Mixing equipment.

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What clay mixer should I invest in?

Mixing equipment.

Mixing equipment.
Rule number 1: Do not buy a pugmill when you need a mixer! Pugmills do not mix clay effectively, they perform other very beneficial operations; most notably they compress and they can deair the clay. The augers in a pugmill perform very little in the way of a mixing action. Augers move the clay forward through a shredder, some models then provide a deairing vacuum chamber and finally through a nozzle opening.

Mixers, on the other hand continuously work the clay, distributing water throughout the mixture until the clay is one homogenous, moist consistency. Clay that is completely mixed is then either wedged or then sent through a pugmill.

Selecting Mixing Equipment
There are a number of manufacturers of studio quality equipment. Among the more popular brands are Bluebird, Soldner, Shimpo and Peter Pugger. Each has excellent safety features and this should be number 1 in your evaluation criteria. Check the specifications: mixers are often rated by the total batch weight the machine can handle, and pugmills are measured in the amount of clay they can process in an hour. Evaluate your studio's clay use: a smaller capacity mixer or pugmill will cost somewhat less than larger machines, but will require a greater investment of time and energy.

A deairing pugmill is more likely to allow the user to use the clay without wedging right away, but most non-deairing pugmills will provide a dense extrusion that requires only minimal wedging.

No matter which method you use, keep in mind that clay is a wonderful material because it never needs to go to waste.

   

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