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#1
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Storing clay
I broke out some clay that I've had some time and it's to hard to work with.
I find that it doesn't keep moist in the bags that it is packaged and I'm tired of fighting it. I buy about 500 lbs of clay at a time because I have to take a road trip for it and some of it may be kept for 6 months or more. Can I hear some suggestions of how some of you clay people store yours? I was thinking of getting a rubber garbage can and putting a thick garbage bag in it to store the clay. This way I can add water on top. I live in a mild climate so I was thinking of storing it outside as soon as there is no chance of frost. I'm thinking that the evaporation will re-wet the clay on the top and also this will give the clay a good chance to age. Am I wrong? I would like to hear your suggestions. Thanks, Crystal |
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#3
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In article , Marty Kenny
writes in article , CNB at wrote on 1/23/04 2:09 PM: I broke out some clay that I've had some time and it's to hard to work with. I find that it doesn't keep moist in the bags that it is packaged and I'm tired of fighting it. I buy about 500 lbs of clay at a time because I have to take a road trip for it and some of it may be kept for 6 months or more. Can I hear some suggestions of how some of you clay people store yours? I was thinking of getting a rubber garbage can and putting a thick garbage bag in it to store the clay. This way I can add water on top. I live in a mild climate so I was thinking of storing it outside as soon as there is no chance of frost. I'm thinking that the evaporation will re-wet the clay on the top and also this will give the clay a good chance to age. Am I wrong? I would like to hear your suggestions. Thanks, Crystal The sculpture studio at the Evanston Art center (near Chicago) uses the garbage can technique with a damp cloth on the top. It seems to work, but the clay is pretty stinky. I generally brought my own terracotta, but other people seemed to be able to dig into the cans easily enough and got good results. Marty Stinky clay is good! I know this sounds a bit odd, but plasticity is improved by keeping; it allows the growth of organic matter in the clay which is like a good Gardener's Compost Heap, its growth and decay acts as a lubricant, so you need less water to work the clay and it *stretches* further. -- Steve Mills Bath UK |
#4
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Does that also increase the shrinkage percentage?
On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:02:11 +0000, Steve Mills wrote: Stinky clay is good! I know this sounds a bit odd, but plasticity is improved by keeping; it allows the growth of organic matter in the clay which is like a good Gardener's Compost Heap, its growth and decay acts as a lubricant, so you need less water to work the clay and it *stretches* further. |
#5
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On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:09:18 GMT, "CNB"
wrote: I broke out some clay that I've had some time and it's to hard to work with. I find that it doesn't keep moist in the bags that it is packaged and I'm tired of fighting it. snip I wonder if this depends as much on local humidity as the degree of seal on the plastic bags. I kept 25# of clay in its original heavy plastic bag nearly untouched for 14 years. Every few years I'd think to check it, and toss in a little water. Finally started using it last year and it was just fine. The key thing might be that it was in my basement where it is on the humid side, which may have slowed drying. The plastic bag was simply folded over inside its box, no special seal. Bob Masta dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis www.daqarta.com |
#6
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This is exactly why I'm asking the question. I used some clay that I had
been saving a while that was from my throwing bucket. I had removed the extra water and had it at least six months in a bag. It finally dried enough to use. Smelled like rotten mud but oh mad how nice it was to throw. I noticed that it was more moist than the clay that I had been taking out of my bags and decided that my clay wasn't staying wet enough. I want to keep it wet enough so that it can age. I listened to a tape how George Ohr (famous potter born in Louisiana, worked in Louisiana and Mississippi) had kept his clay in a vat outside completely immersed in water for a year before he would use it and I think a lot of you know his results. Stinky clay is good! I know this sounds a bit odd, but plasticity is improved by keeping; it allows the growth of organic matter in the clay which is like a good Gardener's Compost Heap, its growth and decay acts as a lubricant, so you need less water to work the clay and it *stretches* further. -- Steve Mills Bath UK |
#7
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I noticed that some of the bags were not tied well but most were. It is very
humid in my area but I keep my clay inside. It would probably be better if I kept it outside. I went through several bags yesterday and they are to hard to work with. No wonder my wrists hurt. "Bob Masta" wrote in message ... On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:09:18 GMT, "CNB" wrote: I broke out some clay that I've had some time and it's to hard to work with. I find that it doesn't keep moist in the bags that it is packaged and I'm tired of fighting it. snip I wonder if this depends as much on local humidity as the degree of seal on the plastic bags. I kept 25# of clay in its original heavy plastic bag nearly untouched for 14 years. Every few years I'd think to check it, and toss in a little water. Finally started using it last year and it was just fine. The key thing might be that it was in my basement where it is on the humid side, which may have slowed drying. The plastic bag was simply folded over inside its box, no special seal. Bob Masta dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis www.daqarta.com |
#8
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oops. Excuse me. Ohr was born in Mississippi. I believe I got that wrong.
"CNB" wrote in message ... This is exactly why I'm asking the question. I used some clay that I had been saving a while that was from my throwing bucket. I had removed the extra water and had it at least six months in a bag. It finally dried enough to use. Smelled like rotten mud but oh mad how nice it was to throw. I noticed that it was more moist than the clay that I had been taking out of my bags and decided that my clay wasn't staying wet enough. I want to keep it wet enough so that it can age. I listened to a tape how George Ohr (famous potter born in Louisiana, worked in Louisiana and Mississippi) had kept his clay in a vat outside completely immersed in water for a year before he would use it and I think a lot of you know his results. Stinky clay is good! I know this sounds a bit odd, but plasticity is improved by keeping; it allows the growth of organic matter in the clay which is like a good Gardener's Compost Heap, its growth and decay acts as a lubricant, so you need less water to work the clay and it *stretches* further. -- Steve Mills Bath UK |
#9
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Question: What does light freezing do to water saturated clay? Been
building up a bucket of remainder clay, pouring off the excess water down to about an inch and leaving the concoction outside hoping the weak sun and desert dryness would evaporate more moisture so I could begin to reclaim the material. We had an unusually cold night and the top 1/8 inch was frosted to frozen. The condition didn't last very long once the sun got up, but... Will all those wonderful bacteria be dead? Kathy "Bob Masta" wrote in message ... On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:09:18 GMT, "CNB" wrote: I broke out some clay that I've had some time and it's to hard to work with. I find that it doesn't keep moist in the bags that it is packaged and I'm tired of fighting it. snip I wonder if this depends as much on local humidity as the degree of seal on the plastic bags. I kept 25# of clay in its original heavy plastic bag nearly untouched for 14 years. Every few years I'd think to check it, and toss in a little water. Finally started using it last year and it was just fine. The key thing might be that it was in my basement where it is on the humid side, which may have slowed drying. The plastic bag was simply folded over inside its box, no special seal. Bob Masta dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis www.daqarta.com |
#10
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I don't know what the freezing can do but I can tell you a good way to get
the extra water out of the clay. I made a canvas bag to dump the clay in, tied the top with a rope, then hung it outside. It removes water quicker than leaving it in the bucket. It also keeps out the extra stuff that can fly in there. I would protect it from freeze though. I think the clay is still good but lets see what someone with more experience says. Crystal "Kathryn & Stuart Fields" wrote in message ... Question: What does light freezing do to water saturated clay? Been building up a bucket of remainder clay, pouring off the excess water down to about an inch and leaving the concoction outside hoping the weak sun and desert dryness would evaporate more moisture so I could begin to reclaim the material. We had an unusually cold night and the top 1/8 inch was frosted to frozen. The condition didn't last very long once the sun got up, but... Will all those wonderful bacteria be dead? Kathy |
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