Retxy Posted February 27 Report Share Posted February 27 (edited) Hello smart pottery peeps. I found a really old bluebird pugmill for sale. It looks like an a400 but much older version. He issue is its badly corroded with he seller stating there are three pinholes in the barrel and recommending the auger be sand lasted (which of course i dont know how to do.) My rheumatic joints really need this pugmill to work out. Seller assures me little holes are weldable, and this i believe. My cncern is the rust inside the barrel and on the auger blades.... how do i deal with that and can these be relia ly sealed so my immunocompromised handsies dont get the tetanus from rust ending up in my clay? I have seen others paint their pugs but no mention of what paint wont flake with all the moisture involved. Have also looked into rust stopping sprays available at the big boxes but wanted to see if anyone has tried this with successs. Thanks in advamce! Retxy Edited February 27 by Retxy Added pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted February 27 Author Report Share Posted February 27 And sorry for all the typos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted February 27 Author Report Share Posted February 27 I just found a place nearby that can both sandblast and powder coat but if cheaper alternatives exist, I welcome them. Thanks! Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted February 27 Report Share Posted February 27 @Retxy How much of what we're seeing is rusted metal vs old clay? If it's all metal, then the metal is in really bad condition and I wouldn't touch it. If we're looking at a bunch of clay on the surface and the metal underneath is still decent then I think sandblasting is probably the best way to go. Do not put any sort of coatings on the auger or in the hopper. They won't survive. Just leave the interior raw. Paint the exterior if you want to. Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted February 27 Author Report Share Posted February 27 @neilestrick Thank you so much! Woukd you recommend a rust halting spray hust to stop/delay the corrosion? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted February 28 Report Share Posted February 28 7 hours ago, Retxy said: @neilestrick Thank you so much! Woukd you recommend a rust halting spray hust to stop/delay the corrosion? Thank you! I would definitely paint the outside with a good quality spray paint. The inside is going to rust no matter what if it's steel, so it's best to use it regularly so the rust doesn't build up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted February 28 Author Report Share Posted February 28 @neilestrick perfect. Thank you so much! Hulk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted February 28 Report Share Posted February 28 Are those whits spots holes in the drum? Looks too far gone for me to touch. The metal us really pitted. Have you seen it with the auger turning? Can't see this pugmill lasting or even working for long. Piedmont Pottery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 28 Report Share Posted February 28 (edited) Whatever you do do not powder coast it inside as it will all chip out into the clay. Yes on the de-rust paint OUTSIDE ONLY. Yes on the sandblast. If the barrel is aluminum it can be be welded at a shop if its steel its ever easier to weld This pug mill looks like a beater so pay very little for it. It pre vacuum I assume which means you still need to wedge the air bubbles out so plan on that They make nicer units and I have seen many a bluebird with the vacuum feature for sale used as well. This unit is pretty far gone and will take some big work to get it cleaned up -hopefully it's free to start with Edited February 29 by Mark C. Russ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 2 Author Report Share Posted March 2 On 2/27/2024 at 10:28 AM, neilestrick said: @Retxy How much of what we're seeing is rusted metal vs old clay? If it's all metal, then the metal is in really bad condition and I wouldn't touch it. If we're looking at a bunch of clay on the surface and the metal underneath is still decent then I think sandblasting is probably the best way to go. Do not put any sort of coatings on the auger or in the hopper. They won't survive. Just leave the interior raw. Paint the exterior if you want to. On 2/28/2024 at 3:42 PM, Babs said: Are those whits spots holes in the drum? Looks too far gone for me to touch. The metal us really pitted. Have you seen it with the auger turning? Can't see this pugmill lasting or even working for long. Oh its definitely rugh in there and there are some holes in the drum. There are some reports that the pinholes therein can be loctite sealed which wont last forever but will be sufficient for me for now. The larger holes are going to be an issue. Cant sand blast it for fear of opening more holes honestly. But the auger works a dream and so im going to patch and even if tbis old beauty can last me a few years i will consider it worth it. Looking into barrel replacement but bluebird says they dont make either barrel or auger anymore... does anyone know alternate options if motor is still good? Thanks again to you all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 2 Author Report Share Posted March 2 @Mark C. Thanks Mark!! I hope it turns out to be useful to me but we will see. There are parts of the metal that make me nervous to sand blast as I fear opening more holes. I wonder if welding might do that too but dnt know enough about welding to say if this is a rational fear. I guess we will see but thanks for your adviceon the external parts. Im so excited about this. Its going to suck if its a fail but at least i tried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 2 Report Share Posted March 2 I would sand blast it for sure to get down to clean metal. You can weld (have a shop do this) a patch on any hole spot from the outside or inside and grind smooth all the inner welds(take the auger out,fully taking the unit apart). You cannot have holes in any opart of the barrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 2 Author Report Share Posted March 2 Does anyone have a picture of what the inner chamber of the deairing portion of a pugmill should look like? Google is failing me here. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 2 Report Share Posted March 2 (edited) Do not worry about making more holes -Those can all be patched Edited March 4 by Mark C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 2 Author Report Share Posted March 2 1 minute ago, Mark C. said: I would sand blast it for sure to get down to clean metal. You can weld (have a shop do this) a patch on any hole spot from the outside or inside and grind smooth all the inner welds(take the auger out,fully taking the unit apart). You cannot have holes in any opart of the barrel Would these intervention potentially make these holes weaker? I will definitely not leave anything open in the barrel. I wonder about replacing the barrel altogether but unsure how i could repliate or who i might get to do this. Again thaks so much for your help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 2 Author Report Share Posted March 2 @Mark C. Ignore the holes part of the last question i see you answered!! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 2 Report Share Posted March 2 Take it to a shop that can sandblast it then a fab welding shop to get that part done Nunca must have a few shops like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 3 Author Report Share Posted March 3 5 hours ago, Mark C. said: Take it to a shop that can sandblast it then a fab welding shop to get that part done Nunca must have a few shops like that @Mark C. Mark, do you think wire brushing would be more gentle vs sandblast? I know you say any adfitonal holes made can be welded, but just trying to get all options. Thanks again so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 3 Author Report Share Posted March 3 @neilestrick Would you happen to know how big the hole/slit inside a deairing chamber need to be where the lever setup swipes away at the incoming clay to prevent clogging? thanks so much again for all the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 3 Report Share Posted March 3 I think a wire brush is to mellow. Thats a lot of corrosion and it will get in the clay unless its removed. These come up for sale now and then as well. Never seen one in this bad of shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted March 3 Report Share Posted March 3 Just a thought, but depending on how much space there is around the auger and how this is constructed, you may be able to weld in sheet of steel as a liner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 4 Author Report Share Posted March 4 12 hours ago, neilestrick said: Just a thought, but depending on how much space there is around the auger and how this is constructed, you may be able to weld in sheet of steel as a liner. My father thought this too but inwas worried tracts would remain where xlay would wedge between origical metal and sheet. Clearly not a welder...hardly a potter either thanks to my body hence the need for the pug. There are a couple of half dollar sized holes in the barrel other than the holenin the deair chamber whixh may benefit from a sheet. Just unsure how big the slit which remains would have to be. I will post better pics when it makes it all thr way down to me as i had to leave it at a way station on the path to where i live. I will find a way to make it work. @Mark C. think you were right about the sand blasting upon further inspection. Will post back asap. If anyone has any recommendations on the size that little slit in de air chamber ought be, would greatly appreciate. Bluebird has basically said its unsafe, dont use it, so im notnsure they are going to give me this info. They want to sell me a new one and i cant afford it. Thanks again for all of the help yall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted March 4 Report Share Posted March 4 I'm afraid I kind of agree with BlueBird. If it has half dollar size holes in it due to corrosion, the rest of it is probably not structurally sound. The non-pugmill option is to simply not wedge and not recycle. Most clay bodies are good to go for throwing right out of the bag. I switched to slab building about a year ago after 30 years of throwing, due to bad arthritis in my hands. Gotta say I don't really miss throwing. I'm happy to still be working with clay, and the challenges and possibilities of working with new techniques have me more excited about ceramics than I have been in a long time. Babs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 4 Report Share Posted March 4 (edited) Yes you could look for used one I see them pop up all the time-Not sure of your location if its out in the boonies like mine then thats an issue Edited March 6 by Mark C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retxy Posted March 4 Author Report Share Posted March 4 Im definitely in the boonies and getti g clY out here is impossible so i mix my own. If i bought bags i wouldn't need the pug. Im going to give it a whirl, if it doesnt work, well at least i tried! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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