More working with the silty clay
This is the batch I dug a few days ago and processed half of it to see if I can recreate the accidental perfect batch. I posted a few days ago. I kept it a …
Category: processing clay
Digging Clay
In my last post (the clay with 0.3% absorption at cone 9 oxidation), I mentioned it comes from a low spot on top of a hill. Well, here it is.
100% Local Clay Body
This clay comes from an odd low spot, on top of a hill on our land. Right out of the ground, it’s very silty and not plastic enough to throw, fires to above cone 8. …
Another High Fire Test
EDIT: Fired porosity tested as 2.8%. That’s about perfect as I can fire a bit hotter, and it gives me a bit of wiggle room for reduction. Just out of the kiln this morning. Cone …
Backyard Red Stoneware
This clay comes from the banks of our red clay ditch that started out as a cattle trail 50 or so years ago. It’s what I call my “non-sandy” deposit. It’s still sandy, just not …
Moon Clay (Moon Community)
I did not have to put this clay in the dewatering tub. It settled enough on its own that it didn’t need it. I only rough screened this clay (window screen). It dewaters extremely fast …
Playing with Plasticity (ie varying sand amounts)
You know how you’re trying to solve a problem and finally come to a solution and think wow, that’s so simple, I should have thought of that ages ago?? My clays are sandy. Recently I’ve …
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 …
Power Sieving Clay
You know that spot between sleeping and awake where you sometimes have eureka moments? This was one of mine. I was dreaming about a rotary sieve and got this idea. This is a harbor freight …
Settling Clay that Doesn’t Want to Settle.
This is my lightest colored clay. After processing and sieving, it can stay in suspension for months. I generally add something to help it settle (because waiting months to work a clay just sucks). I …
