What is a Pugmill?

Let’s talk about one of the most underrated helpers in the studio: the pugmill. If you’re running a busy pottery practice or studio and find yourself recycling mountains of clay scraps, a clay pugmill might just become your new best friend.

Here’s what this guide covers:

1. What a pugmill is and how it works
2. What makes it so useful in pottery studios
3. Whether it’s worth the investment for your situation
4. How it compares to a clay mixer

Let’s break it down in real talk, potter to potter.

What Is a Pugmill Used For?

In simple terms, a pugmill mixer is a machine designed to mix, compress, and de-air clay.

Its job? To take dry, crumbly trimmings or overly wet reclaim and turn it back into beautiful, workable clay. It does the wedging for you!

This machine saves time, saves your wrists, and gets you back to throwing, sculpting, or handbuilding with less mess and more consistency. If you’ve ever spent hours wedging pugmill clay by hand, you know what a big deal that is. 

What Is a Pugmill in Pottery?

In pottery, a pugmill is all about reclaiming and conditioning clay. If your studio sees high clay use, whether you're a solo potter making batches of mugs or a studio owner managing multiple students, a pottery pugmill helps you reuse scrap clay efficiently. 

Here’s what it can do:

• Recycle dried-out or slurry-heavy clay into a usable state
• Mix different clay bodies or additives together evenly
• De-air clay so you spend less time wedging
• Prep large batches of clay quickly and consistently

That means fewer buckets of dried-out reclaim, fewer hours spent hand-wedging, and a more sustainable approach to your clay use.

For high-use studios, that adds up fast. If you're working with high volumes of clay and considering the next step in studio efficiency, you might also enjoy our guide on how to start a pottery business—it breaks down how tools like pugmills fit into a sustainable, growth-minded studio setup.

How Does a Pugmill Work?

Inside a pugmill is an auger. You can think of it like a big screw that spins and pushes the clay forward through a barrel. As the auger turns, it compresses and blends the clay. Some pugmill mixers include a vacuum pump that pulls out air pockets along the way.

Once the clay has gone through the barrel and past any vacuum chamber, it comes out the nozzle in a smooth, dense log ready to be sliced up or stored for your next throwing session. 

There are two main types of pugmills:

• Non-vacuum pugmills: Great for reclaiming and basic mixing. Best for small studios or potters who still like to wedge.
• Vacuum pugmills: Include a vacuum pump to remove air bubbles. These are a favorite among production potters who need clay that's ready to use right out of the nozzle.

Want to see what options are out there? Explore our collection of pugmills to find one that fits your studio.

Is a Pugmill Worth It?

Here’s the truth: a pugmill is a big investment, but for the right potter or studio, it more than pays for itself. 

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, a pugmill might be worth considering:

• Do you throw or handbuild several times a week?
• Do you recycle a lot of clay scraps?
• Are you tired of the physical toll of constant wedging?
• Are you managing a classroom, shared studio, or production environment?

Potters who produce work consistently find that a clay pugmill not only saves time and labor but improves the quality and efficiency of their process.

My local studio uses a de-airing pugmill to reclaim and resell clay to members at a discounted rate — a great example of how pugmills can support both sustainability and profitability. Plus, you’ll waste less clay and cut down on reclaim bins and buckets. 

Do I Need a Pugmill?

Not every potter needs a pugmill, especially if you're just starting out or working at a smaller scale. But you might want to reconsider if:

• You’re wedging more than you’re making
• Clay reclaiming feels like a full-time job
• You’re losing usable clay to drying out

Even a small non-vacuum model can help you:

• Save time and energy
• Reclaim more efficiently
• Focus more on making than prepping

If you’re still working out of a home setup, our blog on how to start pottery at home offers tips on studio layout and space-saving workflows.

What Is the Difference Between a Clay Mixer and a Pug Mill?

Great question, because they’re often confused or lumped together.

Some machines combine both functions, but most potters use one or the other depending on their studio needs.

If you're mostly reclaiming and conditioning, go with a clay pugmill. A good pugmill should create the same, if not better, quality of clay than hand-wedging — so you’re not sacrificing feel or consistency. If you want to mix your own clay from raw ingredients, a mixer is what you're after. 

Still unsure which machine fits your needs? For new studio owners, Ali suggests waiting until you’ve got your wheels, kilns, tables, and shelves in place — but once the reclaim buckets start overflowing and your team is too busy to process it all, it’s a clear sign it’s time for a pugmill.

Stay muddy,
Ali & the Modern Potters Team

Email us at hello@modernpotters.com or give us a call to chat, 844-576-8837.