Laura Berkowitz on tue 2 sep 03
To any potters in my area:
Free--you just need to pick it up. A very nice drying table. This was
built when I was processing and using native clays from the Old Diamond Coal
Mine and Usibelli areas, but I have gone in a different direction.
Description: Table top is designed with a screen in the bottom and that is
divided into two sections (in case one wanted to dry out two types of clay
and keep them separate.) Along the bottom of the table, under the screen,
is a V-shaped aluminum piece that catches any water draining from the clay.
It angles lower on one end and drains into a 5-gallon bucket. On top of the
screen is a piece of cloth that lets the water drain through from the slip,
but keeps the clay intact. There is a wood table top hinged on one side
that opens and closes over this screened area so that you can use the drying
table as a regular table. There are several inches of air space between the
top when it is closed and the clay inside for circulation. The table is
about eight feet long.
I used to put dried native clays into a mixer, mix for a day or so with lots
of water, strain out impurities, and then pour into this table. Within
about four days in summer months, I'd have clay ready to wedge or put into
the pug mill.
If not using native clays, it works great too just for reprocessing slip. I
would keep it for that but my production is much smaller now and I just put
my slip to recycle into 5-gallon buckets and dry on plaster bats.
You can contact me at lberk@eagle.ptialaska.net. I'm hoping it finds a good
home.
Laura (Fairbanks, AK)
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