The extracted clay is dried in the open air for several days, getting rid of organic impurities. Then the dried clay is crushed with a hammer into small lumps.
Instructions
Step 1
After that, the crushed powder is poured into a container filled with water so that the liquid completely covers the clay and 15-20 cm of water remains on top. A day later, the clay is thoroughly stirred with a wooden stick, spoon or paddle. A homogeneous clay liquid should form, with a thickness reminiscent of cream. Large mechanical inclusions are removed from the mixture by filtering it through a fine sieve. Number of cells per sq. cm should be at least 36, or even more. The filtered clay is again left for a day or three. The clay settles to the bottom, and the excess water is carefully removed by a pump. It will be necessary to remove other excess moisture from the clay.
Step 2
A primitive filter for its removal is constructed from a canvas bag. The semi-liquid mass is transferred into it, and the bag is suspended. If the fabric of the bag is sparse, a lot of clay will leak along with the water, and if it is dense, the process is delayed for several days. To accelerate, choose a stronger rope and put oppression on the clay mass, getting a filter press at home. Freshly prepared clay is left in the air for a while, it is best to do this in winter, since there is less dust in the air. It is preferable to use zinc tables for aging. Zinc favors the development of bacteria in the clay mass, which make it more plastic. Clay, dried to the desired condition, is best stored in sealed zinc boxes. Clay is cured for at least a month, and the longer the period, the better the material.
Step 3
The dough placed in the box is protected from drying out with wet rags. In order not to worry about frequent moistening, and in order not to open the drawer for this too often, they resort to some trick. A bowl of water is placed at the bottom of the box and the ends of the cloth covering the clay are placed in it. The dishes with water are covered with boards, which should be 7-10 cm from the surface of the water, and the clay itself is laid on these boards. Very soft clay is malleable and easy to form, but it sticks to hands during work and deforms under its own weight in complex products. In the process of drying and firing, a product made of too soft clay, at best, is greatly reduced, shrinking, at worst, it is deformed, turning into a marriage. A sign of a normal clay consistency is ease of work, but at the same time your hands remain clean.
Step 4
Clay of the correct consistency is suitable for sculpting large and complex shapes, and easily takes the desired shape with little effort. But when you add a drop of water, it again turns into a viscous mass that sticks to your hands. This is the criterion for a clay that has an optimal maturation and excellent drying properties and is suitable for making molds of any size.
