Pitterpotter Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I dug some clay from my birthplace to utilize in creating some of my work. I had the good fortune of having someone local that could test it for me so I would know all that it was in it. There were few trace elements/minerals but its primarily kaolin! :-) I'm wondering if anyone has fired locally dug clay and if so if you have suggestions on what temp to fire it to. Thanks for input! Debi Lane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 A Science teacher I worked with, brought me in some from her property. It was a blue green body, that fired golden yellow. I had to slaked it down, and screen it, to remove the large rocks and such. I only fired to Cone 04. I had a classmate in college, bring in a similar clay. The instructor let her fire it, in a dish, which was a good call, as it melted at around Cone 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 You'll need to test the clay. It might be suitable as a clay body, likely low-fire unless you add to it. Isculpt, another forum contributor, uses native clay for pit firing. It might also be suitable as a glaze or glaze ingredient. Make a few small pinch pot cups from a known clay, then test fire a sample in the cups at bisque and glaze temperatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 all local clays are different. If it is mostly kaolin, you should test it for high temperatures. If it is mostly sediment, you should test for low temperature ranges. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitterpotter Posted October 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks for the input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.