Mike & Diane on sat 12 jun 04
Roger Korn,
I read with great interest your post on using local materials in your work
since I am attempting to do the same. We are building a new office building
at our refuge and the soils engineer said the clay content in the pit is the
best he's ever seen (I pity the builder!)...so I excavated five 5 gallon
buckets of the stuff. I made a small pinch pot and bisqued it to cone 06.
What started as an ugly brown clay ended up the brightest orange/red! And
almost vitrified at 06.
But, my real question is....where can I find the proper way to process the
clay? I'm not sure where to start. Can you point me to a website? Can you
give me brief instructions? Can you give me detailed instruction? ;-)
My intention is to make a bird bath for the new office observation deck.
Diane Rae
Royal Thrown Pottery
Great Falls, Montana
Shoot me now for I have 12 thirteen year olds coming over tomorrow for my
daughter's birthday party.
Roger Korn on sun 13 jun 04
My typical procedure is this:
1. Dig the clay
2. Spread the clay on a concrete slab until completely dry
3. Break up chunks with a hammer or whatever. Pass through 1/2" mesh
hardware cloth screen.
4. Dump into 5 gallon bucket half-filled with water, let soak, and mix
into slip (use Jiffy mixer or sheetrock mud mixer) a little thicker than
whole cream.
5. Mix briskly, wait about 45 seconds, then decant the top 75% into
another bucket.
6. Repeat until clay is uniform (no chunks).
7. Pour out slip on concrete slab and let dry until wedgeable.
8. Wedge thoroughly. Place in bag and let sit for a week.
9. See if it throws/forms ok. Add grog as needed to get drying without
cracking.
Let us know how this works with your clay. I'm in AZ, so drying happens
FAST. You may need a plaster slab. Suggestions? Questions?
Note that I don't sieve - it's too much work, and the above levigation
technique works ok for me.
Hope this helps,
Roger
Diane Rae wrote:
Roger Korn,
I read with great interest your post on using local materials in your work
since I am attempting to do the same. We are building a new office building
at our refuge and the soils engineer said the clay content in the pit is the
best he's ever seen (I pity the builder!)...so I excavated five 5 gallon
buckets of the stuff. I made a small pinch pot and bisqued it to cone 06.
What started as an ugly brown clay ended up the brightest orange/red! And
almost vitrified at 06.
But, my real question is....where can I find the proper way to process the
clay? I'm not sure where to start. Can you point me to a website? Can you
give me brief instructions? Can you give me detailed instruction? ;-)
My intention is to make a bird bath for the new office observation deck.
--
McKay Creek Ceramics
In OR: PO Box 436
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464
In AZ: PO Box 463
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699
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