Tag Archives: product FAQ

3-Inch Brick vs 2.5-Inch Brick: How Much Does It Matter?

3-inch brick vs 2.5-inch brick comes down to real insulation and energy savings, not just marketing language. Skutt’s own guidance confirms 3-inch brick delivers roughly 15% better energy efficiency on average. On some models, it even raises the kiln’s max cone rating. This isn’t a cosmetic upgrade. It changes real performance. This guide covers what […]

How Often Do Kiln Elements Need Replacing, and What Does It Cost?

Kiln elements typically last 1 to 5 years, or roughly 100 to 200 firings, before needing replacement. The exact lifespan depends heavily on firing temperature and frequency. A real documented example on a Skutt 818 shows elements lasting close to 1,000 firings. A full replacement on that model ran around $750, including labor. Higher-fire, more […]

How Do You Know When Your Pug Mill Needs Repair?

A pug mill needing repair usually shows warning signs well before it fails completely. Pulsing extrusion, unusual noise, and a motor drawing more current than normal are the clearest signals. Catching these early prevents a small fix from turning into a full rebuild. Most of these signs are easy to spot once you know what […]

Is a Peter Pugger VPM-7 Enough for a Pottery Teacher?

The Peter Pugger VPM-7 is genuinely marketed as a single-potter studio machine. It’s not built as a classroom tool for shared, heavy daily use. Its 14-pound batch capacity works well for one person’s regular reclaim. A busy teaching studio with multiple students generates far more scrap clay than one VPM-7 can comfortably handle. Whether it’s […]