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Does Anyone Use Continental Clay As A Supplier?


Benzine

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Greetings All,

 

As I slowly get my home studio up and running, I'm starting to decide on a clay body.  

 

I use Continental for my classroom, and am happy with them as a supplier.  In my classroom, I use a low fire clay.  It works well with our classroom glazes, and is in my opinion, perfect for my classroom.  

 

However, I'm looking to make functional wares, in my home studio.  So I am looking for a Cone 6 body.  Despite my preference of the company, there clay descriptions are not great.  Most, if not all, of their clay bodies are listed with a WIDE range of firing temps.  The mid-fire clays are listed from Cone 6-8 or even 6-10.  Even the low-fire clay I get for my classroom is listed from Cone 05 up to Cone 1 or so.

 

Is there anyone here, who uses Continental for a mid-fire supplier?  If so, can you recommend a good Cone 6 clay body from them?

 

 

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I have used Continental clay and loved both the clay (for throwing and handbuilding)  and the supplier.  However because of the wide firing range, I was having problems with my clear glaze and a couple of other translucent glazes fitting that clay.  I realize now, that clear can be an issue for some clays, I used Super white at a clay camp and it was so nice to work with, however once glazed, all my pieces crazed.  A lot.  I used the mid fire white stoneware and I had crazing with it.  I have used a box of the buff stoneware and did not have any crazing with clear.  And it was a pleasure to throw!  I  glaze fire to cone 6 and bisque to 04.  I guess my test is "how does this clay work with my clear?"  I don't use clear exclusively but I do use it quite a bit.  So if you have a clear that might fit the clay or if you don't use a lot of clear, Continental could be a great clay for handbuilding and throwing.  After having read a number of threads about the wide range of firing temps for some clays, I have tried to use clays with a more "dialed in" firing temp. 

 

Roberta

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Thanks for the response Roberta.  

 

I have also tried the Buff Stoneware.  The second district I taught at, fired mid-range, and used that.  So I kept with that same body.  It threw well, and I don't think there were any glaze issues.  I say that, because I know more now, than I did then.  I don't recall there being any big problems.  I did use clear with it, and don't recall issues, but it could be that I didn't notice.  

 

I will say, I made a couple of mugs for my brother, with that clay body.  One of the handles broke a few years later just from handling.  I do wonder, if it was a defect from building/ drying/ firing that didn't fully fail until years later.  Or if it is an issue with the clay not being properly vitrified at Cone 6?

 

I wonder if their representatives would be able to give me a more spot on firing temp for the specific bodies?  They also don't have specifications, like some suppliers do (Shrinkage, absorption, etc.)  I just looked at a mid-range white, that lists firing range from 4-7.  But then it says that it has be successfully fired to Cone 11!

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Continental's mid-fire white  (cone 4-7) and mid-range oxidation (cone 4-8) bodies are the main clays used at our local art center.  One member also uses the High-fire white (6-10) and all work well with our oxidation firings at cone 5.  We use a variety of Continental glazes and also some 'scratch' glazes that we mix ourselves.  Really have not had any problems with crazing. Continental used to have the shrinkage info right in their catalogs along with the clay descriptions but not now - I miss the paper catalogs - they were so convenient and held a wealth of info.   Continental is very helpful on the phone so I bet a call to them will yield answers to your questions.  They do have a new mini-catalog devoted to just the clays they offer - can't find mine at the moment - but perhaps that info is included in the new printing.  Personally  am happy to have Continental close as it is staffed by very knowledgeable potters - you have a question or a problem - they will have someone on staff who will help you solve the problem.

 

Personally I prefer the mid-range brown for wheel work, as I like its 'tooth'.  I am not one for white clay or porcelain, as to me they are too slimy on the wheel. But if you are one who uses underglazes, I like its white background behind the underglazes, better that the brown background.  But that is personal preference - for my kid's classes, I prefer  white for handbuilding (due to underglaze use), and brown on the wheel.  Another teacher prefers white for all.  Go figure...

 

Continental has a variety of clay - and a wealth of info.  Have fun in your new studio!

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