clay lover Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Looks like I've got some clay with black boogers in it. This is the first-time I've used Desert Buff and the first time in many years of glazing that I've had anything like these pots coming out of a glaze firing, The pieces have black globs on the surface sometimes with glaze over them, sometimes standing above the surface of the piece. Sometimes I can grind the blobs off and reglaze successfully . Have any of you gad issues with this clay? Nd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 No help here as there are no highwater clays on the west coast. If it helps we are voting to see if getting high on pot is legal next week in our state. Not a user myself but I do live where its the #1 crop in Humboldt County. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugmkr Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Nd-most if not all of the us based clay makers do not sieve the raw materials prior to mixing clay. What you are probably seeing is iron contamination from either the silica or feldspar. If there are any clay companies in the us that do sieve all the raw materials prior to mixing, I would love to know. I've asked ten or so and none of them do this, although Georgies in Portland says they do sieve what they consider problematic materials in some of their mixes. Canadian potters are spoiled in this regard, as both major clay producers (Plainsman and Tucker's) have got the right equipment in place to do the job properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Qauyle clay in Murpys Ca screens their clay as its all filter pressed-they are one of the few who filter press clay in the US. Filter press clay has every molecule wetted so its a better product-it is more labor to make.They only have a few bodies as well to choose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 I don't use Desert Buff, but in recent deliveries of Highwater Red Rock, I've noticed that some of the speckling grains have become large enough to describe as "globs" and sometimes I can feel them three-dimensionally on a finished pot. And sometimes they are big enough, or sharp enough, that I will buff them down with a diamond grit hand pad. I'm not crazy about it, but since my work is covered in subtle textures they mostly blend in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 If there are any clay companies in the us that do sieve all the raw materials prior to mixing, I would love to know. I've asked ten or so and none of them do this, Because the US market is consumer demand driven. makers are forced to make products as cheaply as possible. You cannot expect much at .40¢ a pound. In reality, only the large particle clays such as Hawthorne, Greenstripe, or Roseville would require screening: they are most susceptible to particle irregularities. Feldspar, silica, and medium particle sized clays are usually uniform. Imco 400 and Gold Art are air-floated clays: which usually ensures uniform particle sizes. I have been seeing chunks of white particles, which I believe is soapstone. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preeta Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 aaaaaaaah!!! i've been using quyle's Sierra Gold ^10 and have been surprised my fingertips havent been torn apart inspite of the grainy texture on the clay. i've used Laguna's Speckled Buff ^6 and it took a few days of throwing to no longer have torn finger tips. but nothing pierces the glaze. OP sorry i have no experience with your clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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