SHIMPO VL-WHISPER This pottery wheel uses an exceptional Direct Drive motor. The Direct Drive motor is a brushless, beltless motor that operates on a magnet system and is electronically controlled. As a result, the motor is EXTREMELY quiet! Features Direct drive system; DC brushless motor 100 lbs centering 14″ light alloy casting wheel-head, drilled for bat-pins Adjustable legs Legs can be removed for storage or tabletop use Virtually quiet; no belts, no vibration Wheel-head acts as a banding wheel when the pedal is at stop Pedal stops the wheel head immediately; no belt means no extra rotation when stopped Higher torque; no belts Maintains a specific set speed when stepping away to center, even with slow speeds with 100 lbs of clay 5 year warranty
***This product may be harmful to a person who has a pacemaker. Serious injury or death could occur. Consult a physician before using.*** Shimpo VL Whisper Printed Literature Shimpo VL Whisper Manual
Overview
5.83 Cubic feet
23.5″ wide X 22.5″ deep
Double wall construction
Kanthal A-1 Elements
Sectional Design
208 or 240 Volts
60 Amp breaker required
New Lid lifter Design at NO EXTRA CHARGE
CSA Approved
The 5.83 cubic foot capacity makes it an ideal kiln for the home studio or smaller school classrooms.
It is a double insulated kiln with 2.5" of premium firebrick plus 1" of block insulation around the outside circumference of the kiln. This double insulation saves approximately 30% in electricity costs and the jacket remains cooler. The perfectly designed Kanthal A-1 elements allow it to fire to come 10 with ease and the unique floor element ensures an even firing.Three-zone control with the Bartlett electronic controller comes at NO EXTRA CHARGE so the kiln will fire perfectly time after time. Now, also a standard feature, the Cone Art Lid Lifter at NO EXTRA CHARGE. Lift the lid with one finger!There are no kilns on the Market today that has as many excellent features at such a good price as Cone Art Kilns.
The Model C is recommended for both schools and art centers, is competitively priced, is quiet and solid, can handle 225 pounds of clay continuously, and is the wheel Danny Meisinger uses to create his towering pieces. The brent® C wheel includes the brent® Classic Controller with these features:
Optimal torque at all speeds -- wheel speed remains constant under varying loads for smooth feel and full control
Quiet operation -- filtered SCR technology is very quiet and does not cause interference on AM/FM radios
EZ-feel toggle switches -- on/off and forward/reverse switches are easy to locate. Forward/reverse switch has neutral safety position to assure somooth transitions when changing directions.
EZ-to-read indicator light -- protrudes from control box for viewing from potter's stool
Easy to service modular connections -- for motor and foot pedal aid in the unlikely event of repair or replacement
Additional brent® C features:
Handles 225 lbs. continuously
Reversible electronic speed control -- assures maximum torque and smooth response
Legs are powder coated for greater durability and improved scratch and corrosion resistance
All-steel construction and solid table -- for strength, durability and rigidity
Automatic belt tensioning -- keeps the 6-groove poly-v drive belt tight for maximum performance
Permanent magnet 3/4 hp, 7 amp DC motor -- provides dependable, variable speed control
Durable, cast aluminum foot pedal with 4 foot cord -- offers smooth control and speed range of 0-240 rpm
Cast aluminum 14" wheel head -- marked with concentric circles for ease in centering clay and includes two bat pins
FREE Splash Pan
FREE 14" Plast-i-Bat®
FREE "How to Throw on The Potter's Wheel" DVD
TEN YEAR WARRANTY
REBATE INFORMATION:AMACO® Ships Your Bonus Glazes at No Charge to You!*
Register your warranty within 6 months of purchasing an eligible Brent potter's wheel to receive a gift of up to $100 in bonus glazes from AMACO®. Send your warranty registration (DOWNLOAD THE WARRANTY REGISTRATION) and list of preferred glazes to AMACO® within six months of purchase. Glazes will be shipped at no charge to addresses within the continental U.S. Glaze rebate may be subject to additional terms from AMACO.
Glaze Product Rebates may take up to 30 days to process to guarantee orders ship complete. In the event glazes are backordered beyond 30 days, we will contact the customer to either substitute glazes for immediate shipment or get customer’s approval to ship a partial order at no charge. Customer will be responsible for shipping charges on any backordered items. All requests for glazes must be submitted after equipment is delivered and within 6 months of purchase date. Valid for end-users only, no distributors or dealers eligible. Please Note: brent® ie, ie-r, ie-x potter’s wheels, brent® Mini SRC slab roller; AMACO® 62-EFC, 67-EFC, MK-4, FA-5-E, and MAC-2000 kilns are NOT eligible for this program. You can choose to complete this warranty online here or by downloading this PDF Warranty Form.
The 24" Super Slab Package includes: 24" Super Slab Roller, Table, Wagon Wheel Handle, Canvas.The package is shipped in 4 cartons, weighing: 72#, 65#, 40#, 10#. The shipping price calculated by this website may not be accurate due to the configuration of this particular shipment, but we will provide you with an accurate shipping cost once we receive your order. As always, we don't charge your card until your order ships.
Every part carefully designed and made for its intended purpose. No off-the-shelf or inferior parts or material.
The roller drive features a 4.33:1 reduction gear between the large Wagon Wheel handle and the roller.
Rust free and virtually maintenance free.
No clumsy heavy shims or boards.
No chains, cables or cast-iron gears.
Thickness infinitely variable from 0 to 2¼ inches.
Slabs can be rolled in either direction and clay can be added or subtracted at any time.
Roll slabs up to 22" wide. The length of the slab is limited only by the space and canvas available.
Tapered slabs are quick, easy and precise.
Warping, curling and cracking are drastically reduced.
All machines accept press molds and a wide variety of texturing material such as burlap, plant materials, rope, cork and bark.
The North Star Super Series Slab Rollers use a pair of cast and carefully machined 4" diameter high-strength aircraft-grade aluminum rollers and steel drive gears for the maximum compression and best slabs possible. The bushings are machined from high-strength industrial nylon and the remaining moving parts are machined steel. The roller drive features a 4.33:1 reduction gear between the large Wagon Wheel handle and the roller to allow huge slabs to be built by every person, regardless of his/her upper body strength and weight. The work table frame is 14-gauge steel that has been rounded for safety and comfort and coated with North Star's durable blue powder coated finish. The removable tabletops are manufactured from moisture-resistant high-density medex with rounded corners and edges for safety and comfort and a waterproof and stain resistant melamine surface for easy cleaning. The North Star Super Series Slab Rollers are warranted to the original purchaser to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the machine*. This includes even parts that wear in normal use, such as bushings, spacers, gears and spring pins. The only limitations to the warranty are the table tops and canvas that are supplied with each unit and failures caused by abuse or use of the machine for other than its intended purpose.
The trashcan lid that we have used for decades for our raku kiln has recently changed. We are testing the durability of the new lid. While we do not expect any problems with the new lid and anticipate returning to production with the new lid soon, we are not taking active orders. You may use the pre-order button and submit an order with no payment (use the NET 30 option at checkout) and we will put you on a list to contact when we have completed testing and are entering production phase.
The Bracker Raku Kiln is a lightweight and portable design for firing ceramic pieces in your own backyard. The kiln we make today was designed by Bill Bracker in the early 1970's utilizing the technology of ceramic fiber. The kiln is made by lining a cage of wire fence material and a metal garbage can lid with one-half inch thick fiber blanket. The fiber is then rigidized with a mixture of sodium silicate and water. The use of the fiber allows the ceramicist to have the insulating qualities of 2-1/2 inches of soft insulating firebrick, yet it is light enough that anyone is able to pick it up. A complete raku set-up would include the kiln, a burner, a propane tank, a pad of soft fire bricks (or an electric kiln lid or base), a posted shelf for inside the kiln, and tongs, along with the user-provided metal tub for water, a metal bucket or can for the raku tongs (which can be very hot after use) and a metal garbage can (with a lid) with reduction material. Setting up involves laying out the pad, posting the shelf on the pad, setting the pieces to be fired on the shelf, placing the kiln over the shelf and pieces, attaching the burner to the tank, placing the burner in front of the kiln's burner port, and lighting the burner.
Please note - the number one problem we hear about is people having trouble getting their kiln to temperature. This is almost always because the burner is too close to (or even inside) the kiln. Combustion requires oxygen, so allow plenty of space (6-10") between the burner tip and the burner opening on the kiln
The 30" Super Slab Package includes: 30" Super Slab Roller, Table, Wagon Wheel Handle, Canvas. The package is shipped in 4 cartons, weighing: 78#, 66#, 50#, 10#. The shipping price calculated by this website may not be accurate due to the configuration of this particular shipment, but we will provide you with an accurate shipping cost once we receive your order. As always, we don't charge your card until your order ships. Every part carefully designed and made for its intended purpose. No off-the-shelf or inferior parts or material. The roller drive features a 4.33:1 reduction gear between the large Wagon Wheel handle and the roller. Rust free and virtually maintenance free. No clumsy heavy shims or boards. No chains, cables or cast-iron gears. Thickness infinitely variable from 0 to 2¼ inches. Slabs can be rolled in either direction and clay can be added or subtracted at any time. Roll slabs up to 28" wide. The length of the slab is limited only by the space and canvas available. Tapered slabs are quick, easy and precise. Warping, curling and cracking are drastically reduced. All machines accept press molds and a wide variety of texturing material such as burlap, plant materials, rope, cork and bark. The North Star Super Series Slab Rollers use a pair of cast and carefully machined 4" diameter high-strength aircraft-grade aluminum rollers and steel drive gears for the maximum compression and best slabs possible. The bushings are machined from high-strength industrial nylon and the remaining moving parts are machined steel. The roller drive features a 4.33:1 reduction gear between the large Wagon Wheel handle and the roller to allow huge slabs to be built by every person, regardless of his/her upper body strength and weight. The work table frame is 14-gauge steel that has been rounded for safety and comfort and coated with North Star's durable blue powder coated finish. The removable tabletops are manufactured from moisture-resistant high-density medex with rounded corners and edges for safety and comfort and a waterproof and stain resistant melamine surface for easy cleaning. The North Star Super Series Slab Rollers are warranted to the original purchaser to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the machine*. This includes even parts that wear in normal use, such as bushings, spacers, gears and spring pins. The only limitations to the warranty are the table tops and canvas that are supplied with each unit and failures caused by abuse or use of the machine for other than its intended purpose.
Work your clay the Quark way! Designed with brilliance at every step, the Quark Wheel helps you craft clay with a professional touch. Developed from scratch and processed after multiple iterations and feedback from potters, Quark is big on capability though small in size. Quark is a product design and development company focused on designing and manufacturing useful and user-centric, intuitive, affordable products for the global consumer."We believe in pushing the boundaries of product design and manufacturing to facilitate well-designed, high quality, utility products that are affordable and sustainable for consumers all over the world. We love integrating latest technological features that make our products more accessible and user-intuitive." -QuarkQuark is designed to be small and compact, but weighs 24 pounds(11kg) and hence is pretty sturdy and doesn’t move easily. Its centering capacity is the same as its weight, so you would be able to easily throw up to 24 pounds(11kg) of clay on its 9 inch(23cm) aluminium wheel head.4 bats are provided with the wheel!
HIGH DESIGN & GREAT ADVANTAGES All Heavy 14-Gauge Steel Multiple Uses with Easy Maneuvering Ability Highly Versatile Storage Shelves Attractive and Highly Functional Design Generous in Size with Easy Access to Shelves Shelf Truck Package Includes:Shelf Truck
8 brackets
5 finished plywood shelves
There are many unique features that distinguish North Star Shelf Trucks from all others. North Star uses a much larger, wider, stronger caster than any other manufacturer. Full 6 inch diameter American-made industrial ball bearing casters are rated at 300 pounds each (or 1,200 pounds) and roll easily, even over rough or contaminated floors. All four casters swivel for easy maneuvering and two have foot-operated parking brakes. Shelves are supported at each end by brackets of a unique design that simply drop into square holes spaced every 2 inches along the corner uprights. The spacing between shelves and the number of shelves is instantly adjustable without tools. All shelves except the bottom one, which rides directly on the base, can be placed at any level so there is never wasted space and conveniently slide in and out. For low pieces, such as tiles, the truck can hold as many as 22 shelves. This is the only such truck in the world engineered from ground up to ship by UPS for lowest freight cost and quickest shipping. The truck is made entirely of heavy 14-gauge steel with North Star's blue powder coat finish. Each truck comes with four pair of shelf brackets, which will yield five shelf levels (the base carries the fifth shelf). North Star shelves are simply 24" x 36" rectangles of 1/2" finished plywood. Those who need heavier shelves, some other configuration (such as two 12" x 36" shelves per level) or who want to save on shipping cost find it easy to make their own.
One of David Sturm's top 5 favorites! Here are the simplest, safest extruders available for small to medium extrusions - the kind most of us do most of the time. They have proved their utility and durability year after year. North Star extruders do not look like or work like any others. They are designed to be simple, safe and inexpensive. Both models feature a 4 inch square steel barrel tapered at the top for easy loading. Each comes with a long extension handle to give extra leverage for small extrusions or stiff clay. The 4" extruder dies are made of 1/2" HDPE (High Density polyethylene). Which is extremely wear-resistant and completely non-contaminating. The top edge of the die cavity is beveled to compact the clay as it passes through, giving a crisp, more solid extrusion. In the hollow dies, there is a bevel on both the interior and exterior portions under each side of the bracket (which holds the center of the hollow dies) that helps the extrusion to "heal" after is has been cut apart by the bracket. This bracket fits into a slot machined into the top of the hollow die and is held in place by the barrel of the extruder. If a hollow die is mounted in place, the center part of the die is in exactly the right place and the wall thickness will automatically be even all the way around. In general, the walls of extrusions 3-1/2 inches OD or less are 1/4 inch thick, while larger pieces have 5/16 inch walls. Includes Basic Die Set & Accessory Die Set Basic Die Set Blank Die 915B - Small Solid Coils 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" 915C - Medium Solid Coils 1/2", 9/16", 5/8", 11/16" 915D - Shaped Coils 1/2" square, 5/8" Hex, 3/4" & 1" Ribbons Accessory Die Set 925A - Large Coils 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1 1/4" 925B - 2" Solid Ribbon 925C - 3" Solid Ribbon 925D - 1 1/2" Hollow Round 925E - 2 1/2" Hollow Round 925F - 1 1/2" Hollow Square 925G - 2 1/2" Hollow Square 925H - 1 1/2" Hollow Hexagon 925J - 2 1/2" Hollow Hexagon 925DM - Die Mask (Neoprene) 957 - Stainless Steel Brace
SHIMPO's Mini Slab Roller features a two-roller system with hand-lever and thickness indicator that provide synchronized fine adjustment that can produce a thickness of 0-1". Its lightweight (31 lbs.), compact design makes it easily portable; and yet its 16" X 24" table makes it a permanent addition to any studio or classroom. Two-roller System Evenly distributes pressure on slab to reduce warping Hand-lever Povides synchronized fine adjustment that allow for precise control of slab thickness Thickness Indicator Provides synchronized fine adjustment that can produce a thickness of 0-1" Compact Design Lightweight and compact design makes it easily portable Table Dimensions 16" X 24" Warranty 2-year Model SRM-1624 Slab Thickness 0-1" Unit Weight 31 lbs Shipping Weight 37 ½ lbs Data Sheet Shimpo Mini Slab Roller Data Sheet
Configure exactly the kiln you want!!
Select your width, depths and electrical specs!
L&L Kilns are Built to Last
L&L kilns are the most "industrialized" kilns in the "hobby-kiln" class. They last for decades. Take a look at some of our top-rated features like hard ceramic element holders, ceramic protection tubes, super-strong stands, spring hinge systems, arched roofs in front-loading kilns and on and on. L&L backs this up with a three-year limited warranty and, for the School-Master K12 kilns, a five-year limited warranty.
Simplicity
Everything in an L&L kiln is logical. L&L thinks ahead and try to anticipate the problems you will encounter. That has been our tradition since L&L was started.
Serviceability
L&L engineers serviceability into every kiln. Control panels are easy to open and service. The unique hard ceramic element holders and ceramic terminal boards make changing elements something that anyone can do.
Support
Take a look at the extensive help available on the L&L web site. Look at some videos and a few Knowledgebase articles. They are invested in service.
Get what is right for you
L&L offers many different types of kilns and options so you can get exactly the right kiln for you.
Higher value means lower cost
L&L charges a little more because of all we put into our kilns. For that you will get a kiln that will last substantially longer and does the job you bought it to do. It's about value.
Kiln Facts: Why choose an L&L Kiln?
Top Features of L&L Kilns(links take you to more information on the L&L website)
Durability
Hard Ceramic Element Holders Make L&L Kilns More DurableDurability, Repairability, Better Heat Transfer. The smooth, hard surface of the inside ceramic channel allows the elements to expand and contract freely. No pins! The dense ceramic holders extend element life because they do not insulate the hot elements from the kiln interior.
Thermocouple Protection Tubes Mullite protection tubes extend thermocouple life and keep kiln clean. The mullite protection tube keeps the metal oxides of the thermocouple tip from dropping off and contaminating your work.
Solid Super-Strong 14 Gauge Aluminized Steel Stand Aluminized stands are extremely strong and corrosion resistant. The offer solid support under the kiln - unlike spot-welded angle stands that are common in the industry.
Proprietary Reflective Coating Hardens & Seals Brick Special brick coating hardens and seals brick for durability and cleaner operation.
Performance
Automatic Zone ControlZone control gives you the utmost in controllable temperature uniformity. The DynaTrol separately measures temperatures in the bottom, middle and top of the kiln and automatically adjusts the heat output of three zones during the entire firing.
DynaTrol Multi-Program Zone Control DynaTrol with 4 Easy-Fire programs (Slow Bisque, Fast Bisque, Slow Glaze, Fast Glaze), 6 custom programs, PreHeat, Delay, Program, Segment Review, and Diagnostics. Zone control included on most kilns.
Ease of Use
"Easy-Open, Easy-Load" Spring Hinge Feather-light spring hinge allows full access without a side support bar - for easy loading. Standard on all 10 and 10 sided polygonal kilns.
Solid Wide-View Peephole Plugs Solid large non-tapered peepholes allow a wider view into the kiln.
Support
Standard Three-Year Limited Warranty Most L&L Kilns have a three-year limited warranty.
The SR-3050 can produce up to a 3″ thick slab. Its TWO-ROLLER system evenly distributes pressure on the slab to reduce warping. The dual hand-wheels and thickness indicator provide synchronized fine adjustment and allow for precise control of the slab thickness. The SR-3050 includes a wagon wheel handle that provides effortless feeding of slab through rollers in either direction. It features a large 30″ x 50″ table for plenty of workspace and comes with one canvas set to complete the package. Two-roller System Evenly distributes pressure on slab to reduce warping Dual-hand Wheels Provides synchronized fine adjustment that allow for precise control of slab thickness Thickness Indicator Provides synchronized fine adjustment that can produce a thickness of 0-1" Wagon Wheel Handle Effortless feeding in either direction Table Dimensions 30" X 50" Warranty 1-year Material Constructed of heavy gauge steel Overall Dimensions 39 ¼" x 50 1/8" x 49" (W x L x H) Table Height 36" Shipping Weight 172 lbs (ships unassembled in 4 cartons) Data Sheet Shimpo Slab Roller Data Sheet
VPM-9SS Vacuum Power Wedger
(25lb. Max. Batch Size)
"The vacuum deairing Pugger-Mixer"
Comes equipped with 110V electrical for standard service.
220V operation ($100 additional) also available for overseas operation.
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 25 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. Our 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. No other pugmill on the market today provides this important feature.
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. The work surface is 12" x 14".
Corrosion Resistant: Peter Pugger now offers a corrosion resistant model (VPM-9SS) for potters using porcelain clay bodies with high alkalinity. Click here for more information "What you need to know about Porcelain"
Optional Stand:This heavy duty stand has a shelf, and the height is adjustable. Wheels are included and can be installed on the motor end of the VPM-9 stand for easy transport (see picture below).
CAPABILITIES
The Power Wedger is the most versatile studio clay processing machine on the market today. It can perform a variety of functions efficiently, transforming clay in any form to a usable product. Some examples:
Mix moist clay from powder and water.
Reclaim scrap - wet or dry.
Blend two or more different bodies.
Add materials (wet or dry) to an already moist body.
Adjust moisture of an already wet body.
OR just mix a 25 lb. bag of clay - literally warm the clay by mixing it.
When the clay is adequately mixed, it can be deaired with vacuum and pugged out in the form of logs ready for use.
SAFETY
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 PUMP
Vacuum is provided by a 1/2 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-9 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.
CLEANING
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.
SPECIFICATIONS
VPM-9 POWER WEDGER (Stainless Steel)
Maximum Batch Capacity
25 pounds
Hopper Door Size
5¼" x 5¼"
Mixing Rate
150 pounds per hour
Pugging Rate
500 pounds per hour
Pug Size
3" diameter
Dimensions
14" H x 14" W x 36" L
Crated Weight
256 pounds (ships LTL truck)
Vacuum Pump
½ HP, 3 amps at 120V, 2 amp at 240 V
Electrical
¾ HP, 1ph, 8 amps at 120V, 6 amps at 240V
VPM-20SS Vacuum Power Wedger (45 pound Maximum Batch Size) "The vacuum deairing Pugger-Mixer" Comes equipped with 110V electrical for standard service. 220V operation ($100 additional) also available for overseas operation. FEATURES Stainless Steel: Shaft, augers and paddles of stainless steel, along with aluminum mixing/pugging chamber ensures rust-free clay processing. Large Hopper: The 7" x 7" hopper door opening allows for easy loading of up to 45 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. Our 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. No other pugmill on the market today provides this important feature. 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. Work Surface: The motor and drive are covered for protection, cleanliness and safety. A 12" x 16" cleanable work surface is provided on top for convenience of the operator while loading. Corrosion Resistant: Peter Pugger now offers a corrosion resistant model (VPM-9SS) for potters using porcelain clay bodies with high alkalinity. Click here for more information "What you need to know about Porcelain" Optional Stand:This heavy duty stand has a shelf, and the height is adjustable. Wheels are included and can be installed on the motor end of the VPM-20 stand for easy transport (see picture below). CAPABILITIES The Power Wedger is the most versatile studio clay processing machine on the market today. It can perform a variety of functions efficiently, transforming clay in any form to a usable product. Some examples: Mix moist clay from powder and water. Reclaim scrap - wet or dry. Blend two or more different bodies. Add materials (wet or dry) to an already moist body. Adjust moisture of an already wet body. OR just mix a 25 lb. bag of clay - literally warm the clay by mixing it. When the clay is adequately mixed, it can be deaired with vacuum and pugged out in the form of logs ready for use. SAFETY 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 PUMP Vacuum is provided by a 1/2 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-20 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. CLEANING 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.
SPECIFICATIONS
VPM-20 POWER WEDGER (STAINLESS STEEL) Maximum Batch Capacity 45 pounds Hopper Door Size 7" x 7" Mixing Rate 180 pounds per hour Pugging Rate 600 pounds per hour Pug Size 3" diameter Dimensions 20" H x 14" W x 42" L Crated Weight 280 pounds (ships LTL Truck) Vacuum Pump ½ HP, 3 amps at 120V, 2 amps at 240 V Electrical 1 HP, 1ph, 10.3 amps at 120V, 8 amps at 240V
Here are the simplest, safest extruders available for small to medium extrusions - the kind most of us do most of the time. They have proved their utility and durability year after year. North Star extruders do not look like or work like any others. They are designed to be simple, safe and inexpensive. Both models feature a 4 inch square steel barrel tapered at the top for easy loading. Each comes with a long extension handle to give extra leverage for small extrusions or stiff clay. The 4" extruder dies are made of 1/2" HDPE (High Density polyethylene). Which is extremely wear-resistant and completely non-contaminating. The top edge of the die cavity is beveled to compact the clay as it passes through, giving a crisp, more solid extrusion. In the hollow dies, there is a bevel on both the interior and exterior portions under each side of the bracket (which holds the center of the hollow dies) that helps the extrusion to "heal" after is has been cut apart by the bracket. This bracket fits into a slot machined into the top of the hollow die and is held in place by the barrel of the extruder. If a hollow die is mounted in place, the center part of the die is in exactly the right place and the wall thickness will automatically be even all the way around. In general, the walls of extrusions 3-1/2 inches OD or less are 1/4 inch thick, while larger pieces have 5/16 inch walls. Includes over 50 Die shapes in the following die sets: 915 925 925DS1 925DS2 925DS3 925GS 926A 926B 926C
