Dave Finkelnburg on mon 19 jan 04
Vince,
I agree that concrete seems like it might make a good wedging surface.
However, like John Dellow and many others, I use plaster to wedge on and
I love it!
First, and most important, I wet the surface before wedging and have no
dust produced when I slam some clay down. That is essential for studio
health. How do you prevent dust coming off the surface of a canvas-covered
table? The last community studio I worked in the canvas wedging table was a
major source of dust. :-(
Second, clay does not stick to the wetted plaster, but rather, to the
plaster if it's dry.
Third, unless you take big chunks out of the plaster surface, which
should never be a problem if the edges are properly protected with a wood
curb flush with the top of the plaster, you'll never have lime pop-outs in
the bisque from plaster from the wedging table. Tiny shavings, if they do
get into the clay, fire into the body without problem. See Archives post by
Tommy Humphries at Marshall Pottery, where he demonstrated this. Marshall
Pottery, by the way, uses plaster as a wedging surface without issue. They
do wear out the surface, though. It does not last forever and does abrade
away over time.
Finally, while dry plaster is a good surface for dewatering wet clay,
wedging or kneading clay on plaster is not a significant source of drying of
the clay in my experience. Sure, some moisture removal must occur, but I
think it is similar to moisture loss to the air for the same amount of time.
I don't notice my kneaded clay being much dryer than it was unkneaded.
For me plaster makes a great wedging/kneading surface.
All the best,
Dave Finkelnburg
Vince wrote, in part:
>John -
>Yes, I can see how the plaster might work better if you keep it wet and
>covered, and don't mind being very careful when scraping or cleaning the
>surface, and don't mind the occasional plaster shard in your clay. But
>doesn't the clay stick worse when the plaster is wet? I run an academic
>clay studio, so you can see why I don't like plaster, besides all the
>obvious reasons.
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