[ratdog]

hello this is my first post.

and first off i would like to say high and ask that ya ll please under stand i got no grammar and cant spell.



that said
i bean digging holes and got some good looking clay

my process:

dig and dry clay

send it threw my keen impact mill to 40 mesh

slack it into slip and screen again

place slip in canvas bags and hang to dry

pug and throw

well i bean getting lots o cracks and hope the shell will help wit it

but what will it do to vert temps increase suspect but not shore

and what else can happen with the oyster shell i cant foresee.



thanks in advance

happy pots to ya ll:D

[Frederik-W]

As I understand you are getting lots of cracks and you are adding shells (oyster shell) as temper to avoid this ?

Crushed shells can be added as temper ("grog") and will help with thermal shock.
However if you are doing a normal firing with an electric or gas kiln, the clay should not crack,
so I suspect the clay might not be good to start with.

Here is a good article on adding temper to clay to prevent cracking:

http://practicalprim.../tempering.html

I hope that helps.

[ratdog]

Frederik-W, on 02 June 2012 - 01:27 AM, said:

As I understand you are getting lots of cracks and you are adding shells (oyster shell) as temper to avoid this ?

Crushed shells can be added as temper ("grog") and will help with thermal shock.
However if you are doing a normal firing with an electric or gas kiln, the clay should not crack,
so I suspect the clay might not be good to start with.

Here is a good article on adding temper to clay to prevent cracking:

http://practicalprim.../tempering.html

I hope that helps.

Hay thanks bro for da link
I guess I posted in two areas I bean replying on the tech area .

Sorry for da extra posts

An da clay is awsumness personified an free an well if it ain't it will be.

Thanks again