Ilenalee Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 I’ve been doing some experimenting with natural clays I’ve hunted down in my area. I’ve found one that fires well, but dries slower than any clay I have ever worked with. Anyone know what the chemistry of that might be? Or what might be a fix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 Organics: most likely Ord or Muck variety humus. Both carry very high CEC values (plasticity), as both absorb and hold moisture. Not uncommon for these materials to take several days longer to dry compared to commercial clay. You cab burn off Organics by heating up to 1150F. Organics may be the only plastic material in your wild clay: burning them off might have adverse effects. Testing is the only way to know. There is a Facebook group- "Wild Clay Club" devoted exclusively to processing/firing locally sourced clays. Not many threads about it on this site. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 bentonite clays also dry slowly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnolia Mud Research Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 Add some “wild sand” to open the clay body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted July 6, 2020 Report Share Posted July 6, 2020 Dying from processed, wet, is different from the wet we get from the store. It could be just that much more water. Blow on it! Sorce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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