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In this step, we will slurry up the clay. After pouring off the water, I stirred the remainder to get it all in suspension. During the pour I also had to agitate the slurry with a spatula to keep coarser particles suspended (this is thus a mix of finer clay particles and coarser grains, these grains will be identified later in the sieve analysis). On the plaster, the sand quickly sank against the plaster. The slurry dewatered within a few minutes enabling me to scrape it up, using a rubber rib, then lay it down again for further stiffening (on inset photo). A few minutes later it was stiff enough to wedge and flatten down again. Within about 10 minutes it had reached plastic stiffness and felt similar to a typical, ready-to-use terra cotta pottery body (although sandier and less plastic). The green color is also typical of terra cotta clays, that is iron oxide, Fe2O3, and the reason this will likely burn red in the kiln.
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Evaluating a clay's suitability for use in pottery
Would you like to be able to use your own found-clays in your production? Follow me as we evaluate a mystery clay sample provided by a potter who wants to do this. |
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