| Step 1: Choosing your clay - you may prepare | | | | extremely high temperatures. Has a beige to |
| raw dug up clay or much preferred material | | | | medium brown color when fired. Usually found |
| for consistency purchase commercial | | | | near coal seams.China clay - used as glaze |
| clay.Taking into consideration the | | | | with other clay products. It is considered |
| temperature needed to turn clay into ceramics | | | | as primary clay meaning that it has minimal |
| by way of a kiln, it is important to know the | | | | pliability.Ball clay - extremely flexible, |
| minerals that are present within the clay | | | | but breaks easy. It has to be combined with |
| paste. (You can either use a beginner's | | | | other types of clay to maintain its strength, |
| chemistry set or preferably refer to your | | | | shape and durability. Commonly used for |
| local yellow pages for experts in this | | | | porcelain and decorations.Bentonite -Small |
| field.) Keep in mind, certain materials need | | | | amounts are combined with primary clay such |
| very high temperatures to turn. Please read | | | | as China clay to make it more pliable for |
| information on firing temperatures for | | | | molding.Stoneware clay - Rare. This is high |
| commercially prepared clays below for an idea | | | | mixed mineral content which when fired turns |
| of choosing the right temperature to turn | | | | gray to white.Step 2: Your clay is not ready |
| your freshly prepared clay into ceramic.- If | | | | for kneading. (This includes both freshly dug |
| you prefer to dig up and prepare your own | | | | clay that has been cleaned and commercially |
| clay, you can follow the guidelines below for | | | | bought clay.)a) Place your clay on an |
| best product:a) Freshly dug up clay will have | | | | absorbent firm surface for kneading and |
| impurities such as plant material, stones, | | | | throwing the pockets of air out. Take a wire |
| insects, even air pockets. Let your clay air | | | | and cut clay in easily handy wedges. Pick up |
| dry before breaking it up for cleaning.b) | | | | 1 piece of clay at a time, with cut edge |
| Next, make sure the dried clay is in small | | | | facing you, heartily throw or slam clay on |
| pebble like pieces. Use a hammer, mortar for | | | | bench to remove pockets of air. (It is |
| grounding these pieces into powder. To get | | | | extremely important that no air pockets are |
| the right consistency for the next step, make | | | | present in the clay so as to prevent |
| sure to weight your powders in a plastic bag | | | | explosions, or other mishaps that can occur |
| and set aside.c) Third, Get a bowl, pure the | | | | if clay is firing in kilm.) Continue to |
| powdered clay in bowl and slowly pour water | | | | knead, slam and pivot clay until all sides of |
| to form a paste. Use a wooden spatula to | | | | clay are thoroughly kneaded. Repeat about 10 |
| knead. If the powder floats or does not seem | | | | times or more to be sure. As a check at the |
| to mix with the water, let it set for a while | | | | end of kneading, use your wire and cut the |
| before kneading again. Remember it must form | | | | clay in half. Take a look to make sure the |
| a thick paste. If it does not, possibly too | | | | surface is completely smooth. It should not |
| much water was added or not enough powdered | | | | have bumps, lumps, or wholes. It should be |
| clay.d) Fourth, the cleaning process is about | | | | absolutely smooth.b) Use a damp sponge and |
| to begin. Press your clay paste through the | | | | wet your pottery wheel lightly so that your |
| your 80-mesh sieve to remove all | | | | clay will adhere but not slip.c) Next, slam a |
| impurities.e) Place your cleaned clay onto to | | | | ball in the center of the wheel. With both |
| a plaster bat and smooth. The clay will | | | | hands lightly on clay use forward and |
| begin to harden, you will need to move the | | | | backward motions to see if clay is sticking |
| paste around frequently to prevent | | | | to the wheel. If the clay is slipping or |
| hardening.f) Using a strong flat stick remove | | | | sloshy, wipe moisture off wheel. Turn wheel |
| the stiff clay from the plaster bat by | | | | on or begin kicking wheel. Place both hands |
| peeling it off. Now you can knead your clay | | | | steadily on either side of clay and begin |
| for modeling and firing.- If you prefer to | | | | pushing inward slightly and upward. The clay |
| purchase your clay it will come in the | | | | will resemble a cone.d) At the top of the |
| following form to choose from:a) Earthenware | | | | cone, use your thumb to flatten and |
| - red or white (kiln fires from 1830 to 2160 | | | | eventually use one hand;makes sure the other |
| degrees Farenheit);b) Stoneware - beige to | | | | hand supports the sides of the clay. While |
| white (kiln fires from 2190 to 2370 degrees | | | | the wheel is turning, use 3 fingers with the |
| Farenheit);c) Porcelain - white (kiln fires | | | | flat hand at the top middle of the cone to |
| from 2340 to 2460 degrees Farenheit);d) | | | | form a pocket. Remember to keep supporting |
| Grogged stoneware - slate (kiln fires from | | | | the sides. You will see a bowl forming. |
| 2190 to 2340 degrees Farenheit);e) Raku body | | | | Now both your creative hand on top or by now |
| - slate (kiln fires from 1830 to 2340 degrees | | | | in the middle of the bowl and on the side |
| Farenheit); orf) T Material - cream color | | | | hand are working in unity. How you wish your |
| (kiln fires from 1830 to 2370 degrees | | | | bowl to appear is part of the creative |
| Farenheit);Unfired clay is quite flexible. | | | | process.When done, use wire to remove clay |
| By kneading and handling it you can determine | | | | bowl from wheel and place on drying rack. |
| what that lump of clay is best suited in | | | | When bowl is completely dry it is now ready |
| making. Look for shrinkage rate, and | | | | for the kiln.By: Marjorie Broodie aka owner |
| strength to determine durability.Primary clay | | | | of Family Business aka jewelscorner.org. We |
| is extremely pure however it is not very | | | | specialize in Indoor and Garden Water |
| pliable.As an FYI, there are about 6 types of | | | | Fountains, Scented Candles, various |
| clay:Red clay - very common to find. Its | | | | Aromatherapy products at below retail price. |
| high iron oxide mineral content gives the | | | | We provide FREE shipping and handling via UPS |
| clay its rich red color as well as makes it | | | | Ground Service. |
| very easy to use.Fire clay - can be fired to | | | | |