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To select a clay body you will need to identify: |
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| 1. |
The maximum temperature that your
kiln is capable of. |
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Do not choose a clay that requires a glaze firing
temperature that exceeds your kiln's maximum temperature.
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| 2. |
What kind of item do you want to
make? |
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If you want to make thick
sculptural/architectural pieces you should select a clay
that contains grog and/or fireclay. These clays include, #1
w/ grog, Raku, Red and White Scupture and Northern Light.
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Small to medium sized handbuilt items
can be made from the full range of clays.
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Thrown items
can be made from a wide variety of clay bodies. Porcelains
require some practice in order to throw successfully,
stonewares and earthenwares are good for beginning through
expert throwers and sculpture clays are too coarse for many
throwers.
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| 3. |
Choose a Clay Body
that will allow you to use the glaze colors that you like. |
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Earthenware Glazes
tend to have brighter colors than Stoneware Glazes,
although we have "BT- Bright Transparent" stoneware
glazes that are similar to earthenware glaze colors.
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| 4. |
Think About the Function of the pieces you want to make. |
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Functional items that are likely to see much handling,
dishwashing, microwaving, and/or oven use should be made
from clays that have good fired durability. These clays
include Minnesota Clay Stonewares and Porcelains.
Earthenware Clays can be used for functional ware as well
but the items are less chip resistant than higher fire
clays. Outdoor sculptural items can be made from our
Sculpture clays when fired to cone 1. Indoor sculptural
items can be made from any of our clays.
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| 5. |
What Fired Clay Color would you like?
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Even when clay is covered with glaze, it will have an impact
on the color of the glaze. Our clays are divided into three
main color categories: White, "Red" (Brown) and "Buff"
(light tan).
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Link to Minnesota Clay's Clay Bodies |
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