CLN studios Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Is their some secret to trimming porcelain that im missing out on? My tools trim up stoneware just fine, perfect ribbons of clay come off, but when I start trimming the porcelain the tools dont seem to even scratch the surface, these are even freshly sharpened tools too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLN studios Posted June 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Its like there is no "grab" in the porcelain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Porcelain has a much narrower range of moisture content in which you can trim it. If you let it stiffen to the point that it feels like leather hard stoneware, it will be too late. Most likely you're letting it get too dry. It should trim just like any other clay if the moisture level is right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 Trim it when its wetter as Neil said sharp tools also help. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 Good thing with porcelain you can back track a stage or two. Meaning if your clay got too dry it's relatively easy to get back to trimming consistency. A little slow and careful rehydration. I tend to just leave pieces covered dry cleaning bags are king. Contractor trash bags for bags for really slow dry. One Porcelaneous body I make tends to dry on the surface while insides is very moist, since it skins up early it take even longer to a consistent level of dryness Event though surface says trim it's really wet under the surface.I usually leave foot down until lip is firm then flip and dry foot up. I'm no production potter and I don't have a regular schedule. So painfully slow drying is a good thing. I just have a few different ware boards drying at different stages so I'll always have something to work on. Porcelain can be a real demanding princess. Different porcelain clay bodies have different characteristics. A grolleg body trims easier than an epk body. You can't expect a porcelain body to be anything like any stoneware body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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