Basic Refining

[anto2554]

So i have started some basic things using clay, and i want to use that i have in my garden, but ofc. its full of sand.

So i use the normal cleaning techinique where i dissolve it in water, let sand sink to bottom, remove clayifyed (?) water from bucket, into another bucket, then let it settle. But it doesnt settle after ~50 hours. Should i just let it stand there for weeks? the only filter i have that is fine enough is coffe filters, but the are so slow, and cant be forced and cant take more then ~1 DL. I currently boil it down on a campfire, but this is also slow. Does anyone know a smart technique? I think its called red/blue clay where i livve in Denmark.

[alabama]

Find a source of clay that is pure. Or mix your dirt with some good clay for hand building.

 

Alabama

[What?]

Try a pillow case.

[JohnnyK]

As an experiment, try drying a small amount of your "clay". Then screen it through a sieve with mesh that is small enough to let the powdered clay through but will hold back the sand. Discard the sand, then wash the screened residue in a small bucket. See if the clay settles out then.

If that works, move on to larger quantities of material. It will be a tedious process at best. If it doesn't work, follow Alabama's suggestion!

 

JohnnyK

[Mark C.]

My guess is that dirt in garden is just that and has very little clay in it.

Clay is cheap so consider buying some and as above posts say add some dirt to that if you need to.