Comments on: Tweaking a Clay Body: Part Two http://jeffcampana.com/blog/2009/07/tweaking-a-clay-body-part-two/ The ceramic art and process of Jeff Campana functional pottery. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:20:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tim Compton http://jeffcampana.com/blog/2009/07/tweaking-a-clay-body-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Tim Compton Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:45:46 +0000 http://jeffcampana.com/?p=546#comment-280 Jeff, I am a student at ball state university studying under Ted Neal... I just completed my senior show using completely studio made porcelain. It entirely consisted of thrown forms many with handles. I also had to devise my own clay recipe without the use of a pug mill. My recipe for porcelain is OM4 ball clay - 15% EPK Kaolin - 10% Grolleg Kaolin - 25% Custer Feldspar - 25% Bentonite - 3% I mixed this recipe to a thick slurry in a 5 gallon bucket and then laid it out on plaster to get to working consistency. I do let it get a little dryer than normal for stability in throwing larger forms, but after drying it is very dense and quite plastic. Let me know what you think. Jeff, I am a student at ball state university studying under Ted Neal… I just completed my senior show using completely studio made porcelain. It entirely consisted of thrown forms many with handles. I also had to devise my own clay recipe without the use of a pug mill.

My recipe for porcelain is
OM4 ball clay – 15%
EPK Kaolin – 10%
Grolleg Kaolin – 25%
Custer Feldspar – 25%
Bentonite – 3%

I mixed this recipe to a thick slurry in a 5 gallon bucket and then laid it out on plaster to get to working consistency. I do let it get a little dryer than normal for stability in throwing larger forms, but after drying it is very dense and quite plastic.

Let me know what you think.

]]> By: Jeff Campana http://jeffcampana.com/blog/2009/07/tweaking-a-clay-body-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-255 Jeff Campana Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:23:53 +0000 http://jeffcampana.com/?p=546#comment-255 I guess I don't understand the question. You got it, then threw with it and liked how it throws, and you are asking me how I think it throws, right? I like it. The last batch I got was way too soft, so I have to dry it out on plaster for 4-5 hours before I can use it. There are little metal flakes in it which is a pain, but probably(hopefully) that was just isolated to the one batch. It shrinks a lot, but it is beautifully vitreous, translucent, and bright white. The fineness of the particles even results in glossier glazes. Don't fire it to cone 7 or it will warp. It is much happier at 5-6. The handles were cracking off until I got the clay figured out. Now it is problem free. does this help? I guess I don’t understand the question. You got it, then threw with it and liked how it throws, and you are asking me how I think it throws, right?

I like it. The last batch I got was way too soft, so I have to dry it out on plaster for 4-5 hours before I can use it. There are little metal flakes in it which is a pain, but probably(hopefully) that was just isolated to the one batch. It shrinks a lot, but it is beautifully vitreous, translucent, and bright white. The fineness of the particles even results in glossier glazes. Don’t fire it to cone 7 or it will warp. It is much happier at 5-6. The handles were cracking off until I got the clay figured out. Now it is problem free. does this help?

]]> By: Natalie Goehl http://jeffcampana.com/blog/2009/07/tweaking-a-clay-body-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Natalie Goehl Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:48:12 +0000 http://jeffcampana.com/?p=546#comment-254 I was wondering what you found when using the laguna WC-617...i ,in a rush, got the wrong body I do like how it throws...very easy...lol...but read that it is good for slabbing so i searched and found your note on testing it in the cone 6 throw down...anyway, i was wondering if you remember what you found when throwing this clay...i havent the funds to buy all new right now so i am worried! thank you! I was wondering what you found when using the laguna WC-617…i ,in a rush, got the wrong body I do like how it throws…very easy…lol…but read that it is good for slabbing so i searched and found your note on testing it in the cone 6 throw down…anyway, i was wondering if you remember what you found when throwing this clay…i havent the funds to buy all new right now so i am worried! thank you!

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