Building a Clay Mixing Pug Mill - Part 1
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- I have put off getting a pug mill for too long. New ones are crazy expensive, and good used ones are rare. I have never seen one in person, but I'm pretty sure I can build one myself. Here is my attempt at that.
This is Part 1 of what will be a 3 part video series.
Hopefully I leave enough information/explanation for someone who wants to build something similar. I know many of you won't have all of the equipment I used to make this, but you may have a friend who can help. I encourage you to send them a link to this video to them asking "hey, do you think you can do this?"
Fun fact: The big metal lathe and Bridgeport mill in this video were both craigslist purchases, and their combined purchase price was less than the price of a new pug mill.
...and be sure to subscribe and leave a comment.
This channel is so underrated, that’s criminal.
It’s pretty much the life of a small niche CZcamsr 🤷♂️
I just got my pugmill. It’s the time element for me. Which you had made a clay mixer a year ago. But no regrets. So happy to have.
Wow, and beautiful welds. I 'm looking forward to the next post.
This was great- looking forward to Part 2
When I get a bag of too hard clay. I place the plastic of clay inside a 5 gallon bucket. Open plastic bag add 1/2 cup water. Leave bag open. Fill bucket with water. When water comes close to top and forms over clay. Seal bag. Let it sit in water pressure bath approximately one week. Check for softness. Your clay will be perfect as long as no holes in plastic bag
I do the same.
Really nice work. I'm enjoying your video. Just a little tip when your machining parts with chuck and center it's best to not put the part so deeply in the chuck. When you do it forces the centre rather than letting the center guide the work. I must say you have done very well with no formal machine shop training training. Much respect!!
It's awesome that you are making your own. As I don't have all the equipment to make/ alter the parts, I'd honestly just look on used/ surplus sites to find a pugmill.
Why not use aluminum for the various pieces. That's what the manufacturers use, though some clays will cause pitting onthose portions, if not cleaned regularly.
You are right about pitting. I was concerned with an aluminum chamber of pitting due to clay PH. Supposedly it is only an issue with Porcelain Clay, but I called a major pug mill brand and asked about B-Mix. They indicated hearing reports of pitting with B-Mix in aluminum models, so I opted to go stainless steel.
This project is going to be awesome! And it’s funny how you say you have no training and that your background is in accounting and public education, you must be the chuck norris of accountants hehe. I can’t wait to see the finish product. Thank you very much for your upload!
I wrap my clay slug in the plastic the clay comes in. Cut the plastic to enable four sides to be covered and extra length to fold over the top. Easy clean up!
So funny, my wife just found that exact same book at a thrift store last month!
Right after you made this stainless prices when through the roof and them some. They may have come down some now but wow it was craze for awhile.
Awesome project but most of us do not have access to $20,000 in tools to build the thing so I guess it might be cheaper to just buy one. I built 3 non de-airing pug mills in the past from salvage gearmotors and stainless steel rems from Industrial metal Supply, using electric drills, hand grinder, hammers and a MIG welder - they looked hokey and were hard to clean but they worked fairly well. I may use the gearmotor from a cheap electric cement mixer for my next one.
Point taken.
I’ve always heard it’s better to Use water to lubricate and cool stainless.
that is an awesome project. i love it. keep going!!! can't wait to see the next part of this project.
Incredible work and design.
Good content 👌
Yeeesssss I've been looking forward to this
Hi Paul! It should be a good one. :)
I love watching your experiments. You’re much braver than I am (plus I don’t have the space or disposable income that you seem to have). 😊
Hey Justin, with your motor outputing 1800 rpms and your 60:1 gear reduction (1800÷60=30rpm), did you need the KBBM speed controler after all? Thanks, Mike
Super job! Love it, wish I were there to help you.
Justin, i have seen your products before and on other potter's CZcams pages and admire your skills and products, but....can you offer a simpler and less expensive method to aid hobbyists with building a workable pugmill?
Yeah, CZcams education!!
99,9% of extruders design fail at bearing considerations... Some time have pass since this build and I have a question, can you confirm this machine was run ok for more than 10 heavy hours of work? have you experience some kickback troubling with the screwshaft to the reductor box? All looks ok but you have not something that stops the generation of tension backwards... and i bet your retention adjustable rings near the bearing probably struggles to much to keeps its position, its it? sorry my bad english hope i make me understand. thanks for sharing and this machine is so huge for a diy project haha love see this
It continues to run with no problems. The gearbox, and the clay does warm up if I leave it mixing for more than an hour at a time, but I've used it for many hours cumulatively with no issue. I haven't had to tighten or adjust anything once I set it up.
Impressive!!
Really looking forward to part two! maybe you could chat to This old tony if you need advice?
Envy!
Do you have part list or documentation ? I want to build one and I’m willing to pay for blue prints
Never turn your cooling on when your tool is already hot you're better off letting it cool down restarting with coolant on from the beginning you can shock those cutters so easily there so brittle
Its huge, how are you going to clean it ?.
The opening at the end looks very small.
The auger design is extremely important.
I should only have to clean it when I switch clay bodies. 99% of the time it will be kept full of B-Mix. The hole for the clay to come out is 3", which is a standard pug mill size, so I'm optimistic it will work out.
By the time you're done you will likely have invested 4 grand, OTOH by the time you're done you will know how to fix pug mills well enough to launch a 5th career
My thoughts exactly. He's already spent 5K if you count the time he's put into this. Not to mention, he's already got the tools and knowledge to run the Bridgeport mill.
I'm really enjoying this video. But the DIY, to save money aspect is a bit of a joke.
I think you are right. It isn't really about saving money. If the work is miserable for someone, the time is a serious cost. For me, it's about the fun of trying something hard, and not being sure if you can do it.
@@JustinsMakery A labor of love is always worth the time. Keep up the great work.
Where do yuo get the components?
This is why Most artisan crafts are dead. The few companies that control the tools and equipment do this on purpose, make them overpriced, so no one can get into it.
What about an industrial mixer? Like the one they use for dough
I did experiment with a kitchen stand mixer a bit, and did look at prices for a big Hobart mixer. The problem is how to unload it. It was a critical feature to be able to pug out air free logs.
Ta!
Looks like result will be not much cheaper than ready one!
@@douganderson7002 I don't say, making it yourself is stupid or useless! But expensive. I've though to make one for my wife, but now I'm in doubts...
How much torque is required?
Not sure. I based my motor size on similar commercial units.
they are stupid pricey... for NO damn reason at all. they use cheap motors and cheap parts too.
that stainless is no longer stainless too much heats, its going to rust like hell
So instead of 5000$ you made it from 3500$ materials, and 30000$ machinery. Nice DIY build....not
i bet you spent 2 grand on this
you could of got a used pug mill for $800. your stainless steel project is a great idea. but the cost will be around i recon 4k to 5k once your committed you cant stop in Australia were i live the cost of all your s/steel will cost $3000
Matthew Kelly recommended you. Looks like you have some great ideas. I too like saving money by making what I need to make pottery. I just finished making a jolly jigger for my wheel. But I still need to make the jiggers.
I also watch John the Potter. He's so funny. Good potter and tips. 👍