ronfire Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 I have been using the Plainsman M340 clay for 8 months. Have purchased it 4 times, the first 3 times the clay has been consistent in how firm it is. The last purchase a few days ago was very soft and find I can not work with it for anything larger than a mug. I can take a baseball size ball of clay and totally squeeze it out between my fingers when making a fist. Wandering if other have this issue with different runs of clay that they purchase. I called the supplier and there reply was to look into it but did not think there was an issue as Plainsman has great quality control. I have not had a reply from them yet and will call again on Monday. Guess I will have to plan ahead and cut the clay a day or two ahead of time and let it dry out some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 You might have just gotten a fresh box of the clay from the manufacturer, while the earlier purchases had a bit of shelf life to them. Not an unusual problem for a clay body that is being constantly mixed and sold . . . ideally, you want the clay to age some, but some varieties sell so fast the manufacturer has a hard time keeping up with demand. If you can, buy more than you need and let it age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 ran into this problem a few years ago. my little loafers is remarkably consistent so i was shocked to find a bag that was so sticky i could not use it at all. called a number of fellow potters who use it and found it was the same with them. after contacting highwater in north carolina i found that some of the clay destined for florida was wetter than usual because someone thought the "humidity required something wetter". ??????? they arranged a return of the 500 pounds and i got my usual good stuff. the date on the boxes was important to the solution of the problem because it showed that it was done during that period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 Plainsman does vary somewhat in the softness of their clay on occasion. It's about the only way I've seen it vary. Just wedge up the night before if it's soft like that, and it'll be good to go the next morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 I had the reverse problem. Clay was too hard! Also a Plainsman product-P580 which is a porcelain. My supplier in Winnipeg took back the porcelain and exchanged it for softer clay. M340 and Buffstone are the two most popular clays for highschools here. The clay doesn't sit around. I wouldn't leave it out all night. Make a big hoop of clay on your wedging table and leave it for a couple of hours. TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronfire Posted November 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Thanks for the advise. I will try to let it sit out maybe overnight as things are drying slowly now that it is raining and colder. Just a little break from throwing now anyway as I am building a sales gallery. Hope it will pay off in the long run otherwise it will become a guest cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 I use my peter pugger to change clay stiffness or softness to whatever I need at that day. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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