipe route the pour some down
>the vacume chamber too. I would look more into get the barrel open and
>cleaned out over waiting for the water to soak in. Half a turn of the
>shaft with dry clay could mean half the cost of a new pug mill when you
>damage the shaft.
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
kenneth@pinehillpottery.com
http://www.pinehillpottery.com
Millie on mon 13 oct 03
Vince, Lili and all the others.
the barrel is solid cast, not two pieces. the only thing that really
comes off is the nozzle that I can switch with one that I can use with
extruder dies. the dearing chamber appears to be
removable but I don't think that was what you meant.
So I think I will try Lili's cup of water but ever mindful os the time
that it will take to rehydrate evenly, I think I may wait more than
three days.
I had left it as is my habit with wet towels in the hopper, deairing
chamber and in the nozzle with those saran wrap shower caps and I know
now that it is good to leave it that way for at least 3 weeks, so if it
is going to be longer I need to get some one to water it once a month
or so.
this list is so wonderful, everytime I ask for information, there are
so many people willing to help.
Millie in Md wishing I had a persimmon tree like my neighbors did
when I was a kid in NC. They are so sweet after the first cold snap.
Then we would go after the hickory nuts with a hammer. it is a wonder
that no one lost an eye from the shells when they would finally break
open. these huge persimmons that they sell in the grocery store
don't have any taste.
On Monday, October 13, 2003, at 12:37 AM, Vince Pitelka wrote:
>
> Millie -
> You are going to need to disassemble the entire barrel and remove all
> the
> dry clay. If yours is like the other Bluebirds I have used, there is
> a row
> of bolts down the side of the barrel which will allow you to remove
> the top
> half. Is this the way yours is set up? If so, it is a fairly simple
> matter
> to remove the upper half, giving you ready access to chip away the dry
> clay.
>
> If you just poured water down the hopper, it would take months to
> soften the
> clay enough to be able to pug it out of the machine. If you try to
> turn on
> the machine when it is filled with dry clay, you will likely do serious
> damage.
>
> If the clay really has dried completely, it has also shrunk, and that
> should
> make it easier to remove the barrel sections.
> Good luck -
> - 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/
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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.
>
>
Kathi LeSueur on tue 14 oct 03
millie@RIVA.NET wrote:
I've had two Bluebird pugmills and clay dried in both of them. Here is
what I did.
First, water poured over several days into the hopper.The second one has
a vacuum chamber, I also put water in it.
After several days I removed the bolts connecting the barrel to the
hopper. I then slowly twisted the barrel off of the machine. This left
me with the auger exposed and I could then clean the rest of the machine.
Just go slow and careful and if you find much resistance put more water
in and wait.
Kathi
| |
|
