Sally Guger on mon 15 may 06
Hello Bonnie,
I am of the potters selling the school's Walker, I didn't just buy it for $500. The guy who did just buy one is not using it in a school. We bought ours back in the 70's- it's had some new parts put in over the years- and it did come with a reverse switch.
I still say it's a great machine- for the studio- never a school. Keeping hands out is not hard to do when you're a responsible adult!! I did crunch up an aluminum pan once- but the reverse switch made it easy to get it out- and no damage was done to the machine.
For the folks who don't think the Walker is for them- I still have that almost brand new-Axner New Wave de-airing pugmill for sale. Still has a warranty and I'm asking 1700 or best offer. (I'd like $600 for the Walker.)- Southern Wisconsin. Sally.
Bonnie Staffel wrote:
Dear Claybuds,
Yes, you can get your hand caught in the auger, and with the knee switch,
can shut the machine off, but there was no backup or reverse switch. You
really have LOST YOUR HAND. I had a Walker for a number of the early years
in our studio and the person using it dropped the metal dipper into the bin.
Needless to say, it could not be removed without dismantling the machine.
My husband was not a happy man that day. There is an impulse to try to grab
the fallen item too, which immediately gets you caught. I got rid of mine
when I closed my studio in Charlevoix and moved to Campbell Folk School.
Hope your insurance covers liability in your case. I might add that it was
about the worst $500 you spent that day, IMO.
Warm regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Beginning Processes
Charter Member Potters Council
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Bonnie Staffel on tue 16 may 06
Hi Sally,
I am glad to hear that the Walker Pug Mill has a reverse switch. =
Evidently
they added this after numerous problems and complaints. I also think =
that
if one has the Walker with the grids that the potter is prone to remove =
the
grid as it generally gets in the way of an experienced worker. I had a
young college fellow spend his summers in my studio mixing the clay in =
my
Walker. It did not have a grid screen over the top or if it did, we =
removed
it. He mixed clay for our studio all day/summer long without mishap. =
After
he left, under a government program we hired a special person who in
retrospect, didn't have it about working with machinery. She was the =
one
who dropped the dipper into the mill. We were thankful she had the =
presence
of mind not to go after it. We let her go and I enjoyed using it myself =
as
it really produced a lot of clay that we stored in garbage cans. Our =
studio
was bustling with activity with the apprentices busy throwing and hand
building the designs my husband and I created. Customers driving into =
our
place from all over the country and some foreign places gave us an =
education
and provided a living for us that was a joy. I guess we should be =
thankful
for the Walker as it was at the time affordable and the best mixer =
available
at the time.
Warm Regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Beginning Processes
Charter Member Potters Council
Sally Guger on tue 16 may 06
Hello Bonnie and everyone.
It was interesting to hear of the good experiences you had with your Walker!
I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take it with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a pugmill was. He said something about getting a part called a "spider?" Can anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts from Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially unusable.
WHY HAVEN'T I SOLD THE "NEW WAVE" PUGMILL BY AXNER?? This reminds me of the time my husband and I searched high and low for an 1966 Amphicar because we thought we wanted one. Then when it didn't turn out to be the vehicle for us to use in our particular situation, it took over a year to re-sell it!!! This pugmill shouldn't be hard to sell because it's still under warranty- unlike the Amphicar!!!! I guess I should just be patient. Thanks. Sally
Bonnie Staffel wrote:
Hi Sally,
I am glad to hear that the Walker Pug Mill has a reverse switch. Evidently
they added this after numerous problems and complaints. I also think that
if one has the Walker with the grids that the potter is prone to remove the
grid as it generally gets in the way of an experienced worker. I had a
young college fellow spend his summers in my studio mixing the clay in my
Walker. It did not have a grid screen over the top or if it did, we removed
it. He mixed clay for our studio all day/summer long without mishap. After
he left, under a government program we hired a special person who in
retrospect, didn't have it about working with machinery. She was the one
who dropped the dipper into the mill. We were thankful she had the presence
of mind not to go after it. We let her go and I enjoyed using it myself as
it really produced a lot of clay that we stored in garbage cans. Our studio
was bustling with activity with the apprentices busy throwing and hand
building the designs my husband and I created. Customers driving into our
place from all over the country and some foreign places gave us an education
and provided a living for us that was a joy. I guess we should be thankful
for the Walker as it was at the time affordable and the best mixer available
at the time.
Warm Regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Beginning Processes
Charter Member Potters Council
______________________________________________________________________________
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Carl Finch on wed 17 may 06
At 05:13 PM 5/16/2006, you wrote:
> I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them
> through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take
> it with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a
> pugmill was.
High School Guy wasn't using the ol' noggin! The meaning of the parts
being available through Grainger (or other industrial supply houses) meant
that the PARTS, individually, are just standard sorta parts. One must
identify and ask for them by generic part name, not as a "Walker" item.
>He said something about getting a part called a "spider?"
A spider is a resilient rubber cushion that absorbs the starting shock of
the drive motor upon the gear box to which it is coupled. The cushion has
4 or more legs--thus "spider." A worn out one is likely to have one or
more legs missing--ditto with its arachnid namesake.
> Can anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts
> from Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially
> unusable.
Just a single experience. I ordered and had delivered (to their local
store the next day) a helically coiled power cord for my 40 year old radial
arm saw (the saw manufacturer was long out of business). Since I'm not a
"company" they resisted my retail "custom," but did finally gave in.
--Carl
in Medford, Oregon where the past few days have felt more like Palm
Springs, California
Michael Wendt on wed 17 may 06
High load connections that use 3 jaw couplings
can take advantage of the newer polymer
spiders made of Hytrel or Urethane. Extreme
loads sometimes use enclosed chain couplings.
In any case, contact your dealer with the load
and speed requirements (rpm and hp).
The other alternative I want to suggest to
everyone is the Surplus Center.
They sell closeout items at a fraction of the
cost of new. PM DC motors for wheels
are $120-150 !
log onto surpluscenter.com
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com
You wrote:
" Hello Bonnie and everyone.
> It was interesting to hear of the good experiences
you had with your
Walker!
>
> I have a question for the person who mentioned
getting parts for them
through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring
and wanted to take it
with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and
didn't know what a
pugmill was. He said something about getting a part
called a "spider?" Can
anyone give me more info. on their experience with
getting parts from
Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something
potentially
unusable."
Jim Brooks on wed 17 may 06
Walker went out of business due to the law suits that were filed !!! Be
very very careful... I have seen students almost get caught several times--
until we prohibited them from using this machine... They did get object caught
several times.. glad it wasn't part of them. Oh -- we had a reverse switch
also.. but in a panic most people dont think to hit that switch in time. .
Jim in Denton.
P, S. Don't know how many of you remember John Logan in Fort Wort... he
lost an arm in a open pugger like Walker..
Ingeborg Foco on wed 17 may 06
" Hello Bonnie and everyone.
> It was interesting to hear of the good experiences you had with your
Walker!
>
> I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them
through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take it
with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a
pugmill was. He said something about getting a part called a "spider?" Can
anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts from
Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially
unusable."
Sally,
Grainger is a great store that has a huge catalogue. You do however have to
have a commercial account. If they don't have what you need you can order
it. Generally, they will have it by the next day.
A spider gear is a standard part used in many applications and is available
at many parts stores. It is a rubber gear having I think 6 points hence the
name spider. It is used to connect the motor of the pug mill to the drive
shaft. (two moving metal parts separated and connected with a rubber part)
Periodically you have to change the spider gear since it can get chewed up
during use, especially if you don't regularly check the tension and tighten
things accordingly. Been there!
Grainger does not carry pug mills and most likely they don't know what one
is. You can however, buy the motors and other things that make up a
pugmill. My deairing pump one day was totally "Kaput" and I purchased a
similar model thru Grainger....had it the next day.
Hope that helps.
Ingeborg
the Potter's Workshop & Gallery
P.O. Box 510
3058 Stringfellow Road
St. James City, Florida 33956
239-283-2775
>
>
Sally Guger on wed 17 may 06
Thanks for the information, that's sort of what I thought the situation with Grainger would be. At this point in time, it doesn't need anything- hope I didn't scare people off that were thinking about buying it- (the Walker pugmill that is!) There was on ending on Ebay last night for a huge amount of money- but he didn't reach his price- I don't think. ($1495!!) $600 bucks for the one I'm selling. Sally
Carl Finch wrote: At 05:13 PM 5/16/2006, you wrote:
> I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them
> through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take
> it with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a
> pugmill was.
High School Guy wasn't using the ol' noggin! The meaning of the parts
being available through Grainger (or other industrial supply houses) meant
that the PARTS, individually, are just standard sorta parts. One must
identify and ask for them by generic part name, not as a "Walker" item.
>He said something about getting a part called a "spider?"
A spider is a resilient rubber cushion that absorbs the starting shock of
the drive motor upon the gear box to which it is coupled. The cushion has
4 or more legs--thus "spider." A worn out one is likely to have one or
more legs missing--ditto with its arachnid namesake.
> Can anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts
> from Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially
> unusable.
Just a single experience. I ordered and had delivered (to their local
store the next day) a helically coiled power cord for my 40 year old radial
arm saw (the saw manufacturer was long out of business). Since I'm not a
"company" they resisted my retail "custom," but did finally gave in.
--Carl
in Medford, Oregon where the past few days have felt more like Palm
Springs, California
______________________________________________________________________________
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You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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Sally Guger on wed 17 may 06
Thank you very much for all of the info, Vince.
I would never have tried to call Grainger and expect them to know about a Walker pug mill but this guy retiring keeps acting like he knows it all - so I was trying to get info. so I can respond to him. I totally know how dangerous it can be- and also know that there are very careful potters out there who like the Walker a lot. Thanks also to several others who gave me basically this same info. I'm learning a lot. Sally.
Vince Pitelka wrote:
Sally Guger wrote:
"I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them
through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take it
with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a
pugmill was. He said something about getting a part called a "spider?" Can
anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts from
Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially
unusable."
Sally -
As was the case with any small manufacturer making a specialized product,
Walker manufactured their own frame, barrel, and auger, but they purchased
the bearings, gearmoter, and coupling "off the shelf" from an industrial
supplier like Grainger, and you can purchase replacements for those items.
Of course Grainger never heard of Walker, and it is not surprising that the
Grainger salespeople didn't know what a pugmill is. I would not expect them
to know. That's not how you order "off the shelf" parts - you order
according to the description and measurements of the part itself. For
example, you get the dimensions of the flange-mount bearing, including shaft
size and dimensions and spacing of the flange bolts, and you order an
identical bearing unit. The spider is the rubber shock-absorbing unit that
fits in the coupling used between the gearmotor and the main shaft. In that
case, the metal parts of the coupling might have a manufacturer and part
number on them, in which case you can often order replacement parts with
that number, rather than with the dimensions.
The point is that you can replace motors, gear-reducers, bearings, seals,
and other such parts on older machinery simply by measuring the part, or by
looking for an identifying brand name and model number on the individual
part, without ever mentioning the name and type of machine you are
repairing/restoring. At one time I did a lot of restoration/rebuilding of
old engines, air compressors, vacuum pumps, and other such things, and
that's the only way I could get parts for them.
When you sell your Walker, be sure to get a signed liability release from
the person who purchases it. They are so incredibly dangerous, with or
without a reverse switch, with or without the shutoff bar on the front. The
only way to make a Walker safe is to ONLY operate it with the screen cover
in place, and no one does that.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
______________________________________________________________________________
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Vince Pitelka on wed 17 may 06
Sally Guger wrote:
"I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them
through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take it
with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a
pugmill was. He said something about getting a part called a "spider?" Can
anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts from
Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially
unusable."
Sally -
As was the case with any small manufacturer making a specialized product,
Walker manufactured their own frame, barrel, and auger, but they purchased
the bearings, gearmoter, and coupling "off the shelf" from an industrial
supplier like Grainger, and you can purchase replacements for those items.
Of course Grainger never heard of Walker, and it is not surprising that the
Grainger salespeople didn't know what a pugmill is. I would not expect them
to know. That's not how you order "off the shelf" parts - you order
according to the description and measurements of the part itself. For
example, you get the dimensions of the flange-mount bearing, including shaft
size and dimensions and spacing of the flange bolts, and you order an
identical bearing unit. The spider is the rubber shock-absorbing unit that
fits in the coupling used between the gearmotor and the main shaft. In that
case, the metal parts of the coupling might have a manufacturer and part
number on them, in which case you can often order replacement parts with
that number, rather than with the dimensions.
The point is that you can replace motors, gear-reducers, bearings, seals,
and other such parts on older machinery simply by measuring the part, or by
looking for an identifying brand name and model number on the individual
part, without ever mentioning the name and type of machine you are
repairing/restoring. At one time I did a lot of restoration/rebuilding of
old engines, air compressors, vacuum pumps, and other such things, and
that's the only way I could get parts for them.
When you sell your Walker, be sure to get a signed liability release from
the person who purchases it. They are so incredibly dangerous, with or
without a reverse switch, with or without the shutoff bar on the front. The
only way to make a Walker safe is to ONLY operate it with the screen cover
in place, and no one does that.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Tony Ferguson on thu 18 may 06
If you want parts, I believe you can get them throug the Walker-Jamal company that still exists in Duluth, MN. Any good machine shop should also be able to help you.
Tony Ferguson
Ingeborg Foco wrote:
" Hello Bonnie and everyone.
> It was interesting to hear of the good experiences you had with your
Walker!
>
> I have a question for the person who mentioned getting parts for them
through Grainger. The high school guy who is retiring and wanted to take it
with him, said Grainger never heard of a Walker and didn't know what a
pugmill was. He said something about getting a part called a "spider?" Can
anyone give me more info. on their experience with getting parts from
Grainger? I would never want to sell anybody something potentially
unusable."
Sally,
Grainger is a great store that has a huge catalogue. You do however have to
have a commercial account. If they don't have what you need you can order
it. Generally, they will have it by the next day.
A spider gear is a standard part used in many applications and is available
at many parts stores. It is a rubber gear having I think 6 points hence the
name spider. It is used to connect the motor of the pug mill to the drive
shaft. (two moving metal parts separated and connected with a rubber part)
Periodically you have to change the spider gear since it can get chewed up
during use, especially if you don't regularly check the tension and tighten
things accordingly. Been there!
Grainger does not carry pug mills and most likely they don't know what one
is. You can however, buy the motors and other things that make up a
pugmill. My deairing pump one day was totally "Kaput" and I purchased a
similar model thru Grainger....had it the next day.
Hope that helps.
Ingeborg
the Potter's Workshop & Gallery
P.O. Box 510
3058 Stringfellow Road
St. James City, Florida 33956
239-283-2775
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
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settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Tony Ferguson
...where the sky meets the lake...
Duluth, Minnesota
Artist, Educator, Web Meister
fergyart@yahoo.com
fergy@cpinternet.com
(218) 727-6339
http://www.aquariusartgallery.com
http://www.tonyferguson.net
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