Question: “When is Peter Pugger going to come up with something small for us single potter studios?”

Answer: The VPM-7 has arrived. With all the bells and whistles, and a price that competes with the standard “offshore” pugmills, the compact VPM-7 does it all. Any clay that has not been fired can be reclaimed in the VPM-7. With the fastest mixing times in the industry, broken green ware, slop, powder and water can be thrown into the pugmill and reclaimed in minutes. With the latest advancements in mixing, deairing and extruding technology, the VPM-7 outshines the competition. Quality, durability and proven performance…Why settle for anything else?

Stainless Steel: Shaft, augers and paddles of stainless steel

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 during the last stage of mixing, leaving an air-free product when pugged out (no need to run the clay through the pugmill multiple times). Once the entire batch of clay has been deaired, switch the pugmill to PUG, and press start. Any remaining deaired clay in the machine can be stored for later use without having to remix or deair. Our patented vacuum design (Click here for full list of patents) allows us to deair the entire batch of clay without the use of cumbersome vacuum/shredding screens, or down time due to a clogged pugmill! No other mixing pugmill on the market matches the Peter Pugger’s effectiveness at deairing clay. We guarantee it!

Sealed Chamber: Here in our Northern California Factory, each pugmill casting has precision CNC machined o-ring grooves incorporated into them which allows the pugmill to effectively store moist clay indefinitely! No other pugmill on the market provides this level of precision when it comes to properly sealing all pugmill surfaces.

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.

Patented Vacuum Chamber: The Patented Vacuum Chamber serves as a separation chamber between the processing chamber (where clay is mixed and pugged) and the gear drive system. In the event the pugmill is overfilled, the excess clay is collected in the vacuum chamber where it can be easily accessed and redirected back into the processing chamber in time for the next batch (if necesary). The Vacuum Chamber door is designed to disengage before excess clay can generate enough pressure to damage the gear drive system. This is a key design feature for mixing pugmills where clay is being forced up against the rear of the processing chamber during the mixing cycle. Peter Pugger is the only mixing pugmill to provide extra protection against vacuum and bearing seal exposure resulting in maintenance free operation (Click here for full list of patents).

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.

Corrosion Resistant: Peter Pugger now offers a corrosion resistant model (VPM-7SS) for potters using porcelain and white stoneware clay bodies with soda spars.

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-7 stand for easy transport

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 14 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.

• Maximum Batch Capacity: 14 pounds
• Pugging Rate: 350 lbs. per hour
• Mixing Rate: 100 lbs. per hour
• Dimensions: 33.5″L x 12″W x 13.75″H
• Crated Weight: Aluminum Version – 133 lbs. (Ships FED EX Ground)
• Hopper Door Size: 4.5″ x 4/5″
• Pug Size: 3″ round
• Electrical: 1/2 HP 1-phase, 6 amps at 120 volts, 4 amps at 240V
• Vacuum Pump: 1/3 HP, .9 amps at 120 volts

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.

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.

• Variable Speed Control: Yes
• Adjustable Stand (See Accessories): Optional
• Extrusion Dies (See Accessories): Optional
• Tile Nozzle Compatible: N/A
• Pug Cutter (See Accessories): Optional
• Safety Lock Out: Optional
• Vacuum System: Yes
• 120V Electrical Availability: Yes
• 208-240 Electrical Availability: Optional
• 3 Phase Electrical Availability: Optional
• 60HZ Electrical Availability: Yes
• 50HZ Electrical Availability: Optional

Delivery approx 45-90 days