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fast ageing clay

updated tue 30 sep 97

 

stevemills on tue 9 sep 97

This brings us back to a previous thread on clay ageing. To repeat,
briefly, if it is possible to mix in with the offending clay a goodly
quantity of natural vinegar, the bugs which created the vinegar in the
first place will continue to grow and die in the clay, effectivly
"souring" it in a shorter time than normal, improving its plasticity no
end. When I was in full time production I always did this to my reclaim,
it helped no end. BTW natural vinegar is a must, most commercial vinegar
is as about as alive as a plastic brick.
Steve
--
Steve Mills
@Bath Potters Supplies
Dorset Close
Bath
BA2 3RF
UK
Tel:(44) (0)1225 337046
Fax:(44) (0)1225 462712

Fay & Ralph Loewenthal on wed 10 sep 97

I use a compost activator to mature my clay. I had it to
the water before mixing the dry clay powder. You can get
it from most nurseries and hardware stores here in SA.
Hope this helps Ralph in PE SA

Talbott on thu 11 sep 97

Would this be the same powder stuff that you add to a septic tank to
increase the bacterial level? Sounds like a great idea... Would adding
baker's yeast do the same thing I wonder? ..Marshall

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I use a compost activator to mature my clay. I add it to
>the water before mixing the dry clay powder. You can get
>it from most nurseries and hardware stores here in SA.
>Hope this helps Ralph in PE SA

1ST ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1997)
http://fmc.utm.edu/~dmcbeth/cag/naples.htm

2nd ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1998)
Details will be forth coming!!!

Celia & Marshall Talbott, Pottery By Celia, Route 114, P O Box 4116,
Naples, Maine 04055-4116,(207)693-6100 voice and fax,(call first)
WBS Live Chat Room, Sat Nites 10 PM EDT & Sun Afternoons at
1 PM EDT Private Room: Clayarters E-MAIL: clupus@ime.net

Talbott on mon 15 sep 97

Seeing dark blue or black streaks on the surface of clay as it comes out of
the pugmill is a good sign of clay that has some organisms present. It
reminds me of "spalted maple"... Maple lumber that has had fungi working on
it... This must be a similar organism that is found in ageing clay. How
to encourage these specific organisms seems to be the issue. Certain
anerobic bacteria cause "lock jaw" and botulism.... I wonder are all of
these organisms, both aerobic and anaerobic, potentially present in ageing
clay ? ....Marshall

1ST ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1997)
http://fmc.utm.edu/~dmcbeth/cag/naples.htm

2nd ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1998)
Details will be forth coming!!!

Celia & Marshall Talbott, Pottery By Celia, Route 114, P O Box 4116,
Naples, Maine 04055-4116,(207)693-6100 voice and fax,(call first)
WBS Live Chat Room, Sat Nites 10 PM EDT & Sun Afternoons at
1 PM EDT Private Room: Clayarters E-MAIL: clupus@ime.net

Ron Roy on tue 16 sep 97

It seems to me that whatever organisms are working in clay need something
to eat - organic mater - and at least some of them must benefit from
renewed oxygen. One way of introducing that needed oxygen is by wedging or
pugging. I think most of us are using "fresh" clay but would notice a real
difference if we would only give our clays the time they need to get
"aged."

Marshall brings up an important point - tetanus must be something we should
be concerned about - I am not sure when you need to renew your vaccination
- is it every 10 years?


>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Seeing dark blue or black streaks on the surface of clay as it comes out of
>the pugmill is a good sign of clay that has some organisms present. It
>reminds me of "spalted maple"... Maple lumber that has had fungi working on
>it... This must be a similar organism that is found in ageing clay. How
>to encourage these specific organisms seems to be the issue. Certain
>anerobic bacteria cause "lock jaw" and botulism.... I wonder are all of
>these organisms, both aerobic and anaerobic, potentially present in ageing
>clay ? ....Marshall

Ron Roy
Toronto, Canada
Evenings, call 416 439 2621
Fax, 416 438 7849
Studio: 416-752-7862.
Email ronroy@astral.magic.ca
Home page http://digitalfire.com/education/people/ronroy.htm

John H. Rodgers on tue 16 sep 97

-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --


-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

Date: Monday, 15-Sep-97 08:34 AM

From: Talbott \ Internet: (clupus@ime.net)
To: CLAYART LIST \ Internet: (clayart@lsv.uky.edu)

Subject: Re: Fast ageing clay
I saw a dark blue/black streak in clay - turned out to be from a leaking
grease seal. -- I jokes!!

It would be interesting to hear the results of bacterial testing on clay, if
there is anyone in a science or medical field close enough to lab sources.
Takers anyone!

Tetnus! resulting lockjaw. That would be a bad one to have in your water. A
Cocci if I recall correctly.

Spalted woods have coloration due to the fungi present. And many are highly
toxic. Woodworkers working with spalted woods often take extreme measures to
protect themselves.

John Rodgers

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Seeing dark blue or black streaks on the surface of clay as it comes out of
the pugmill is a good sign of clay that has some organisms present. It
reminds me of "spalted maple"... Maple lumber that has had fungi working on
it... This must be a similar organism that is found in ageing clay. How to
encourage these specific organisms seems to be the issue. Certain anerobic
bacteria cause "lock jaw" and botulism.... I wonder are all of these
organisms, both aerobic and anaerobic, potentially present in ageing clay ?
.....Marshall

1ST ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1997)
http://fmc.utm.edu/~dmcbeth/cag/naples.htm

2nd ANNUAL CLAYARTERS' GALLERY - NAPLES, MAINE (Summer 1998)
Details will be forth coming!!!

Celia & Marshall Talbott, Pottery By Celia, Route 114, P O Box 4116,
Naples, Maine 04055-4116,(207)693-6100 voice and fax,(call first)
WBS Live Chat Room, Sat Nites 10 PM EDT & Sun Afternoons at
1 PM EDT Private Room: Clayarters E-MAIL: clupus@ime.net


-------- REPLY, End of original message --------