Samantha Stankiewicz on tue 15 aug 06
Has anyone found a commercial cone 6 clay that is good for kids? I'd been using Ceramic Supply's
schoolhouse white, however it is about 50% lime and it not only kills my hands, but the surface
dries out so quickly that even simple pinch pots have surface cracks in about 5 minutes. I've
decided to use a cone 6 stoneware and for primary kids, I'll just bisque fire it with glaze. I am also
moving to cone 6 from Earthenware in my studio. The problem is that the clay in my studio---it's
13AZ from Ceramic Supply-- is very sticky and I need to wedge it a bit before handbuilding with
it. This is not a problem for me in the studio, but I have 463 students and I'd like to be able to
"cut and go". The best clay I've used with kids is a cone 10 stoneware that is Mikhail Zakin's house
clay at Old Church Cultural Center. It has a fairly rough consistency which makes me think that it
has a high grog content. I've worked with that clay with kids for 2 hours at a time and they can
form and join so easily that the projects seem so effortless. I'd like to use a white clay because it's
easier clean up in the classroom. All suggestions are welcome.
Cindy Gatto on wed 16 aug 06
We use Standard clay which Ceramic Supply carries We use the 225 which is a
warm tanish and the 553 buff I highly recommend both The buff is a little
grittier so it might be better for kids
Cindy Gatto & Mark Petrin
The Mudpit
228 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
718-218-9424
_www.mudpitnyc.com_ (http://www.mudpitnyc.com/)
mudpitnyc@aol.com
Ron Roy on fri 18 aug 06
Hi Samantha,
The reason you found the stoneware easier to work with is because it
probably has a high percentage of clay - as opposed to non plastic
materials. That is one of the reasons that stoneware clays usually have
such desirable working properties.
I suggest you ask your suppliers what percent of clay is in their bodies
and concentrate on the those with the higher amounts of plastic clays in
them.
That clay does not have 50% lime in it by the way - or any lime for that mater.
RR.
>Has anyone found a commercial cone 6 clay that is good for kids? I'd been
>using Ceramic Supply's
>schoolhouse white, however it is about 50% lime and it not only kills my
>hands, but the surface
>dries out so quickly that even simple pinch pots have surface cracks in
>about 5 minutes. I've
>decided to use a cone 6 stoneware and for primary kids, I'll just bisque
>fire it with glaze. I am also
>moving to cone 6 from Earthenware in my studio. The problem is that the
>clay in my studio---it's
>13AZ from Ceramic Supply-- is very sticky and I need to wedge it a bit
>before handbuilding with
>it. This is not a problem for me in the studio, but I have 463 students
>and I'd like to be able to
>"cut and go". The best clay I've used with kids is a cone 10 stoneware
>that is Mikhail Zakin's house
>clay at Old Church Cultural Center. It has a fairly rough consistency
>which makes me think that it
>has a high grog content. I've worked with that clay with kids for 2 hours
>at a time and they can
>form and join so easily that the projects seem so effortless. I'd like to
>use a white clay because it's
>easier clean up in the classroom. All suggestions are welcome.
Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
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