Potter Needs Info on Oven Bake clay for Kids Class

Dear Crystal,

The same situation re air-drying clay exists over here in the UK.

Until fairly recently I was a partner in a Ceramic Supply business, and we used to recommend to our customers they used a smooth, cheap, ordinary clay instead of the expensive stuff. We also used to suggest the customer painted the resulting work with Acrylic Paints (I still have a varnished model I made when I was 8, and that was a LONG time ago). Air drying clay is no stronger than ordinary clay, it isn't water resistant, as you say; it stinks, and it's usually a horrid colour. I don't know about the oven baked stuff we don't have it over here, only brightly coloured non-clay stuff.

Go with plain smooth clay, it's cheaper, it feels nicer, can be painted when dry, and lasts about as long as most people want to keep it!

Steve Bath UK

In article , CNB writes

Hi Stephen, That's what I suggested to them, but they really don't want to deal with having to worry about bisque firing the pieces. They tried that. A big problem was that the work wasn't being picked up quickly and we only have a very small building. I don't know if you are familiar with "shot-gun" houses but that's the type of building we have and it's small. It was a house that was donated to the guild. A very generous donation if I might add, but it is to small to store pottery pieces not being picked up. I may be able to do it myself when I have extra room but right now I don't, so we have to suffice with something else unless I can convince them otherwise. Thanks for your reply, Crystal

| >It's been a long time. I see a lot of new names on the list. I hope everyone | >is doing well. I have to ask y'all a question. I'm a potter but I don't know | >anything about oven baked or air dry clay. I belong to a guild in Houma, | >Louisiana (USA) and some of the members were asking me if I knew of some | >more inexpensive Air Dry or Oven Baked clay options for their children's | >workshop. They don't want to use regular firing clay because of problems | >dealing with having them fired in time and also people not picking up work | >in a timely matter. Our building is very small. The only one I knew of was | >an air drying clay that I got for my niece but it really smelled weird like | >chemicals. Hey, it stunk. They usually use Laguna Oven baked clay but it | >costs $65 for 25 lbs. and they usually buy at least 8 boxes. Terrebonne | >Fine Arts Guild is a non-profit organization and funds for that are hard to | >come by. If they can't come up with a more inexpensive option they will have | >to stop the clay program. I would hate seeing that happen. | >

| >My question is: Does anyone out there know of a less expensive brand of Oven | >Bake or Air dry clay that is still easy to work with. Any information will | >be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to be able to find it close so that the | >shipping wouldn't be outrageous but I will figure that out after I get some | >brand suggestions. I may even be able to have it picked up and save on | >shipping costs since I know several people that travel to and from work in | >the Gulf Coast area of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, maybe even Florida. | >Baton Rouge, La. is also an option for me to have it picked up. Who knows. | >Just give me the info and I'll figure out the rest. ;o) | >

| >Thanks so much, | >Crystal Nolfo Brown | >

| >

| | -- | Steve Mills | Bath | UK

Here is a link to a no-bake clay recipe.

CNB wrote:

Hi! I have not used this particular clay before, but it is reasonably priced and appears to be far less expensive compared to what you are currently using. It comes in both white and red clay. I have added the eBay auction (they sell through eBay regularly) link so you can contact these folks directly. It appears to be costing about $20 for 25 lbs. plus $9 in shipping. I venture to guess they will work something out with you...it is what I love about dealing directly with small vendors. Here is the link...and if you DO use this product, please post your thoughts about it. Good luck!

Thanks everyone, We have several options. I'm going to give all of the information to the guild. Much appreciation, Crystal