About CLAY - Types used in the CAC Studio

*

CAC members may purchase clay from the club at a very low cost; all of the clays listed below are kept in stock for use by CAC members. These clays all fire to cone 5-6 (about 2154° to 2176°F), which is the highest temperature we fire in our kilns. Most of our clay comes in 25 lb. bags, except for recycled clay, which is provided in 4 lb. packages. All of this clay is kept in clay storage cabinets in an out-building near the studio and may be purchased by CAC members at any time. It must then be paid for and recorded on the clay purchase clipboard which is kept next to the chalkboard in the CAC studio.

B MIX WITHOUT GROG: This is a creamy, smooth warm-white clay which is easy to form, and is very good for throwing on the wheel. It is very plastic with a smooth, almost porcelain-like texture which gives excellent glaze results. [$18 per 25-lb bag]

B MIX WITH GROG: This clay is much like the one listed above: basically smooth but mixed with some grog (the grog makes it less fragile before it is fired).  It is quite good for hand-building and also for wheel work (especially for beginners at the potters’ wheel).  It fires to an off-white color; with a clear glaze it is rather buff in color. [$18 per 25-lb bag]

PORCELAIN:  This is our smoothest, most refined (& expensive) clay.  This clay body is nearly white when high fired and therefore provides a surface which is extremely true to the color of glaze. However porcelain may be a rather difficult clay for beginners, especially at the potter’s wheel, as it is delicate and doesn’t always hold its shape well. [$24 per 25-lb bag]

SCULPTURE MIX: This clay has a lot of grog in it; it is very malleable, dries very slowly and can be worked and worked, and worked.  This clay actually vitrifies at a higher temperature than cone 6, but since it’s mostly used for sculpture and other non-functional purposes, that doesn’t usually matter. Sculpture Mix is particularly satisfactory for Raku firing. [$18 per 25-lb bag]                                     

NAVAJO WHEEL: This red (adobe color) clay has plenty of body. It is a good all-purpose clay which is  a favorite to use for pots that will be burnished for pit firing.  Navajo Wheel clay takes glazes of strong color especially well. [$18 per 25-lb bag]

STONEWARE: This is another good all-purpose clay which fires to a warm tan color and can be used for functional pieces.  Stoneware looks good with almost any glaze; the chemical composition of the clay body particularly enhances blue tones. [$18 per 25-lb bag]

RECYCLED CLAY:  This varies greatly, since it's made from scraps of all of the types of clay described above. It is usually warm in tone and is a good, sturdy, all-purpose clay. Great for beginners and for anyone wishing to try out new ceramics projects inexpensively. [Currently this clay is free to CAC members]

*

________________

Note: check out "The Scoop" on this site for current happenings at the CAC studio - with photos!