Talbott on wed 5 mar 97
As a studio potter it is not so much a matter of saving money on
clay purchases, which is still important, (we invested in a Soldner studio
model clay mixer.. around $2500), as it is a matter of being able to obtain
clay of superior quality. There is a BIG difference in the quality between
the "store bought" pre-mixed clay that we used to buy and the clay that we
make now. The premixed clays were so stiff that you could hardly even
wedge the stuff and were okay for slab work but not good for throwing.
Some clays work well for throwing and others for handbuilding, etc... We
can control the amount of grog and courseness of grog etc.. Having clays
that do what you want them to do is the main reason we mix our own clays...
Mixing your own gives you CONTROL over the quality of the clay. And
remember pre-mixed clay is about 25-30 percent water and you the customer
ultimately are paying for that water and the cost to ship that water.
And that is my 2 cents worth on that!!!...... Marshall
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Big deal? The cost difference of .09 per pound versus .22 per pound is a
>> big deal
>
>Yes, this is a major difference, but how much clay do you have to use to
>pay for a 4K+ investment in the Peter Pugger? Plus the time it takes to
>make your own? At what point does a potter go through enough clay to
>justify the expense of this type of equipment? (I'm not challenging you--I
>truly want the information to make a decision.)
>
>Last night I mixed clay - I did 700
>> pounds and it took me about two hours. I store in in long pugs, standing
>> upright in a large plastic container I got a Kmart. I also know that
>> whatever I want to go into that clay, it is in there. I do not have to
>> take my clay body on faith. The cost is a big deal when you buy more than
>a
>> few hundred pounds.
>
>I buy (at my present rate of throwing--and I'm new) about 2-3 tons a year.
>So far, I've been happy with the quality of the clay. Even with the
>consideration that I have to have it shipped, or have my traveling friends
>pick it up, it would still take quite a few years for the cost difference
>to make up the cost of the equipment. Space isn't a problem--for once in my
>life I have more space than I need, but even so, the investment in a pugger
>doesn't seem likely to pay for itself anytime soon. I'd be interested in
>any opinions either agreeable or contrary to mine. Thanks in advance for
>any advice.
>
>Cindy in the Black Hills--where we have entire red cliffs of beautiful
>clay, but no one interested in mining it. (Well, it's too beautiful to dig
>it all up anyway, but they could get it from the prairie, I suppose.)
1ST ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summmer 1997)
{contact me directly for more information}
Celia & Marshall Talbott
Pottery By Celia
Route 114
P.O. Box 4116
Naples, Maine 04055-4116
(207)693-6100 voice and fax
clupus@ime.net
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Dave and Pat Eitel on thu 6 mar 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> As a studio potter it is not so much a matter of saving money on
>clay purchases, which is still important, (we invested in a Soldner studio
>model clay mixer.. around $2500), as it is a matter of being able to obtain
>clay of superior quality. There is a BIG difference in the quality between
>the "store bought" pre-mixed clay that we used to buy and the clay that we
>make now.
Marshall--
At the risk of sounding like a proponent of having my clay mixed for me,
I'd just like to say the company that mixes my clay uses my formula and the
quantity of water I want, so I'm getting exactly the same clay I'd have if
I mixed it myself. As for being a proponent of anything, my basic belief
is that every potter is different and needs to find the way of working that
is best for her/him.
Later...Dave
Dave Eitel
Cedar Creek Pottery
Cedarburg, WI
pots@cedarcreekpottery.com
http://www.cedarcreekpottery.com
Karen Gringhuis on fri 7 mar 97
Since I use a porcelain/ball clay body (thank you Jean Otis & VC),
I add macaloid which MUST be blunged beforehand preferrably overnight
or else the clay has a spongey consistency which can't be wedged or
REdeairpugged (I really did try this w/ store bought clay).
the only supplier I could find willing to blunge this way was
because a personal friend works there. And I can't see buying
premade spongey clay.
It also seems to me that y ou lucky people out there who own
mixers could help offset their cost mixing to order in less
than 2000# - 3000#(!) quantities for your neighbors. Plus
deaired clay usually isn't as wet as before and since the
particles can't get as wet, won't gain n plasticity over time
like non-deaired clay will. So for me, 2-3000# is not an
answer.
To each his own. Karen Gringhuis
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