Peter Pugger VPM-7

A great size for studio artists! This pug mill is capable of mixing wet, dry, greenware, slip, slop, and powder back into usable ready-to-throw clay. Mixes up to 14lb batches using a 1/3hp vacuum pump and 1/2hp motor.

It is not necessary to continuously hand-feed the Power Wedger as with standard pugmills. Load a full batch, close the lid and turn it on – this eliminates exposure to moving paddles. The Power Wedger shuts off automatically when the lid is opened. All machines are equipped with a thermal overload for protection against overheating.

Vacuum is provided by a 1/3 HP double-headed rocking piston type diaphragm pump. These new technology pumps are the simplest and quietest vacuum source available. They are maintenance-free and long lasting. The VPM-7 Power Wedger does not require a large vacuum pump because the clay is continuously exposed to vacuum in the sealed mixing chamber. Once the clay chamber is evacuated, the vacuum pump can be turned off.

With the removal of four bolts, the entire mixing/pugging chamber can be removed so it can be conveniently washed off. The paddles are then easily accessed for cleaning. Cleaning is necessary only to avoid cross contamination. Since the machines are completely sealed, moist clay can be stored indefinitely without drying out.

The machine is equipped with a safety stop feature so that people cannot operate the machine with the hopper door open. The optional safety lock out feature is most popular with schools. It is a keyed lock out which prevents the machine from turning on without a key.

Features:
-Stainless Steel: Shaft, augers and paddles of stainless steel, along with aluminum mixing/pugging chamber, ensures rust-free clay processing.
-Large Hopper: The oversized hopper door allows for easy loading of up to 14 lbs. of clay per batch.
-Batch Mixing Capability: Full batch mixing and blending capability allows for moisture adjustment before pugging.
-Pugmill Output: Switch to PUG after a batch is completely mixed, and the Power Wedger unloads itself in the form of 3″ diameter deaired logs.
-Vacuum Deaired: Each batch can be deaired by starting the vacuum pump when the load is mixed. Air is removed during the last stage of mixing, leaving an air-free product when pugged out. The patented vacuum design allows us to deair the clay without the use of cumbersome vacuum screens!
-Sealed Chamber: Leaving moist clay in the Power Wedger is not a problem. All the openings are sealed so clay will stay moist indefinitely.
-Intellectual Mixing Technology: Real-time monitoring of clay consistency can be accomplished while mixing. Similar to an automatic transmission, the Pugger-Mixer can automatically speed up or slow down based on the hardness of the clay being processed. The operator can also control the speed by controlling the variable speed knob.
-Variable Speed Control: This allows the operator the ability to speed up or slow down the pugmill. This is especially useful when extruding through dies. Because of the back pressure generated by a large amount of clay being forced through a small orifice, the speed control allows the operator to slow the pugging as required. In turn, perfect deaired configurations are easily extruded through the Pugger-Mixer. There are additional advantages if you are a “single potter studio”. The ability to slow the pugging allows for time to place pugged clay into containers or bags.
-Stainless Work Surface: The stainless steel work surface creates a durable work surface for convenience of the operator while loading.