Should I use plaster of Paris or pottery plaster?

[MaxCasey]

Quick Guide to Selecting and Maintaining General-Use Scissors for Sewing

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Final Words

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Edited February 23 by MaxCasey

[Hulk]

Hi Max,

Welcome to the Forum!

Had the same question, a few years ago; my recollection is the pottery plaster is stronger, less prone to chipping/breakdown, and absorbs water better.

I went with pottery plaster.

Perhaps you can find a supplier (no doubt there are many in the Chicago area), then pick up a bag - save on shipping!

There's some discussion in existing threads*:
Reclaim Tray / Pottery Plaster or Plaster of Paris? - Studio Operations and Making Work - Ceramic Arts Daily Community

Can Dead Plaster Be Revived? (Call The Paramedics!) - Studio Operations and Making Work - Ceramic Arts Daily Community

when will it dry off plaster bat? - Studio Operations and Making Work - Ceramic Arts Daily Community

*There's more.
Note, the integrated search only returns open threads.
Threads are auto-closed when over two years have passed without edit/addition.
To cast a wider net, use an external search engine (e.g. Google) and include community.ceramicartsdaily in your search string...

 

[Callie Beller Diesel]

Plaster of Paris disintegrates pretty readily when exposed to water on the regular. Think about walls disintegrating when there’s been flooding. 

 Pottery plaster is designed to absorb water, so it holds up better over time. Once cured, it’s a lot harder than plaster of Paris. 

If you get either type of plaster in your reclaim, small bits of it can create spalling or lime pops in fired ware. Basically, the clay shrinks and the plaster doesn’t. Usually it shows up right away, especially if the plaster was still holding some moisture in the early part of the firing.  In some cases it can show up much later. A layer of a piece will fall off, and there’s a little soft white bit in the cavity. 

[Min]

Different types of plaster are available for ceramics. General purpose good quality plaster for throwing on and making wedging tables or drying surfaces is called #1 Pottery Plaster. Some people prefer to make throwing batts from Hydrostone which is a stronger plaster than #1 Pottery Plaster but it doesn't dry out clay as quickly.

Whatever you use make sure you use the correct amount of water, it's important to the strength of the finished plaster.