Rick Bonomo on wed 20 jul 05
Ann Brink wrote:
RE: http://www.ricks-bricks.com/pottery/minerecycle.htm
> A comment on recycling: You don't have to "powderize" the dry clay- =
just
> don't have any big chunks in with the trimmings- they don't dry as =
fast as
> the trimmings and may still be a bit moist, so won't absorb water as =
well
> when you slake everything.
I just knew I'd get caught with that "powderize" statement=20
I'll change the text to read:=20
"If you are starting out with dry clay: smash it into as many small =
pieces as practical so it can better absorb the water"
> OK, next, I don't go through that whole bit with all those =
buckets,making
> the slurry uniform with the drill, etc. The mixture I pour out to dry =
is
> part sloppy, part firmer chunks...as the water seeps away, it tends to =
all
> get fairly equalized. The rest is solved by wedging. Just the way I =
do it-
> seems simpler. The only time I screen is if I'm working with gathered =
clay
> and it has junk in it. Screening is absolutely my least favorite =
thing when
> dealing with clay, so I try to gather only clean clay, in dry pieces.
> Ann Brink in Lompoc CA,
>
The screen part comes from mining raw clay with rocks in it
It seems that anything small enough to pass through a screen door screen =
won't ruin the throwing or firing of clay.
Thanks for your advice
Rick Bonomo
http://www.ricks-bricks.com/contact.htm
Michael Wendt on wed 20 jul 05
Rick asked about mining your own clay or recycling it.
Recycling clay is so easy, anyone can do it. Mining and processing your own
clay is complicated, requires lots of equipment and is most justifiable if
you plan to sell the clay to others.
To recycle:
Let the scrap dry completely
place it in 5 gallon buckets
pour in enough water to completely cover the pots
leave alone until fully slaked.
dry by your favorite means to desired forming consistency
the only time I think screening is needed is if the clay might be
contaminated by foreign matter like sponges, pin tools, ribs... such things
if you use care with your scrap, this is not likely in a one person studio.
in the ceramics lab at the university, people passing through often put
their trash into the clay left to recycle! all manner of trash was found in
the clay.
just be careful
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com
Rick wrote:
The screen part comes from mining raw clay with rocks in it
It seems that anything small enough to pass through a screen door screen
won't ruin the throwing or firing of clay.
Thanks for your advice
Rick Bonomo
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