Clays
PREPARED CLAYS
We draw supplies from large open cut mines from many sites
which enables us to provide a unique selection of clay bodies. Our production is
based on flexibility and although we have over 60 different clay bodies in
stock we are always ready to produce clays to customer's recipes or to meet
specific requirements. Our fully equipped Laboratory enables us to develop clays
to customer specifications.
Clays
Index
Walker
Ceramics Clays
Feeneys
Clays
Keanes Plastic and Paper Clays - see pricelists
Black Wattle Paper Clays - see pricelists
TYPES OF PREPARED CLAYS:
Slip House Bodies - These are prepared in large batches
in slip form which is then finely sieved and passed over rare earth magnets . The slip is pumped into
filter presses for water removal prior to pugging. Slip housing gives clay
uniformity and virtually guarantees freedom from contamination.
Hand Building Bodies - Hand building bodies are produced by our hammer
milled method. This gives excellent and reliable control
of grog and water content but it is more open to occasional inclusion of larger or extraneous particles arising in the ingredients or during processing.
Body Development - Currently in development are a range
of production bodies for the professional craftsman.
Testing Procedures - As prepared bodies are made from
naturally occurring clays, they are inevitably subject to small variations from
batch to batch. To take this into account, customers are advised to test the
clay from a new batch on a small scale before putting it to full use.
Firing Procedures - A glazed ceramic product can be
achieved by a number of different firing routines, the commonest of which are:
(a) Twice-Firing.
In this procedure, the dried clay pot is
first heated to some temperature above 1000°C - the biscuit fire. Then the
glaze is applied then the piece is fired again to the glaze maturing range.
(b) Once - Firing.
In this procedure, glaze is applied to the
unfired pot and then in one firing cycle the glaze and body are matured
together. This process does require test work on behalf of the user as problems
can arise. The gases in the greenware must be expelled; if there is glaze
covering the entire pot the escaping gas can easily cause pin holing in the
glaze finish.
Clays
