Digging Clay

This is the best time of year for digging and processing clay in my area. The worst of the heat has passed, but it’s generally still warm and dry. The dry weather aids in dewatering the processed clays.

This week I’ve dug 200-250lbs of clay from two different locations. One is from our land, and I’ve used it quite a bit. It’s sandy, and I usually process out the sand and add back a very fine silt to decrease the drying shrinkage. I could leave the sand, but it’s generally easier just to float the clay off instead of worrying about how much sand to leave and how much to remove. Also, I prefer a smooth clay and the silt is fine enough that it cuts drying shrinkage without adding grit.

The other is from land that is in the Moon Community, about 20 min from our house. It will need testing, but some quick tests make it seem very promising.

The clay is laid out on tarps to completely dry. It will then be put back into the tubs and water added to create a slurry that will be screened to remove debris. Although it may seem counterintuitive, drying the clay completely help it to break down smoothly in water. The dry clay sucks the water in like a sponge. If it still has moisture, it can act as a barrier, resulting in lumps that don’t break down.