Jim West on mon 30 nov 98
Thanks for all the great ideas for preparing my local clay. I just wanted
to send a quick note to let you know what s up.
Based on the suggestions, I m going to try 3 different things. First, I put
about 2 gallons of slurry in cloth and suspended it. The plan is to mush it
up once a day until it is to a throwing consistency. When I poured it in, I
immediately got about 1 cup of water that drained through. Then it stopped.
The outside is wet, but it looks like this will be drying by evaporation.
Second, I diluted 2 gallons of slurry with 2 gallons of water. The idea is
that this thinner solution will settle out quicker.
And third, I took about 4 pounds of the local clay, as dug, sliced it up
with a knife and put it out to dry. When dry, I ll crush it and then put it
in about 4 gallons of water. Wait a couple days, then mix well. Then let it
settle, siphon clear water, and hope I got something better than before.
If anyone has suggestions on how to improve on the above, I d be glad to
hear it. I m not desperate to make this work, but now this has kind of
become a personal challenge. This clay has some real potential. As dug, it
has very few stones, almost no organics, drys without cracking, throws well
(about the consistency of porcelain), and looks great when low fired
(reddish peach color). There s also a great sense of satisfaction about
digging something out of the front yard and turning it into a pot.
Khaimraj Seepersad on tue 1 dec 98
Just to say did you forget to try , the capful or two of vinegar
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim West
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, November 30, 1998 6:01 AM
Subject: Update - Preping Local Clay
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Thanks for all the great ideas for preparing my local clay. I just wanted
to send a quick note to let you know what s up.
Based on the suggestions, I m going to try 3 different things. First, I put
about 2 gallons of slurry in cloth and suspended it. The plan is to mush it
up once a day until it is to a throwing consistency. When I poured it in, I
immediately got about 1 cup of water that drained through. Then it stopped.
The outside is wet, but it looks like this will be drying by evaporation.
Second, I diluted 2 gallons of slurry with 2 gallons of water. The idea is
that this thinner solution will settle out quicker.
And third, I took about 4 pounds of the local clay, as dug, sliced it up
with a knife and put it out to dry. When dry, I ll crush it and then put it
in about 4 gallons of water. Wait a couple days, then mix well. Then let it
settle, siphon clear water, and hope I got something better than before.
If anyone has suggestions on how to improve on the above, I d be glad to
hear it. I m not desperate to make this work, but now this has kind of
become a personal challenge. This clay has some real potential. As dug, it
has very few stones, almost no organics, drys without cracking, throws well
(about the consistency of porcelain), and looks great when low fired
(reddish peach color). There s also a great sense of satisfaction about
digging something out of the front yard and turning it into a pot.
Bonnie Staffel on fri 4 dec 98
December 4, 1998
Dear Khaimraj,
Don't know where you are writing from, but while living in Ohio there
was a field tile company across the river. We slurried it, screened it
and then hung it up to the right consistency in burlap bags during the
summer. It was very nice low fire terra cotta. We then tried some clay
from a new digging where my sister was building a house. Same process,
but when we bisqued the pieces, after a few days to weeks, we began to
experience pop-outs from the lime. So my advice to you is to try a good
sample and bisque it to see if there is any lime in the clay. This
happens especially when dampness enters the bisque. The lime swells more
that the surrounding clay can handle.
Hope this helps.
Bonnie Staffel
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