Best Pug Mills for Home and Small Studios: 7 Models Compared

A pug mill is a machine that mixes clay scraps and pushes them out as a firm, even log through a nozzle, ready to throw or hand build. The best pug mill for a home studio is a small de-airing model such as the Peter Pugger VPM-7, because it mixes, removes air and still runs from a normal 120 V outlet according to its maker. This guide compares seven current models from Peter Pugger and Shimpo using maker spec pages and US dealer listings. We did not test these machines; every figure below comes from published data, and where a maker does not publish a number we say so.

One honest point before the list: a pug mill is a big purchase for a hobby. If you throw a few pounds a week, a plaster slab and some wedging will reclaim your scraps for a fraction of the cost. The machines below make sense when you go through a lot of clay, teach, share a studio, or have hand or wrist strain from wedging.

Quick picks

• Best for most home studios: Peter Pugger VPM-7 (smallest de-airing mixer here, 6 amps at 120 V)
• Best for porcelain and white clay: Peter Pugger VPM-9SS (stainless chamber, 25 lb batch)
• Best for shared studios and teachers: Peter Pugger VPM-20 (45 lb batch, 600 lb per hour pugging)
• Best Shimpo de-airing pug mill: Shimpo NVA-04S (all-stainless interior, oil-free vacuum pump)
• Best non de-airing pug mill: Shimpo NRA-04 (twin augers, least expensive machine in this guide)
• Best Shimpo pug mill mixer: Shimpo NVS-07 (1 HP, 45 lb batch, mixes and de-airs in one chamber)
• Best high-volume mixer: Peter Pugger PM-50 (140 lb batch, needs 240 V)

Pug mill comparison table

Pug mills are sold mostly through pottery dealers, so the buttons may open a search page. Bailey Pottery Equipment also sells pug mills and clay mixers, but we could not read Bailey's model spec pages, so no Bailey machine is ranked here.

What is a pug mill, and what is it used for?

A clay pug mill (makers spell it both ways: Peter Pugger and Shimpo both write "pugmill") is a pug machine with a hopper where you load clay, one or two augers that compress and blend it, and a nozzle that extrudes a solid log (the "pug"). A de-airing model adds a vacuum pump that pulls air out of the clay before it reaches the nozzle, so the pug can often go straight to the wheel. A pug mill mixer adds a mixing chamber with paddles, so you can blend scraps of different softness, or mix new clay from powder and water.

The job it replaces is reclaiming and wedging. Without a pug mill you slake scraps in water, dry the slurry on plaster and wedge it by hand. Our guide on how to reclaim clay covers that by-hand method, and how to wedge clay covers the wedging step.

In pug mill pottery work, the machine is used for three jobs: turning trimmings, failed pots and slop back into usable clay; blending clays or adjusting the softness of a body; and, on mixer models, making fresh clay from powder and water. The result is a clay pug, a firm log that you cut to length with a wire.

What was a pug mill in the 1800s?

The pug mill is much older than the studio machines on this page. In the 1800s it was mainly a brickmaking and pottery works machine for "tempering" clay, the hard job of mixing clay, sand and water into a workable dough. Brick history sources describe this step, also called pugging, as the hardest work in the brickyard, done by hand and foot before machines took over, and say horse-driven pug mills appeared in the mid-1800s. A 1913 description quoted on Wikipedia's pugmill entry gives the basic design: an upright shaft fitted with projecting knives, turning inside a hollow cylinder or tub. The knives cut and kneaded the clay as the shaft turned. Today's studio machines do the same job with electric motors and horizontal augers, and de-airing models add a vacuum chamber.

Peter Pugger VPM-7: best pug mill for most home studios

The VPM-7 is the smallest Power Wedger in Peter Pugger's lineup and the one that fits a home studio most easily. Peter Pugger lists it at 33.5 by 12 by 13.75 inches and 133 lb for the aluminum version, which is small enough for a sturdy bench or cart. It mixes and de-airs in the same sealed chamber, and the maker says the sealed design lets you leave moist clay inside without it drying out.

The electrical draw is modest: Peter Pugger lists 6 amps at 120 volts (4 amps at 240 V, available at extra cost), with the 1/3 HP vacuum pump running off the main supply. The trade-off is batch size. At 14 lb per batch you will run several batches to reclaim a full bucket, but for one potter that is often enough. Peter Pugger also sells a VPM-7SS with a stainless chamber if you work in porcelain or white clay.

• Motor: 1/2 HP, single phase
• Electrical: 6 A at 120 V; 4 A at 240 V (240 V optional); plug type not published by the maker
• Vacuum pump: 1/3 HP, included
• Batch: 14 lb maximum
• Rates: 350 lb per hour pugging; 100 lb per hour mixing
• Pug size: 3 in round
• Weight: 133 lb (aluminum version)
• Warranty: not stated on the product page; The Ceramic Shop's Peter Pugger warranty page lists two years with registration
• Price band: about $4,850 to $5,000 for the aluminum version at the maker and a US dealer in October 2026; check the live price

Who should skip it: Anyone who uses less than a bag or two of clay a month, or who mainly throws porcelain (look at the stainless VPM-7SS or VPM-9SS).

Peter Pugger VPM-9SS: best for porcelain and white clay

Peter Pugger says stainless steel is "imperative" for potters using porcelain and white clay bodies, and the VPM-9SS is the step-up model built that way. The shaft, augers, paddles and mixing chamber are all stainless, which avoids the gray streaking some potters report from aluminum parts with light clay. It also nearly doubles the VPM-7 batch to 25 lb.

The product page says any clay that has not been fired can be reclaimed in it, wet or dry, and that it can mix moist clay from powder and water. That makes it a fit for a potter who throws daily, keeps a scrap bucket going and wants one machine for everything. It still runs on 120 V at 8 amps per the maker, though it weighs 200 lb crated, so plan where it lives before it arrives.

• Motor: 3/4 HP, single phase
• Electrical: 8 A at 120 V; 6 A at 240 V (220 V option adds cost); plug type not published by the maker
• Vacuum pump: 1/2 HP, included
• Batch: 25 lb maximum
• Rates: 500 lb per hour pugging; 150 lb per hour mixing
• Pug size: 3 in round
• Size and weight: 36 by 14 by 14 in; 200 lb crated
• Price band: about $6,500 to $6,750 at the maker and a US dealer in October 2026; check the live price

Who should skip it: Potters who only use buff or red stoneware, who will be well served by an aluminum VPM-7 or VPM-9 for less.

Peter Pugger VPM-20: best for shared studios and teachers

The VPM-20 is where a pug mill starts to make sense for a small group. Its 45 lb batch and 600 lb per hour pugging rate let a teacher or a studio of several members turn a full scrap bucket into usable clay in one session. Peter Pugger lists a 1 HP motor drawing 10 amps at 120 V, so it still does not need a 240 V circuit, though 240 V is offered.

For a single home potter it is more machine than needed. It measures 42 by 14 by 20 inches and ships at 230 lb in the aluminum version, which is a lot to move into a basement or spare room. A stainless VPM-20SS is also sold if the studio uses porcelain.

• Motor: 1 HP, single phase
• Electrical: 10 A at 120 V; 8 A at 240 V (220 V option adds cost); plug type not published by the maker
• Vacuum pump: 1/2 HP double-headed diaphragm type, included
• Batch: 45 lb maximum
• Rates: 600 lb per hour pugging; 180 lb per hour mixing
• Size and weight: 42 by 14 by 20 in; 230 lb crated (aluminum)
• Price band: about $6,500 to $6,600 at the maker and a US dealer in October 2026; check the live price

Who should skip it: Solo hobby potters. The VPM-7 does the same job in smaller batches for less money and space.

Shimpo NVA-04S: best Shimpo de-airing pug mill

Shimpo's NVA-04S uses twin cast stainless augers and an oil-free vacuum pump, and Shimpo describes the interior as all-stainless for porcelain and light-colored clay. Shimpo rates it at 440 lb per hour, which is plenty for one or two potters. Shimpo lists a 1/2 HP, 400 W motor on 115 V single phase.

It is a pug mill first, not a batch mixer. Shimpo's page talks about blending and extruding air-free clay, but it does not say the machine mixes powder or dry scrap, so plan to bring reclaim to a soft, even consistency first. At 320 lb and 36 by 16.5 by 29.5 inches it is also the heaviest of the smaller machines here.

• Motor: 1/2 HP, 400 W
• Electrical: 115 V, 60 Hz single phase; amps and plug type not published by the maker
• Output: 440 lb per hour
• Nozzle: 3.5 in
• Size and weight: 36 by 16.5 by 29.5 in; 320 lb
• Warranty: 5 years per Shimpo; one US dealer listing says one year
• Price band: about $7,000 to $8,900 at a US dealer in October 2026 (the dealer price moves often); check the live price

Who should skip it: Potters who want to mix clay from powder or reclaim bone dry scraps without slaking them first.

Shimpo NRA-04: best non de-airing pug mill

The NRA-04 has no vacuum pump. Shimpo says its twin augers increase wedging capacity and produce practically air-free clay without a vacuum, and it lists the highest extruding rate in this guide at 880 lb per hour. It is also the lightest Shimpo here at 170 lb (220 lb shipped) and the least expensive machine in this guide.

It comes as the NRA-04 with an aluminum barrel or the NRA-04S with stainless parts (nozzle, auger case and rollers per Shimpo). Without de-airing, pugs for throwing may still benefit from a short wedge, and the page does not claim it mixes dry material. For a potter who mainly wants to turn soft trimmings back into firm logs, that is a fair trade for the lower price.

• Motor: 1/2 HP, listed as 200 W
• Electrical: 115 V, 60 Hz single phase; amps and plug type not published by the maker
• Output: 880 lb per hour extruding
• Nozzle and hopper: 3.5 in nozzle; 3.5 by 3.5 in hopper
• Size and weight: 25.5 by 12 by 22.5 in; 170 lb (220 lb shipped)
• Warranty: 5 years per Shimpo
• Price band: about $4,050 (NRA-04) to $4,900 (NRA-04S) at a US dealer in October 2026; check the live price

Who should skip it: Throwers who want pugs that go straight to the wheel with no wedging, and anyone who needs to mix powder.

Shimpo NVS-07: best Shimpo pug mill mixer

The NVS-07 is Shimpo's de-airing pugmill mixer. Shimpo says it vacuums in the same chamber where the clay is mixed, uses a 1 HP gear-driven motor and is built in all stainless steel. The 45 lb maximum batch puts it in the same class as the Peter Pugger VPM-20.

It comes with a clay cut-off wire, a receiving table and a roller shelf, and Shimpo lists a dual safety system with a limit switch and overload protection. What Shimpo does not publish is an hourly output figure, amp draw or plug type, so ask the dealer for the electrical data before you plan the circuit. At 310 lb and 47 inches long with the shelf extended, it needs a dedicated spot.

• Motor: 1 HP, gear driven
• Electrical: 115 V, 60 Hz; amps and plug type not published by the maker
• Batch: 45 lb maximum; hourly output not published by the maker
• Nozzle and hopper: 3.5 in nozzle; 8.5 by 11.5 in hopper
• Size and weight: 35 by 17 by 33 in (47 in long with roller shelf extended); 310 lb
• Warranty: 5 years per Shimpo
• Price band: about $8,400 to $8,950 at a US dealer in October 2026; check the live price

Who should skip it: Solo hobby potters and anyone who has not confirmed their outlet can carry the load.

Peter Pugger PM-50: best high-volume pug mill mixer

The PM-50 Pugger-Mixer is a non de-airing machine built for volume. Peter Pugger lists a 140 lb batch, 1,500 lb per hour pugging and 500 lb per hour mixing, and says it can reclaim scrap wet or dry (anything not yet fired) and mix moist clay from powder and water. That is production-pottery territory.

It also needs a 240 V supply: the maker lists a 2 HP single-phase motor drawing 16 amps at 240 volts. It stands 46 inches tall and ships at 400 lb. For a garage studio that already has 240 V for a kiln it is possible, but most home potters will never use a fraction of its capacity.

• Motor: 2 HP, single phase (3 phase available)
• Electrical: 16 A at 240 V; plug type not published by the maker
• Batch: 140 lb maximum
• Rates: 1,500 lb per hour pugging; 500 lb per hour mixing
• Pug size: 3.5 in round
• Size and weight: 30 by 20 by 46 in; 400 lb crated
• Price band: about $7,450 to $7,750 at the maker and a US dealer in October 2026; check the live price

Who should skip it: Every hobby potter working alone. It is a tool for production potters and community studios.

Pug mill pros and cons

Before comparing models, weigh what any of these pugmills does and does not do for a home studio.

Pug mill buying guide

Pug mills are simple in idea but the models differ in ways that matter at home: whether they de-air, whether they mix, what they are made of and what they need from your wiring. Here is what to weigh.

Do home potters need a pug mill?

Most do not. A hobby potter making a few pieces a week can slake scraps, dry them on a plaster slab and wedge them in under an hour. A pug mill pays off when you reclaim more than you can comfortably wedge, when several people share a studio, or when wedging hurts. If you are still setting up, money spent on a better wheel, kiln or wedging table usually does more for your work.

Pug mill vs hand wedging

Hand wedging costs nothing but time and effort, and for a few pounds of fresh bagged clay it takes a minute or two. It also teaches you how the clay feels, which helps your throwing. Reclaim is where the gap opens up: by hand, scraps must be slaked, dried to the right softness on plaster and then wedged hard to even them out, which can take days of drying and a tiring session of wedging. A de-airing pug mill does the mixing, compressing and air removal in one pass. A non de-airing machine does the mixing and compressing, and many potters still give its pugs a short wedge before throwing. If wedging is not your bottleneck, a machine will not make your pots better.

How much clay do you need to use to justify one?

No maker publishes a break-even figure, so think in terms of batches. The smallest machine here, the VPM-7, takes a 14 lb batch. If your scrap bucket fills less than one batch a week, hand reclaim is easy to keep up with, and the machine's price would buy a great deal of fresh clay. If you reclaim several batches a week, teach, share a studio, or cannot wedge comfortably, the time and strain saved start to add up. Price the machine against your own clay use and the hours you spend reclaiming, and remember to add the cost of a stand and any circuit work.

De-airing or non de-airing

A de-airing pug mill (often written deairing pugmill in listings) pulls a vacuum on the clay before it is extruded. Peter Pugger says this removes the need for wedging in many applications, which is the main reason throwers pay more for it. A non de-airing machine like the Shimpo NRA-04 still compresses the clay, and Shimpo says its twin augers make practically air-free clay, but many potters still give the pug a short wedge before throwing. For hand building, where small air pockets matter less, non de-airing is often enough.

Pug mill mixer or pugger only

A pug mill mixer has a chamber where paddles blend clay before it is pugged. This is what lets Peter Pugger say its Power Wedgers and the PM-50 can take wet or dry unfired scrap and even mix clay from powder. A pugger-only design expects clay that is already near throwing consistency. If your scrap bucket is a mix of slop and dry trimmings, a mixer saves the slaking and drying step. If you want a dedicated mixer without the pugging, see our guide to the clay mixer.

Adjusting clay consistency and moisture

Mixer models are the ones that let you fix clay that is too wet or too dry. Peter Pugger's dealer listings say its Power Wedgers allow moisture adjustment before pugging, can adjust the moisture of an already wet body, and can blend two or more different bodies. In practice that means adding water to stiff scraps, or adding drier clay to slop, and letting the machine mix until the batch is even before you pug it out. A pugger-only design such as the Shimpo NRA-04 does not claim to mix, so bring reclaim close to the softness you want before loading it. Change one thing at a time and note what you added, so you can repeat a good batch.

Switching clay bodies: trapped clay and cleaning

Every pug mill keeps clay inside after a run; Peter Pugger even sells the sealed chamber as a feature, saying moist clay can be stored in it indefinitely. The catch is that the next clay you load mixes with what is left. Expect the first pugs after a switch to carry some of the old clay, and set them aside for test tiles or a mixed reclaim bucket rather than using them for good work. Running dark stoneware and then white porcelain through the same machine is the worst case, since even a streak of dark clay shows.

For a full clean, Peter Pugger says removing four bolts lets you take off the whole mixing and pugging chamber to wash it, and Shimpo's NRA-04 has a removable steel case for access to the mixing chamber. Many studios keep one machine for one clay body, or one for dark clays and one for light. If you work with several bodies, plan your sessions so you switch as rarely as possible.

Aluminum or stainless steel

Both makers sell aluminum and stainless versions. Peter Pugger calls stainless imperative for porcelain and white clay bodies, and Shimpo markets its stainless interiors for porcelain and light-colored clay. If you only use darker stoneware, aluminum saves money. If you work with porcelain clay, budget for stainless.

Batch size and output

Hourly ratings such as 350 or 880 lb per hour sound impressive, but at home the batch size matters more. It decides how many runs a bucket of reclaim takes. A 14 lb batch suits one potter; 25 lb suits a heavy daily thrower; 45 lb and up suits groups.

Electrical, weight and placement

Most machines here run on 115 to 120 V, and Peter Pugger lists amp draw for each model. Shimpo does not publish amps or plug type, so ask the dealer. Even a 120 V machine with a 10 A motor plus a vacuum pump can trip a shared circuit, and the PM-50 needs 240 V. These machines weigh 133 to 400 lb, so check the floor and plan a sturdy stand. Our garage pottery studio guide covers layout.

Safety and cleanup

Pug mills have powerful augers. Keep hands out of the hopper while the motor runs, and use the plunger or lid the maker supplies. Peter Pugger lists a safety auto-shutoff when the lid opens on its Power Wedgers, and Shimpo lists limit switches on its de-airing models. Mixing from powder raises silica dust, so wear a NIOSH-approved respirator while loading dry material and clean up wet, never by dry sweeping. Our clay dust safety guide explains why.

Buying a used pugmill for sale

Many potters look for a used pug mill for sale to cut the cost. Ask for the model number, run it before paying, listen for grinding, check the vacuum gauge on de-airing models and confirm the voltage. Parts and seals are model specific, so a brand that still supports the model is worth more.

Sources: Peter Pugger product pages for the VPM-7, VPM-7SS, VPM-9, VPM-9SS, VPM-20 and PM-50, and the Peter Pugger FAQ; Shimpo (Nidec-Shimpo) pugmill pages for the NRA-04/04S, NVA-04S and NVS-07; The Ceramic Shop NVA-04S listing and Peter Pugger warranty page; Krueger Pottery Supply Peter Pugger and Shimpo pugmill listings, including the VPM-7SS listing; Clay-King Peter Pugger VPM-9 listing; Potterycrafts Shimpo NRA-04 listing; brickcollecting.com "Brickmaking in the USA: A Brief History"; Scottish Brick History "The basics of making clay bricks"; Wikipedia Pugmill entry (1913 description); Bailey Pottery Equipment home page (Bailey sells pugmills and clay mixers, but we could not read Bailey's model spec pages, so no Bailey machine is picked). Specs checked October 2026.