If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
How to find local clay banks?
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How
to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? Thank You, David Smith |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
In a word... Ask.... Ask about, esp. gardeners (they do a lot of digging...)
also ask @ local gardening stores... there are also geological maps, local knowledge, was ther a brickworks near you? in UK that is a good sign... As for testing,3 small samples fired to 1000 C/ 1060 C/ and 1260 C will give you a good idea of how well it fires (make a small thumb pot with a stoneware clay to put each sample in...) You CAN test for lime using Hydrochloric acid (DILUTE) if it fizzes lots than it's full of lime, no good for e/ware but might be good for once fired stoneware... Best test tho is to make a small pot from it (after you've done the firing test above) and see if it stays together, (flaking off with white bits in the centre is lime spit...Cracking up with white bits is the same but worse.....) Good luck Hugs Eddie "David Smith" wrote in message ... Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? Thank You, David Smith |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I have recently been looking for clay deposits here in western Washington
state and have found quite a few. They are all over the place but it seems that MOST of them are within 50 yards of a river. Is this coincidence? Or I suppose it could simply be because there are so many rivers and streams up here. Whatever the reason it seems to help me find them. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Gary:
A small lesson in geology would be helpful, perhaps. You can consult any of the known books, such as Rhodes "Clay and Glazes for the Potter", or the Hamer and Hamer Dictionary, but it all boils down to this: Clay is formed from sediments washed (or carried in some cases by glaciers) from deeper deposits by the action of water (tides sometimes too, can unearth clay). The action of the water allows a filtering of the sediment, so all like-sized particles settle in about the same area (resulting in clay). Sometimes this occurs in a slower bank (bend) area of a river, sometimes on a stream bed, sometimes in a pond situation where the water evaporates. It also explains why you often find it in layers, with sand either above or below. Finding clay close to water is not unusual. It's actually the first place you should look g. Remember that not only the action of water, but the action of water over time plays an important role here. You probably won't find it "right" on the bank (though you might if the stream or river runs through a clay deposit). Usually, it is located "nearby", a result of a "recent" settling, where the river or stream then changed it's course, allowing the clay deposit to remain in place, and undisturbed. Recent in geologic terms, anyway. Hope that helps, and happy hunting, -- Wayne Seidl Key West, Florida, USA North America, Terra Latitude 81.45W, Longitude 24.33N Elevation 3.1 feet (1m) "Gary Dickson" wrote in message ... I have recently been looking for clay deposits here in western Washington state and have found quite a few. They are all over the place but it seems that MOST of them are within 50 yards of a river. Is this coincidence? Or I suppose it could simply be because there are so many rivers and streams up here. Whatever the reason it seems to help me find them. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Find a Bureau of Land management office. They usually will sell maps that can
point you in the right direction. Just tell them what you're looking for. Regards, June http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/ |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
You can look in the yellow pages under top soil. Find the one that is the
crook that delivers clay instead of good sandy garden soil and you could have a whole 15 yard truckload dumped in your garden. Ask me, I know from experience. Just a few days ago that very thing happened to me. Only problem is I wanted sandy garden soil not clay. Hmmmm. Now was I ripped off or is this a gift from god. Being a potter I'm going to try it out. I grabbed a hunk of it and wedged it. It passed the bending test right off the bat. I could have clay for life. Crystal "David Smith" wrote in message ... | Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How | to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? | | Thank You, | | David Smith |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Crystal,
Call me ignorant, but what is the bending test? all the best, Alistair. "CNB" wrote in message ... You can look in the yellow pages under top soil. Find the one that is the crook that delivers clay instead of good sandy garden soil and you could have a whole 15 yard truckload dumped in your garden. Ask me, I know from experience. Just a few days ago that very thing happened to me. Only problem is I wanted sandy garden soil not clay. Hmmmm. Now was I ripped off or is this a gift from god. Being a potter I'm going to try it out. I grabbed a hunk of it and wedged it. It passed the bending test right off the bat. I could have clay for life. Crystal "David Smith" wrote in message ... | Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How | to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? | | Thank You, | | David Smith |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
roll a coil, and bend it in half. if it's nice and plastic it'll bend without
getting cracky at the bend joint. steve Subject: How to find local clay banks? From: (alistair) Date: 9/25/2004 1:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time Message-id: Crystal, Call me ignorant, but what is the bending test? all the best, Alistair. "CNB" wrote in message ... You can look in the yellow pages under top soil. Find the one that is the crook that delivers clay instead of good sandy garden soil and you could have a whole 15 yard truckload dumped in your garden. Ask me, I know from experience. Just a few days ago that very thing happened to me. Only problem is I wanted sandy garden soil not clay. Hmmmm. Now was I ripped off or is this a gift from god. Being a potter I'm going to try it out. I grabbed a hunk of it and wedged it. It passed the bending test right off the bat. I could have clay for life. Crystal "David Smith" wrote in message ... | Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find local clay banks? How | to test the clay found ? Any suggestions? Comments? | | Thank You, | | David Smith steve graber |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Wow! Where do you live and who do I call?! I have been looking for clay for a couple of months now -- just in my spare time so I'm sure the answer is out there. But, I have not found a good clay for what I want to do. I learned of a place where they use to mine and process clay for bricks and pipes 30-100 years ago -- this past weekend I went and found several different types of clay all within a few miles. They seem promising -- but we'll see. I started processing two samples today! On 9/24/04 2:58 PM, in article , "CNB" wrote: You can look in the yellow pages under top soil. Find the one that is the crook that delivers clay instead of good sandy garden soil and you could have a whole 15 yard truckload dumped in your garden. Ask me, I know from experience. Just a few days ago that very thing happened to me. Only problem is I wanted sandy garden soil not clay. Hmmmm. Now was I ripped off or is this a gift from god. Being a potter I'm going to try it out. I grabbed a hunk of it and wedged it. It passed the bending test right off the bat. I could have clay for life. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Poly Clay/ wicked Candace | Stephanie | Beads | 49 | September 12th 04 03:07 AM |
Polymer clay cane covered eggs | Wanda | Polymer Clay | 17 | May 27th 04 02:26 AM |
Philadelphia Polymer Clay Guild Retreat June 5 and 6 | marthaaleo | Polymer Clay | 0 | April 19th 04 09:51 PM |
AD: intro to polymer clay workshop and class - Craft Students League NYC | Craft Students League | Polymer Clay | 0 | February 26th 04 08:51 PM |
Kato clay... | Louise | Polymer Clay | 4 | November 18th 03 11:37 PM |