metal and mud Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 To all you wheel potters out there--What is your favorite clay to throw on a wheel and then, eventually, fire to cone 6? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellen770 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 I recently switched to Stone Mountain Clay's 202 Great White stoneware. I also use their 327 which has sand for more structure. Both throw beautifully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Earth Creations Posted February 21, 2012 Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 When I moved back to NM from WA I brought several cone 5 clays with me and they sat for four years because I was taking classes and firing at cone 10. After buying a kiln I decided to learn cone 6 so I started using the clay. Unfortunately I love the Navajo Wheel - beautiful dark red after firing. But it's not available here and so far I haven't found anything I like as much. I'm trying SB Red but haven't fired it yet. I like BMix for white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Little Posted February 21, 2012 Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 I recently moved from N. TX to North Carolina and have been trying many different clays - thus far Standard #153 is a nice throwing body, as is Highwater Brownstone although still searching. I plan to work with a locally produced clay this week - Starworks Okeewemee6 - hoping it works in all categories - throwing, glaze fit & final body color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 21, 2012 Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 I recently moved from N. TX to North Carolina and have been trying many different clays - thus far Standard #153 is a nice throwing body, as is Highwater Brownstone although still searching. I plan to work with a locally produced clay this week - Starworks Okeewemee6 - hoping it works in all categories - throwing, glaze fit & final body color. I have been using Standard clays for years both at the HS and for myself. I have used the 112 and the 553 at home and the 200 at school. This way no one could accuse me of "borrowing" school clay. the 112 has a slight amount of manganese and fires in a tight range 4-6 as do the others here. The 553 is an off white that has some grog, and a bit of a creamy feel. However, I have found that I can throw it just as well as the 112 for larger forms. The 153 from standard I used for a year, but found that my ware was not as well vitrified as with the others-this because it is a ^6-^10 clay. I would not recommend it for production work of functional pottery. Standard has always had good quality control, and I have enjoyed very good relations with their staff over the years-very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teardrop Posted February 21, 2012 Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 I'm far too inexperienced to have a favorite clay but I did want to say that I was amazed at the selection available from places like Laguna and I was surprised to see the difference in the clays offered from the East coast suppliers vs. the West Coast suppliers. (It makes sense...i just never thought about it.) FWIW, the classroom I was in used primarily Laguna Cone 10 B-Mix but I am now switching to ^6 Stoneware (Kodiak was recommended when I went to buy clay) http://www.milehiceramics.com/clay.htm have fun finding yer fav! teardrop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeri Posted February 21, 2012 Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 I don't have a favorite quite yet, I'm still working with different clays to figure out what I like. In stoneware I've worked with B-Mix (^6), Ochre, Marilyn's Bod Pugged, Appaloosa, JM6, and WH8 (white stoneware). I love the feel of the B-mix but find it a bit difficult to use. It does however, give a beautiful finished product and the glaze colors just pop. I also like the Ochre quite a bit, it's fairly easy to work with. Not too crazy about the Appaloosa, and am really trying hard to decide if I want to reclaim what I have in a bucket or not. If I do, I'll just give it away to someone at the studio where I rent/take classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffCenter Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 B-Mix Woodfire and Southern Ice (I know it's not avail anymore but I still have some.) for anagama. Lizella Red, B-Mix 6, Frost for cone 6 firings. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal and mud Posted February 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 B-Mix Woodfire and Southern Ice (I know it's not avail anymore but I still have some.) for anagama. Lizella Red, B-Mix 6, Frost for cone 6 firings. Jim Many thanks for your recommendations. I'm seeing B Mix mentioned a lot. It's been very interesting reading the recommendations, then checking out the clay characteristics. Especially fun reading comments from two other New Mexicans. Has anyone fallen in love with Greenstripe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 Cone 6 is a temp. I see only while going past it to cone 11-so I have zero experience with cone 6 bodies. I like Dave's Porcelain at c10/11. Its a laguna Clay body Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~janie Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 I really love Armadillo's 5-6 porcelain and B Mix 5 for white, Buffalo Wallow for red. Buffalo Wallow with Grog is good for handbuilding also. I am still experimenting, trying to find the perfect clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffCenter Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 B-Mix Woodfire and Southern Ice (I know it's not avail anymore but I still have some.) for anagama. Lizella Red, B-Mix 6, Frost for cone 6 firings. Jim Many thanks for your recommendations. I'm seeing B Mix mentioned a lot. It's been very interesting reading the recommendations, then checking out the clay characteristics. Especially fun reading comments from two other New Mexicans. Has anyone fallen in love with Greenstripe? There is a diff between B-Mix and B-Mix Woodfire. There's more color to it and it flashes better than plain B-Mix. We fire it to cone 13-14 without any sagging or bloating. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franco Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Now I'm really new a this...all the b mixes reds whites...whew!!! I've got a lot to learn!!! Right now my favorite is 180th and Harrison clay...right out of the ground! They dug a new foundation and made it through all of the top soil right down to good old Nebraska clay! It balled up nice and I rolled it into a thin snake and it wrapped around my finger without cracking. A local potter checked it out and said she had good luck with the local clay to 1850 with no problems... Hope so, I have about 150 lbs of the stuff and might even go get more. Didn't even have much to clean out since they dug so deep. Keeping my fingers crossed....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up in Smoke Pottery Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Use Chad's Bod from Dakota Potter's Supply, throws great, very smooth, and handles thermal shock well. I use it for anything pit, saggars, raku, earthenware temps, mid and high fire stoneware, wood, salt. About the only thing I haven't tried is soda firing it. They tell me it is becoming popular in classrooms, since the kids can actually produce items easier and sooner than with other clays they have used. Besides I'm partial to the name as well. Chad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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