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walker pug mills/using it?

updated tue 26 feb 02

 

Peter Coates on mon 25 feb 02


I usually keep the hopper full enough that the auger blade are not
exposed.... but to agree with the rest of the folks.... a Walker would
remove you arm, pug it into clay with out skipping a beat...

Question?

How do you all clean it between uses.... i cover the hooper with plastic...
but the clay dries anyways... a day or two before i plan on using it... i
run buckets of water through it while running the auger... Any ideas on how
it should be cleaned and used...???

pete in Oklahoma

Craig Martell on mon 25 feb 02


Pete was wondering:
>How do you all clean it between uses.... i cover the hooper with plastic...
>but the clay dries anyways...

Hello Pete:

I haven't used a Walker since college and that was a long time ago.

However, with any pug I've ever used, the best way to keep the interior
clay from drying out is to place wet towels in and over the clay in the
hopper and then cover the whole shebang with plastic and use some sort of
compression around the edge. I have a 4" Venco and I cover the nozzle with
a wet rag and plastic that's held tight with a big rubber "O" ring. I put
two wet towels over the hopper and cover them with plastic and strap it
tight with a bungee cord.

With your Walker, you might want to throw a couple pitchers of water in the
hopper before you cover it. Then give it a check once in a while if it's
going to sit idle for a long period and add water when needed. An ounce of
prevention so to speak.

regards, Craig Martell in Oregon

vince pitelka on mon 25 feb 02


> How do you all clean it between uses.... i cover the hooper with
plastic...
> but the clay dries anyways... a day or two before i plan on using it... i
> run buckets of water through it while running the auger... Any ideas on
how
> it should be cleaned and used...???

Pete -
Drape wet rags over the clay and then cover it with plastic. Periodically
remove the plastic and dump more water on the rags. If they start to mold,
throw them away and put fresh ones over the clay. You can keep the clay
moist indefinitely this way.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/