[Hardie backer board]

10 hours ago, Hulk said:

Hi Irene!

I have several pieces of the 1/4" that I use for wedging clay - one each for dark, red, buff, and white clays - leftover from tile projects around the house. I'm just setting the board on the workbench, the end up against a scrap piece of wood tacked to the wall. It wipes off easily, and then can be stored out o' the way as well.

We scored both sides with a razor knife, then snapped it over a straight edge for a fairly clean cut; I haven't used the heavier board.

For reclaim, I'm using two inch thick slabs of pottery plaster (cast in a cake pan), which will absorb a lot of water; propped up on 1x1" sticks, five sides are exposed to air for evaporation, which helps a bit as well... 

That's just what I was hoping to hear Hulk.  I'll definitely get the lighter and cheaper 1/4" then,  one for each of the 3 clays I use.   Thank you!

I've been reclayming on a plaster slab as well, which is in a lidded bin that I use as a damp box also.  But I can see having 5 exposed sides would be even better.  Does pottery plaster in bags have a use by date?  When I used mine again I couldn't get it to set, tho I tried several times.    I thought I had read somewhere that it doesn't age well in the bag.  Is that true?   I had the bag in plastic as well.   Do I just need to get a fresh bag?

[Hardie backer board]

I'm thinking about buying some hardie backer board and have a couple questions I hope someone can answer before I do that.  First of all, can you really score and snap it?  It comes in 1/4" and 1/2" and it's hard to imagine the 1/2" would snap, but I've never used the stuff so who knows?   Also, does it warp with use?  If so, would I be better off with the 1/2" ?     I plan to use it for wedging and also for reclaiming  (or as I like to say, reclayming).  Sorry, couldn't help myself there.   All suggestions

gratefully accepted.  Thanks!

Irene

in cold and, for the moment, sunny NJ