How to Make Soft Clay Firm
Clay must be a certain consistency to throw on a wheel or to sculpt. Commercial clay will usually be the right consistency, but if you are digging your own or reclaiming clay for reuse, you will need to know how to remove the moisture from the clay. Being able to recycle your clay scraps from trimming, broken greenware or abandoned projects reduces costs and rewards you with a richer understanding of your art materials.
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Instructions
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Place the clay scraps or raw clay into the 5-gallon bucket with enough water to cover it completely. Allow the clay to absorb the water, a process that can take three to four days, but will reduce the need for mixing if allowed to take its time.
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Run the wet clay through a hardware cloth filter into a second empty bucket to make sure no foreign objects are in the clay. Pieces of stone and plaster can cause weaknesses in the pots that can be catastrophic during firing.
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Decant the surplus water from the top of the bucket. If you want to make slip, this is the perfect time to scoop some off the top layer of the bucket. Scoop the clay out of the bucket and place it on the plaster bat like a mud pie.
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Turn the clay over after 24 hours to allow the top to come into contact with the plaster and promote even water absorption. Continue to check and turn every eight to 12 hours until the clay is the desired consistency.
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Wedge, or knead, the clay to eliminate any air bubbles trapped inside. Use the wire to cut the ball of clay and check for trapped foreign objects or bubbles. Once the wedged clay has loosened and is ready to work, you can wrap it in plastic if you don't plan to use it right away.
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Tips & Warnings
Always test fire local clay before attempting to use it.
Pockets of air or other impurities in your pots can explode during firing, damaging the other pieces in the kiln, the kiln itself and potentially, you.
References
Resources
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