How to reuse clay scrap 101- very basic information

[tommyv166123]

i use this techniuqe for the clay i mine in the clay feilds behind my home, i take dried old clay pieces, mix them in water untill i get a mud consistancy, then pour dried powdered sand on the drying station, (about 70 feet diameter circle) then pour the the wet muddy clay all over the place until the entire circle is filled, then i wait about an hour, and later get about 40 gallons of clay :D thanks for posting

[classartroom]

i created a plaster table...it has been drying for 1 month now. when i put the clay on it...the plaster actually softened and i had to throw away the clay and scrape the top of the plaster....are there different plasters ? did i use the wrong kind ?

[ViewMaster111]

would a block of cement/ concrete do the same as the plaster do you think??? sharon.

[ClayThrower]

I'd think so, but it would be heavy as hell. I've heard of leaving clay inside a canvas sack laying on a sunny sidewalk in order to dry it out, though I've never tried it. The concrete would have to be quite absorbent for it to work well I'd think. Try it and see!

[ViewMaster111]

thanks if I do it, will let you know, would get a thin concret paver and fix it on old table permanently. guess we could frame up some plaster instead.

[crataegus17]

All good stuff. Thanks very much

[monkystar]

Thank you for this.

[redf11]

if i cover a full head armature with air dry clay,when completely dry how can i take it off with out destroying the works?tnx.

[ClayThrower]

I don't know. Maybe take it off before it dries completely? Maybe twist it free?

[avidgolfr]

How many inches thick is your plaster table? I made one like that for my studio but it's movable (heavy...but movable) about 3 inches thick....that should work....right?

[ClayThrower]

I don't know what the magic thickness is. I think mine is about 3-4 inches thick. I have another that is only 2 inches thick and it works fine, though it can get saturated a bit faster.

I think I'd like to make drying bats of plaster planks about 1 to 2 inches thick reinforced by a mesh or something. Simon Leach talks about them in his video on the same subject and it looks like a great idea for drying out wet clay.

[sodade21]

i used to work on a pottery studio and we did the same thing to reuse old clay,but after that process we used a big machine to wedge the clay...like a chop meat machine...btw anyone know what is the name of that machine? :P

[ClayThrower]

It's called a Pug Mill. They are nice machines but rather expensive. Also, if don't right, this method doesn't require one really.  A Pug Mill does the wedging and de-airing for you. If you dry wet clay on plaster there isn't much air in it and if you dry it evenly it won't require much wedging if any.

[ClayThrower]

I ment, "If done right"  I can't edit my comments I guess...

[clearvision5]

Excellent! For some reason I love the part of reclaiming when the clay just rolls off the plaster....thanks for sharing :)

[tracerace66]

THANK YOU! I am learning on my own...had I known I could reclaim all those disasters *sigh* I would have saved a lot of money!

[Redshift21]

Thank you I learned a lot today :)

[4391dylan]

thanks for the 101 on reclaining, I hate to waste clay so have been soaking my scraps, etc. for awhile, now if I can just get my husband to build a plaster table for me, I can finish the process!

[TinkTheHustler]

Education by: Till and the Wall?

It's really cool to see a video about an aspect of what happens around me (behind the scenes) and what all he has to do; I'm a student in a college ceramics class. I like your attitude man.... funny great teachers are hard to come by.

[bottlewasher37]

Woohoo! Great to see you back :)

Any new developments with the kiln building???

[ClayThrower]

ya, it's done and working. I'll make a video about it sometime.

[ClayThrower]

never left, just am not as prolific in video making as I was by the way. ;)

[bottlewasher37]

That's great! Can't wait to see the video

Gas? Wood? Electric? Indoor? Outdoor? Size? Just being nosey....Well, that, and I have a genuine interest in kiln building...LOL

I realize you never left, just trying to let you know we missed your style :)

[ClayThrower]

Thanks.

It is a natural gas downdraft kiln, about 20 cubic feet outside. Made from IFB and has 4 venturi burners. It is based on the MFT.

[anniemac36]

Well...just posted on another video how to get the bricks....lol...but looks like you got it done. Woot!

[Marihani]

I would worry about getting plaster bits in the clay.

Would it help to put a thin piece of cloth over the plaster before spreading the slurry?

Great to see you back! I enjoy the way you explain things!

[pensandcalls]

Very well done!!!!

[enslaver]

entertaining, and educational... lol