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what kinds of stoneware clays are available in eastern us?

updated wed 16 may 07

 

Paul Borian on fri 4 may 07


Hello,

I have been using 10% goldart in my clay body but once my supply of that
runs out I would like to swap it out for another type of stoneware clay
because the sulphor in goldart can cause problems sometimes for me. But
none of the clay suppliers I go to list any other type of stoneware clay
in their raw materials catalog - everything is either ball clay, kaolin
or fireclay. Are there just not very many stoneware clays being mined?

I don't want to truck something in from the west coast - it would be
easier to just eliminate it altogether and adjust the clay body. But if
there is another type of stoneware mined somewhere in the eastern US I
would like to know.

Thanks,

paul

Don Whitehouse on sun 6 may 07


When I was "Up North" I found Sheffield( Massachusetts) Pottery's stoneware
clays to be excellent. You can Google for their web site.
(The usual disclaimers apply, I have no connection with them other than
using their products)

Don

David Beumee on sun 6 may 07


There are very few true stoneware clays mined in North America. One that I've been testing is Palestone, which burns to a vitreous pale grey-buff color at cone 10. It's a smooth and plastic clay mined in southern Saskatchewn and sold by Plainsman Clays in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The number is 403-527-8535, www.plainsmanclays.com,
plainsman@telus.net. Perhaps they have some distribution along the east coast.

David Beumee
Lafayette, CO














-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Paul Borian
>
> Hello,
>
> I have been using 10% goldart in my clay body but once my supply of that
> runs out I would like to swap it out for another type of stoneware clay
> because the sulphor in goldart can cause problems sometimes for me. But
> none of the clay suppliers I go to list any other type of stoneware clay
> in their raw materials catalog - everything is either ball clay, kaolin
> or fireclay. Are there just not very many stoneware clays being mined?
>
> I don't want to truck something in from the west coast - it would be
> easier to just eliminate it altogether and adjust the clay body. But if
> there is another type of stoneware mined somewhere in the eastern US I
> would like to know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> paul
>
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Eleanora Eden on tue 15 may 07


Hi Paul,

Foundry Hill Creme is described as a smooth stoneware, a substitute for goldart.
It is mined by HC Spinks Co. The old stuff is mined out but the new stuff is very
nice. It is available through Laguna's eastern suppliers and other sources I'm sure.

Roseville clay is another that is described as stoneware. Here is the blurb from
Tony Hansen on Roseville:

A selectively mined stoneware clay this is exceptionally clean and when ordered in
200 mesh offers the potter a stoneware fireclay which works well by itself or in
compound bodies. The fired color is warn buff and it has a firing range of cone 1 to 8.
This material will respond to deflocculnts and can thus be used in slip casting bodies.

This has been used for over 100 years by Roseville and Zanesville, OH potters.
Some add small amounts of grog to impart texture and improve drying.

Roseville is also available through Laguna distributors. I am not recommending Laguna
specifically it is just that my supplier uses them and I can get anything they sell without
shipping charges.

Eleanora





>Hello,
>
>I have been using 10% goldart in my clay body but once my supply of that
>runs out I would like to swap it out for another type of stoneware clay
>because the sulphor in goldart can cause problems sometimes for me. But
>none of the clay suppliers I go to list any other type of stoneware clay
>in their raw materials catalog - everything is either ball clay, kaolin
>or fireclay. Are there just not very many stoneware clays being mined?
>
>I don't want to truck something in from the west coast - it would be
>easier to just eliminate it altogether and adjust the clay body. But if
>there is another type of stoneware mined somewhere in the eastern US I
>would like to know.
>
>Thanks,
>
>paul
>
>_____

--
Bellows Falls Vermont
www.eleanoraeden.com