3.4: Storing and Reclaiming Clay
- Page ID
- 278085
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Best practices for clay storage to maintain workability.
- Techniques for reclaiming and rehydrating dry clay.
- Managing a recycling system in educational or community studios.
- Health and safety considerations for clay dust.
- Sustainable practices in clay conservation.
The process of reclaiming clay involves recycling clay scraps and trimmings to make them usable again. Here's a step-by-step guide to reclaiming clay:
1. Collect Clay Scraps: Gather all the clay scraps, trimmings, and unused clay from your studio. This can include dried clay scraps, trimmings from throwing or hand-building, and any clay that hasn't been fired yet.
2. Break Down the Clay: Break the clay scraps into smaller pieces to aid in the reclaiming process. You can use a hammer, rolling pin, or a clay wire tool to break the clay into manageable pieces.
3. Soak the Clay: Place the broken clay pieces into a container filled with water. Allow the clay to soak for several hours or overnight. This helps to soften the clay and make it easier to work with.
4. Mix and Stir: Once the clay has softened, use your hands or a mixing tool to thoroughly mix and stir the clay and water mixture. Break up any large clumps and ensure that the clay is evenly distributed throughout the water.
5. Separate Impurities: As you mix the clay and water, any impurities such as rocks, debris, or organic matter will float to the surface. Use a sieve or mesh screen to skim off these impurities and discard them.
6. Settle and Drain: Allow the clay and water mixture to settle for a period of time, typically 24-48 hours. During this time, the clay particles will settle to the bottom of the container while excess water rises to the top. Carefully pour off the excess water, being careful not to disturb the settled clay.
7. Remove Excess Water: Once the excess water has been poured off, you may need to let the clay dry slightly to reach the desired consistency. Spread the clay out on a plaster bat or canvas-covered board to facilitate drying. Alternatively, you can use a clay drying machine or pug mill to remove excess water and further process the clay.
8. Knead and Wedge: Once the clay reaches the desired consistency, knead and wedge it to remove any remaining air bubbles and ensure uniformity. This is an important step to prepare the clay for use in your ceramic projects.
"Short" clay refers to clay that lacks plasticity and is difficult to work with. It often crumbles or breaks apart easily and doesn't hold its shape well. Short clay can result from various factors, including improper clay formulation, insufficient mixing, or excessive drying. Reclaim clay can sometimes become short if it has been over-dried or improperly processed during reclamation. To remedy short clay, it may need to be rehydrated, mixed with more plastic clay, or processed again through the reclaiming process to improve its plasticity and workability.