| First we weight out the proper
amount of each of the three clay's we use. |
| Then we hydrate and mix the
powdered clay to the correct moisture content. |
| Now we begin the process of
mixing the three clays together. |
| Next we de-air the clay using
a pug mill. |
| After the clay is de-aired it
must age about a week. |
| Then we weight out the clay
and make it in to a ball. |
| Now we can
throw the clay into the
desired shape. |
| After the clay has been thrown
we set it aside to dry. (1 to 7 days) |
| When the clay is leather hard
we re-center it on the wheel upside down and trim the bottom. |
| Next we use a scalpel and/or a
hook to design the clay vessel. |
| Now it's time to hand pull the
handles. (Hand pulled handles are a stronger handle.) |
| Then put on the handle if the
vessel needs one. |
| The clay is set aside to dry
for 2 to 3 weeks. |
| We then load the dry greenware
into the kiln. |
| And fire the clay to about
1800 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| After the kiln cools off we
check for sharp spots. |
| Then glaze the bisque ware
with the glaze we make using rare earths. |
| We dip the bisque ware in a
bucket of glaze. |
| And set it aside to dry. (10
minutes to 24 hours) |
| Scrape the glaze off the
places we don't want it. |
| Wipe off the rest of the glaze
off those same places with a sponge. |
| Touch up, with a glaze covered
paint brush, those places we wiped off the glaze accidentally.
|
| Now we can load the kiln and
turn this dirt covered bisque ware into pottery. |
| We fire the kiln to 2295
degrees Fahrenheit |
| Let cool |
| Unload the kiln and inspect
the finished stoneware. |
That is how we make our hand
thrown pottery step by step. The process usually takes about six to eight
weeks depending on the weather.
We also make some slab items like
wallpots, necklaces, earrings, and mudmen.
We make dinner sets, wedding
sets, communion sets, baby sets, and just about any other set!!