Reclaiming Clay from Abode

Reclaiming clay is one of the many beauties of pottery. It allows us to requite our failed pots new life in just a few simple steps and limits waste product in the studio through incorporating slop, trim, and even our throwing water, back in to workable, soft clay. Beneath are a few different options for reclaiming, all of which will get you on your way to creating successful reclaiming habits in your home studio.

If yous're focusing on reclaiming your slop (the chunks that come off while throwing and the bits that terminate up in your bucket/on your hands), trim, clay that is too hard or dry, and throwing water read through the steps beneath. These are simple guidelines for you to follow, but the get-go thing to think is that reclaiming clay takes patience. It isn't an exact science and volition have some trial and error to become it right. You desire to bank check in often every bit information technology's a fine line between too wet and likewise dry.

Stride 1: Should I reclaim? The first step is assessing what stage your clay is at and if it is withal workable. If you have a piece that slumped on the wheel, got likewise wet, or is just non to your liking… chances are you can let it sit out in the open up air for a little while to dry out slightly. Once information technology's a bit drier you tin wedge information technology dorsum in to a workable condition and skip the steps below.

Step 2: Assess the water content of your repossess. If you've been collecting your excess dirt in a handbag, you're already off to a adept kickoff. Assess the h2o content of the handbag to determine if you lot need to add or remove liquid. If the bag is too wet, yous can add some stale out trim to absorb some of the moisture. If information technology's likewise dry, add some throwing water. Start with a petty bit at at a time and mix well, you don't want to add too much water and terminate up with a bag of dripping wet clay.

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Step 4: Mix it upward. Mix the clay thoroughly with your hand subsequently each addition and assess the state of the dirt. Break up any large chunks and then they don't create difficult spots. Your dirt should be soft and sticky, just not so wet that it drips off your hands. If you selection information technology up, it should be resemblant of a very very thick icing.

If you add too much water, fold the edges of the bag down and allow it sit open in the sunday so some of the moisture can evaporate. Yous can also do this if the contents are but also wet to brainstorm with.

Once you've got your clay well mixed, necktie off the handbag and let it sit for about 24 hours. This allows the dry to mix with the wet for a more even consistency throughout.

Step 5: Dry it out. Once your clay is well incorporated and has had a twenty-four hour period to intermingle, you're prepare to dry information technology out. Chances are you don't take a plaster slab, simply don't fret! In that location is a workaround. If you don't take a smooth, absorbent surface, old bed sheets, canvas, or even t-shirts can be placed on your surface (wooden or otherwise). Be sure to use at to the lowest degree a double layer of fabric. The textile helps foreclose rogue $.25 from becoming incorporated in your dirt and helps keeps it in place. It isn't 100% necessary but may be helpful depending on what kind of surface you're using.

We used a triple layer of fabric and placed information technology on a wooden ware lath to dry. Depending on the wetness of your clay, the conditions outside, and the environment in your studio it may have a day or several to dry out out. Go on an eye on information technology and flip it often. Rotating the drier exterior edges with the more moisture inside. This helps the dirt dry evenly and prevents the edges from becoming too hard. You can necktie the fabric off or leave it open up for air to access and assist in drying. Be mindful of your environment and your surroundings, clay can dry out out very fast given the correct circumstances!

Step 6: Wedge it up. Once your clay has dried enough to exist gathered upwardly, and does not stick to your finger information technology's prepare to exist wedged in to soft, malleable, workable clay once more. If y'all touch your reclaim, and it comes off on your hands it is still besides moisture. If you affect information technology and leave an indent with no or very piffling residual on your hands, its ready to exist wedged. It's better to wedge a little more than on the wet side than dry out. If it's too dry it volition be too hard to work with. If yous have some fresh dirt utilise that every bit a guide, the consistency should be like afterward wedging.

Be sure to wedge enough, then a little more to make sure the clay is well incorporated and in that location are no air bubbles left behind. In one case wedged identify it dorsum in the handbag for a day or two to cure. And then you're fix to throw again!

What to do if your dirt is stale out:

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If you lot take dirt that is besides hard to work with or pieces that are dry that you don't want to go on, dry out the clay out completely to the bone dry country. Y'all can exercise this past breaking the clay upwards in to small chunks and placing it on a board or surface uncovered. If you can place information technology in the lord's day information technology will dry much faster.

Once your dirt bits are completely dried out, you can place them in a bucket, bowl, or bag. Whatever of the three will piece of work and tin can be determined past the quantity of clay your working with and what you take on hand. One time you've placed your dried clay in the bucket add together enough h2o to cover the surface of the clay. The drier the clay, the quicker it will slake down and absorb water. Let the clay sit overnight for maximum absorption.

In one case the clay has slaked downwardly, it'south time to mix information technology up. Get your hand in there and feel for dry out spots, chunks, and droppings ( maybe a rogue shammie? ). Once you've gotten it mixed, keep mixing. You lot tin utilize an emersion blender or a pigment mixer attached to a drill for loftier speed mixing. This helps break upward chunks and go all of the particles of the clay well incorporated, simply is non completely necessary if you don't take those on hand. You can likewise continue mixing with your hands or a spoon.

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After mixing, the clay should be smooth like a very thick milkshake. You're now prepare to continue with Steps five & 6, drying out your clay on your wooden surface or plaster slab and wedging the final production!

Remember to bank check in ofttimes, be patient, and mix it upward well! If you have whatsoever questions feel gratis to accomplish out, we're happy to help. Happy reclaiming!!