What Is My Clay?

[Fezzik]

Hello everyone.  I just purchased a studio from the widow of a long time potter.  Part of the package was a large amount of a number of kinds of clay that I am not familiar with and was hoping that someone here had some experience with or knew about.  Several hundred pounds of it is Great Lakes Clay MCL 343 as well as a few hundred pounds of DOM Porcelain and a few hundred pounds of Dave's Porcelain from Laguna WC384.  I also have Amaco #25.  Again, just looking to see if anyone has used any of this or knows someone who has and can give me an idea of what I am looking at. 

[neilestrick]

If you go to the manufacturer's web sites you'll find lots of information on all of those clay bodies- firing temp, color, texture, etc.

[schmism]

hmmm from GLC website on the MCL 343

 

 

 

Ontario White 5
Cone 5-7. Same base clay body as our Michigan White 5, but with 48 mesh mullite added for larger pieces. Still very plastic, responsive and tight. The mullite produces a speckling effect.

Bisque 08-04.  

 

 

 

So for us beginners, just what exactly  does that mean?   

 

IS that a stoneware?  a porcelain, an earthenware?  Im assuming that's a white clay body....  what does 48 mesh mullite mean?  is that like grog? 

[neilestrick]

hmmm from GLC website on the MCL 343

 

 

 

Ontario White 5

Cone 5-7. Same base clay body as our Michigan White 5, but with 48 mesh mullite added for larger pieces. Still very plastic, responsive and tight. The mullite produces a speckling effect.

 

Bisque 08-04.  

 

 

 

So for us beginners, just what exactly  does that mean?   

 

IS that a stoneware?  a porcelain, an earthenware?  Im assuming that's a white clay body....  what does 48 mesh mullite mean?  is that like grog? 

 

Yes, the mullite will function as grog. Sounds like it's a cone 6 white stoneware. They've taken one of their smooth white bodies and added mullite to it to make it more forgiving.