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Ha! Stout grease! D'ya know, I wouldn't be surprised if many a workman/woman/creator/inventor/fixer up er/DIY er all over the globe, has found that by putting a bit of stout/ local beer/ poitín(moonshine) or whatever, has made their machine/device/brain work all the better\!! But thanks for the tip about the dissimilar metals... Rathliffe co. went out of business yrs ago sadly, but Gladstone LTD. also in Stoke in Trent, UK wrote back- the pugmill is roughly 30-40 yrs old, are still plenty of pugmills and wheels knocking around in Ireland & UK- were certainly built to last..They said that the materials/ surface has started to break down, so leaving the metal open to oxygen and therefore rust..There's no way really to stop it happening: sandblasting will remove the rust for short time but will come back. Any sealant will last short time also but could contaminate the clay- is fine for my saggar work- might create an interesting array of new colours but for transparent glazed over white clay pieces, not so good Thanks again All the best Sinéad

Thanks a lot for the replies, Viking Potter, Chilly and Mark. Think I'm just stuck with the rust maybe, finding out about sealants and all say will not last long, and probably contaminate the clay.. Will give sand blasting a go and replacing the nut in cylinder with stainless steel one and see how that goes Many thanks again for your suggestions

Have an old 2nd hand Rathcliffe pugmill made in Stoke in Trent in the uk. Started to get rust spots around the grate so removed it totally. Now sadly just below the grate area is more rusty spots and the large nut inside the main cylinder. Wondering if there's any product out there to combat this or has anyone found an inventive way around this problem? Thanks a lot

Thanks for all the replies, was thinking there might be an anti rust product, Ann but might rub off into the clay when using pugmill. Sand blasting sounds good idea, though pretty messy! But probably good tool to have for future spots appearing.. The rough clay through the mill could work too: I use a mix of krank for saggars, I might be at it for a long time though! Have removed the grate now, which was causing most problems, but still rust around the nut screw in centre..

Can rust in old pug mill be cured? Is there a product that can be used to cover rust spots?

Bciskepottery- thats exactly what I'm looking for Thank you for taking the time- you're a star the last recipe one sounds ideal- the glaze will be on white earthenware clay with underglaze velvets painted on..... Thanks again ps. I will some day get my own copy of the book

Thanks a lot Marcia- much appreciated!

Thanks Sputty, no I do the glazing myself- the kids are only at the splodge and drag stage!

Thanks Oldlady! thats the one 1980- an excellent and very handy book to have, even as a starting point for a certain glaze. I know there can be huge differences in materials between Usa and Europe and there are similar type materials I don't usually glaze at all in my own work, so am very out of date with the equivalents! Thanks again

Thanks a lot Triolaz - sounds exactly like what I'm looking for!

Hi Sputty, thanks for your reply The glaze is going over velvets but its bowls that children will be painting themselves so not really into using lead If was sculptural, decorative etc, wouldn't mind but not for functional bowls Is indeed a simple glaze recipe!

Hi if anyone happens to have Emmanuel Cooper's glaze recipe book on a shelf in their studio- trying to look up recipes online but just will not go my way... Just looking for a reliable transparent earthenware ( 1050' celcius) glaze, the glossy the better If anyone happens to have a few minutes to spare! with thanks Sinéad

Thanks a lot for all of your replies. I'm using grogged white stoneware clay for hand building, but wanted to experiment with a less grogged slip brushed on. Hoping for a smoother surface, though not as fine as burnishing would need... Have sieved out the grog from the clay totally ( for a batch of slip) and about to add a finer molochite to the slip. So was hoping to get advice about ratios of molochite to a batch of powdered clay. Thanks a lot, any suggestions appreciated

Hi could anyone give me idea of ratios for molochite to clay? For A slip over dry clay? Thanks A lot

Thanks a lot for that Bny- I can't see anything like that but maybe is inside that black box. I'm going to try find someone local whose good with electronics to have a look- High Bridge Pottery- I did tell Gladstone about the surge etc- ( the E 03 on the display means this) but they have said they would need to see it ( a bit reluctantly, I'll admit) Thanks for all your advice- I'll try the electonic guy first and see how it goes!