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throwing newly-mixed clay

updated sun 29 feb 04

 

Paul on mon 23 feb 04


Hello,
are there many people out there who throw with clay just after mixing it? I
have always thought this was not the thing to do but the other day i mixed a
batch of a new stoneware recipe and pugged it all, and then just out of
curiosity threw a couple pots. I was really surprised at how workeable it
was without being aged at all. I am not sure if it is the recipe or the high
vacuum on the pug mill or what - i wouldn't say it was the same as well-aged
clay - but it still threw well. Does anyone else do this on a regular basis?
If not, how long do most people let the clay age for?
Paul B
Falmouth,Ky

Paul Herman on mon 23 feb 04


Hi Paul B,

It's the deairing pugmill that makes the difference. By removing the
air, the particles are wetted. Yes, sometimes I throw with freshly made
clay. Aging a month or more still improves it somewhat.

Good mixing,

Paul Herman
Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
http://www.greatbasinpottery.com/

----------
>From: Paul
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: THROWING NEWLY-MIXED CLAY
>Date: Mon, Feb 23, 2004, 11:02 AM
>

> Hello,
> are there many people out there who throw with clay just after mixing it? I
> have always thought this was not the thing to do but the other day i mixed a
> batch of a new stoneware recipe and pugged it all, and then just out of
> curiosity threw a couple pots. I was really surprised at how workeable it
> was without being aged at all. I am not sure if it is the recipe or the high
> vacuum on the pug mill or what - i wouldn't say it was the same as well-aged
> clay - but it still threw well. Does anyone else do this on a regular basis?
> If not, how long do most people let the clay age for?
> Paul B
> Falmouth,Ky

Tom Sawyer on mon 23 feb 04


Paul,

I have a Peter Pugger and very often throw with freshly mixed clay. I do run
the vacuum. I was once told that when one de-airs clay it is equivalent to
1-2 weeks aging - can't say that this is true but I do find the clay fairly
good.

Tom Sawyer
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Paul
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 2:03 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: THROWING NEWLY-MIXED CLAY

Hello,
are there many people out there who throw with clay just after mixing it? I
have always thought this was not the thing to do but the other day i mixed a
batch of a new stoneware recipe and pugged it all, and then just out of
curiosity threw a couple pots. I was really surprised at how workeable it
was without being aged at all. I am not sure if it is the recipe or the high
vacuum on the pug mill or what - i wouldn't say it was the same as well-aged
clay - but it still threw well. Does anyone else do this on a regular basis?
If not, how long do most people let the clay age for?
Paul B
Falmouth,Ky

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Michael Wendt on fri 27 feb 04


Paul noticed that his freshly mixed clay still threw reasonably well after
he passed it through hid deairing pug mill..
My tests with mixing clay from dry ingredients support his hypothesis
that deairing plays a major role in plasticity. Much of the shortness
of freshly mixed clay can be overcome by deairing.
To test that this is the reason, leave the vacuum pump off on the pug
mill and throw with freshly mixed clay. Then run it again with the vacuum
and compare the ease of throwing. Better yet, try to pull handles with each.
Personally, I consider pulling handles the true test of a clay. If you can
pull a long ribbon and tie it in a knot without having it break, it is
plastic
enough for virtually any purpose.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com

wayneinkeywest on sat 28 feb 04


If what Michael says is correct, (and I have no reason to doubt that
information) then I am using the most hideous short porcelain known
to man. My handles pull no more than about 6 inches (don't go
there!), and even wet, crack when bent. "...frustration, thy name
is porcelain..."

Since I am unable to get any information regarding what I am being
sold, other than "1A English Porcelain", and am not able to pry
either an analysis or an ingredients list out of my supplier, does
anyone have any tips on increasing the plasticity of what I'm
currently using, such as additions to, or ?

This is kind of like shooting frogs in the dark...
BTW, it's the same whether recycled or "new" from the bag, so I must
believe that my recycle technique is sound. I have no pugmill
(yet).
Wayne Seidl

> To test that this is the reason, leave the vacuum pump off on the
pug
> mill and throw with freshly mixed clay. Then run it again with the
vacuum
> and compare the ease of throwing. Better yet, try to pull handles
with each.
> Personally, I consider pulling handles the true test of a clay. If
you can
> pull a long ribbon and tie it in a knot without having it break,
it is
> plastic
> enough for virtually any purpose.
> Regards,
> Michael Wendt

Hank Murrow on sat 28 feb 04


Dear Wayne;

Must be a porcelain virus going around. I can throw just about anything
with "Crystal Springs", a Grolleg-based body from Georgies, but they
gave me "Snow Pack", another Grolleg body, which even after 46 years
throwing, I could make nothing but plates with. Felt like rubber under
the hands.......'bout as useful too.

Cheers, hank


On Feb 28, 2004, at 10:59 AM, wayneinkeywest wrote:

> If what Michael says is correct, (and I have no reason to doubt that
> information) then I am using the most hideous short porcelain known
> to man. My handles pull no more than about 6 inches (don't go
> there!), and even wet, crack when bent. "...frustration, thy name
> is porcelain..."