The truth is, most of us hate wedging clay. It is laborious, hard on the wrists and time consuming. This is why pugmills have become coveted equipment in schools and studios, particularly where there are large amounts of clay to be reclaimed and recycled. In ceramics, pugmills are a potter’s solution to transforming clay scraps into workable clay. These machines are similar to large meat grinders, but they are used to thoroughly mix and, in some cases, remove air from clay bodies. If clay becomes stiff and difficult to work with, it can be run through a pugmill with water, which helps to evenly add moisture to the clay body and make it more suitable for throwing. This is an ideal alternative to wedging clay by hand, especially if you have a lot of clay and/or have discomfort in your wrists and forearms. Pugmills save both time and money.

Some pugmills have a vacuum mechanism that acts to remove air that may be entrapped within the clay. Again, this is similar to the process of wedging. Clay that has been de-aired is preferred by many individuals, particularly those who throw on a wheel. Removing air bubbles prior to working with the clay prevents mishaps such as collapsed pots. Even without a vacuum, however, most pugmills successfully remove air from the clay during the pugging process.

If you are interested in mixing clay from scratch or recycling scraps of clay at various stages of drying, then you may consider a combination clay mixer/pugmill. These machines combine the pugging ability of pugmills with the mixing properties of traditional clay mixers, allowing you to add bone dry scraps in with water to create evenly mixed and wedged clay. Just like new!

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We will be happy to help you decide which equipment is best for you!