Bonnie Staffel on sat 6 may 06
Daisy, dear, I'll bet that I am older than you and in the years since =
1967
when I purchased my Bluebird pug mill, non-deairing, I have NEVER =
cleaned
it. I am still working but a little limited at the moment with rotator =
cuff
problems. When changing clays, which is not very often, I run the mill =
to
empty it mechanically until no more is ejected, then I just add maybe =
15# of
the new clay, recycle a few times until the mixture comes out mixed, use
that clay for something else, and then your new clay will be just the =
new
clay. It is easy to check this progress by slicing the pug as the clay
extrudes looking like a jelly roll showing the two clays until the clay =
is
homogenous. It is really easier than what I have written. Daily when
ending my work, I put a very wet terry cloth rag in the hopper, cover =
with a
plastic bag, and on the open end, drape a wet terry cloth rag over the =
end,
cover with a plastic bag and tuck it tight under the barrel. Even if =
the
pug mill sits for a week or two, the method keeps the clay moist in the
extruder barrel. I don't find the deairing process necessary in the way =
I
prepare my clay. I add my trimming scraps made into slurry to the =
always
too firm clay from the clay company, running it through several times =
until
it becomes the same throughout. It is rare for me to have any air =
trapped
in the extrusion. =20
Write me personally if you need more information. .
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Beginning Processes
Charter Member Potters Council
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