A pugged clay problem

Hi all, Yesterday I machine pugged some re-claimed clay (as usual), but noticed that the clay's properties werent smooth. The clay could be 'torn' and was ragged when done so.

When I pug my clay - I put it through the machine several times to make sure its the same consistency throughout.

Although I wedged it really well afterwards I just couldnt get it to feel right - almost as if it had lost its plasticity.

The throwing wasnt good either - the clay sounded as if it were a fizzy soft drink, and when inspected, appeared to have very minute bubble holes in the surface; almost like it had fermented.

I threw a bowl (almost to completion) and then the side actually tore apart when extending the diameter of the rim.

I'm really careful over re-claiming clay and as far as I know - I've been really careful not to contaminate the re-claimed clay in my slop bucket.

Anyone actually know whats going on here? I'm wondering if its going to be safe to fire otherwise I risk losing my other ware!!

JM (sporting yet another cold - sniff - where's those tissues)

Reply to
JM
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No - its not a de-airing pugmill. On the whole, I've never had problems before, with air trapping in the clay, with it.

Reply to
JM

Hi Eddie, I think you may have hit the nail on the head there... some of the clay had gone a little too hard to work with, and so I compensated with very soft clay - which I mixed together to get a happy medium (so for every hard bit, a soft piece went in too). Yes, the result was a little 'dog eared', but I did put it through several times to work it thoroughly. I have gone back to the clay today and it has rested overnight; it's still not right, but not as bad as yesterday. Could this have been the cause of the clay going 'bubbly' too? Thanks for the input (and the hug - I need it at the moment - sniff) JM 'the learning never stops'

Reply to
J M

This clay sounds monumentally tired!

Is this the same clay as you have used before or a very new batch?

If it's old stock, how many times has this particular batch been pugged?

A cheaper alternative to Yoghurt is Cider Vinegar; I buy a gallon of VERY cheap Cider and leave the lid off for a week, by which time it's turned to vinegar. One gallon lasts me a year. I add a cup-full of this to all my clay, both the re-claim and the new stuff; it does what Eddie says, makes it slipperyererer, 'cos it grows moulds in the clay. Incidentally the Cider Vinegar smells much nicer after a few weeks than the Yoghurt!

In times past Potters used make up stocks of clay for the future and keep it under wet sacking in a dark corner of the workshop to allow it to *sour* or mature. They also used to pee on the clay to help the process. Nowadays the clay you get from the supplier is rarely more than a month old at the most, so a properly soured clay is almost un-heard of. A really matured clay is amazing to use; it feels quite different and you can almost throw it round corners!

Steve Bath UK

In article , JM writes

Reply to
Stephen Mills

Wow, this is both enlightnening and encouraging. I have some real old clay sitting wrapped up and aging in storage and I was hesitant to even try using it. My shop is not heated and its real brutal to try to work clay in the cold, so I've got some 500 pounds just waiting for warmer days. Right now Spring is breaking here in Tennessee and although I was planning on buying fresh clay, I don't have pug mill money, I'm going give this old stuff a try. Everytime I visit here I learn something new, lol, about the second oldest profession.

Reply to
Kees Kroozr

now, of course, if you lived in Somerset Uncle Steve, you'd use a good scrumpy (cider for the international folks)cos it's likely cheaper than the stuff that folks buy if they don't (live in Zummerzet, that is...) Hugs Eddie

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

Just come in from a glazing session....its gonna be hot tonight...

In answer to some of the comments re the age of the clay....

Some of the clay is old - I bought it off my ex pottery tutor who used to run his own pottery.. This clay is still in its original bags, but has been standing for years; half of the bags are just too hard to work with, and the other half are too soft - so I've been pugging both together. However, this time I added some of my slagged clay which I had part dryed on plaster bats.

Pugmills are a worthy buy and save plenty of time, mine has been worth its weight in gold (and my are they heavy). I bought mine second hand from Ebay (a lot of pottery equipment comes up) - it's always worth looking at second-hand buys. I'll be getting another one soon - for my grogged clay. It's amazing how much my pugmill has cut down my clay orders, I don't seem to be ordering half as much as I used to!

Somerset cider, well I'd rather drink it, but its worth a try...I don't think I'll try the pee though. Perhaps I'll stop off on the way to Cornwall (which is where my pottery is moving to - hopefully v soon).

Take care JM sniff - and I still have the cold =(

ps By the way - anyone know how to stop a puppy from eating clay?? Unfortunately my little one has developed a taste for it and is eating all my profits away!!

Reply to
J M

the only way i stopped mine from eating clay (German shepard) was waiting till he grew up... Stopped all on his own by the time he was a year old... Hugs Eddie

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

Eddie, Do you think this is this a regular thing with dogs then? Trouble is, she'll be with me in the studio in Cornwall (as my company), but I can't have her eating my profits - lol. The little 'darling' is chewing her way through all my plastic bags to get to the clay inside. I think I'll have to lock it away in a cupboard - the clay I mean. =) JM

Reply to
J M

Dogs are territorial, pee on your clay and mark it as yours. But seriously, keep an eye on your pup. Dogs noses are highly sensitive, soak some red pepper in a small spray bottle over night and spray around the areas of interest to discourage the dog. If you don't have a spray bottle, soak in a bowl and sponge onto the areas. I like to train my pups with a leash. Even indoors. When they get into your clay or even look like they're thinking about it, a short firm jerk on the leash accompanied by a sharp "NO", a word all dogs should learn, will do the trick. Don't pull so hard that you send the dog flying across the room, the jerk is an attention getter, nothing more. Training a pup is very important in keeping both puppy and master happy. Don't go for those choke collars or smacking the dog, repitition is what works. Dogs thrive on pleasing their owner so when you give the no command and get a positive response, tell the dog "Good Boy or Girl" and give it a vigorous playful petting. Don't reward the dog with treats as they will then always want treats. A good petting is rewarding the dog with love which is better for both physical and mental health, a lot cheaper and a lot more gratifying for you. I've been breeding AKC Cocker Spaniels for over 15 years and find starting on the training when they're very young will give you one great dog in return.

Hope that helps. ~Kees

Reply to
Kees Kroozr

There is a certain point where clay gets where it just isn't going to absorb water easily. When it gets this dry I let it dry all the way, break it up (put it in a heavy burlap bag and use a sledge hammer), and drop the pieces (no bigger than a fist is the size I limit it to) int a plastic burlap or canvas bag and put this bag into a 5 gallon bucket with hot water that has had some vinegar added to it (.5-1 Cup?). Let this soak until all the clay is wet through and hang the bag so it releases the excess water and dries to the point of workability. I would be lost without a plaster board to wedge clay into a workable consistency.

If I were to mix wet clay with drier clay (which I avoid because it is such hard work), I would only do it in small batches and I would ram wedge, cut and slam, wedge some more and keep on cutting and mixing until I could not detect separate bodies. I would put this in a really wet bag and let it set for a week.

Just my 2 cents on how I like to work.

Reply to
DKat

Arrr!

Now lookee here Young-un I can get a gallon of Thatchers Good Screech (ANOTHER name for Cider) for 'bout a fiver, that'll do noicely!

Reply to
Stephen Mills

ARRRHHH, but i can get Heck's Glastonbury port wine (finest cider in the land, single variety apples, looks like red diesel and tastes like apple juice, just steals yer legs) (as long as it's Feb/march) fer 4.50 a gallon (all right plus container, but you can buy it in 2 liter pop bottles and they is free, recycling as well as getting pissed....) Wouldn't use Thatchers to strip paint (tho' that is a good alterative use for it....) Hugs Eddie

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

In article , Eddie Daughton writes

Which is why I let it go to Vinegar for use with me clay!!

Hugs

Steve :-)

Reply to
Stephen Mills

Yes, but doesn't your clay deserve better?

Reply to
Bruce Glassford

Trouble is with the Glastonbury Port Wine that it don't get chance to turn to vinegar, bloody stuff evaporates (anyway the bottle keeps getting empty...., Mind you Thatchers i can understand that going to vinegar, tho i thought it already had when you buy it.....

Reply to
Eddie Daughton

It does the job, 'tis all I ask of it :-)

Reply to
Stephen Mills

It's not far off; only takes a week and it's there!

Reply to
Stephen Mills

Come on guys: Drink the cider, pee on the clay for recycling (it'll keep the dogs at bay and sour it), put on a wurzles record and knead/wedge the clay with your feet (it'll cure trench/athhlete's foot); 'jobs a good 'un ! Andy

Reply to
plodder

Wow, that is clay I would NOT want to wedge up....

Reply to
DKat

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