Why Should You Wedge Clay

Wedging prepares the clay for optimal use. Wedging makes the clay more pliable, ensures a uniform consistency, and removes air pockets as well as small hard spots in the clay before you use or reuse the clay for a project. Wedging the clay before throwing makes the clay more supple.

Do I have to wedge my clay?

Because clay is sticky, you need to wedge on a surface that your clay won’t easily stick to.

Why is it important to wedge clay and not have any air bubbles?

Avoiding Air Pockets Altogether When clay is mixed or recycled, air pockets get trapped in the clay. Wedging is the best way to eliminate them. There are more benefits to wedging clay than just getting rid of air pockets. Wedging also makes the clay more workable and gives consistent moisture throughout the clay.

What surface should you wedge clay on?

Every potter needs a surface to wedge clay on, and there are many different types. The most common are plaster, plaster covered in canvas, and plywood covered in canvas. Other possibilities are concrete, granite, masonite, concrete board and hardibacker board. The simplest wedging surface is a piece of canvas.

Why is kneading clay important?

Before using clay for a project, you need to prepare it by kneading it, also known as wedging. Kneading clay properly will make it easier to work with and will eliminate air bubbles. Upper body strength and strong hands are helpful when kneading clay. Use these tips to knead clay.

What happens if I don’t wedge my clay?

There are usually no air bubbles in it! In fact, improper wedging will more often add bubbles and you’ll just dry out your clay in the process. Simply make sure the pieces get enough drying time and have no plaster mixed in with the clay- that IS a sure recipe for explosions.

What are the two main ways can wedge clay called?

So it’s important to learn how to wedge clay properly. There are various different ways to wedge clay— ram’s head, spiral wedging, and wire wedging to name a few.

Do air bubbles make pottery explode?

While enclosed air doesn’t cause explosions, it can prevent thorough drying and trap moisture, which does cause explosions. When the kiln temperature rises, the air pockets fill with water vapor, which builds pressure as water turns to steam. The pressure of the steam causes the clay to explode from the inside.

What happens if there is an air bubble in clay?

Air bubbles in clay items are dangerous because they can cause explosions in the kiln. The air bubble dilates due to heat and forces the clay to crack or explode and shatter the ceramic piece. The risk of explosion increases with the temperature in the kiln.

What surface does clay not stick to?

Most air dry clays are sticky, and you don’t want that on your work surface. We recommend protecting the work area with items such as wax paper, silicone baking mats, or vinyl placemats. This will keep your table protected and make clean up much easier!Mar 8, 2018.

What surface is best for clay?

Some artists prefer glass or tile as a work surface because they can help keep clay cooler if the artists has rather hot hands. They can also go directly into the oven with your project. In fact, at lots of retreats, small tiles are used as baking surfaces, because several can be placed in the oven at one time.

Can I wedge clay on wood?

If wood is your clay wedging surface of choice, an old heavy wooden table is also a good option. Unvarnished wood has enough grip to make a great wedging surface. And it is nicely absorbent, without drawing too much moisture from your clay.

What are the 5 stages of clay?

Terms in this set (5) slip. a mixture of clay and water, the consistency of pudding. wet/plastic clay. new clay from the bag, very workable. leather hard. the clay has lost most moisture, but you can still carve into it. bone dry or greenware. totally dry clay, all moisture is gone, ready to fire. bisque.

What is the difference between wedging and kneading clay?

Wedging is a specific type of kneading. The goal with wedging is to mix the clay without adding air bubbles. If you do it correctly, you’ll remove air bubbles. I was taught two types of wedging- knead (or ram’s head) and spiral.

What are the six stages of clay?

There are 6 essential stages of clay: 1. ) Slip. Slip is clay with added water to make it into a paste or liquid. 2.) Wet clay. Wet clay is used by many potters to produce their work. 3.) Leather-hard clay. 4.) Dry clay. 5.) Bisque. 6.) Glaze ware.

Why does my polymer clay bubbles after baking?

Those bubbles are caused by trapped air in your polymer clay. When you fold over your strip of clay and insert it in your pasta machine fold last, a little pocket of air gets trapped in the fold. If you keep doing this over and over, more and more air gets forced into the layers of clay.

What is clay slip made of?

Slip consists of clay particles suspended in water. Its consistency will vary according to use, ranging from thick cream to butter milk. It can be used to bond pieces of clay together, to decorate and protect pottery or it can be poured into a mold and used to cast objects.

Is there a machine that wedges clay?

A Pugmill is a machine with a horizontal chamber that loads on the top. The chamber is a metal cylinder with an auger inside. An auger looks like a large screw. It turns and wedges the clay, discharging the wedged clay at the other end.

What does it mean to throw clay?

To throw the clay means to bend it between your finger joints. The right finger is lower than the left. This is important since the discrepancy is what forces the clay to bend. As the potter’s hands move upward, the clay is stretched through the bend, with the excess clay being forced upward.

Do kilns explode?

But why do pieces explode in the kiln? The pressure from the steam, and nowhere for it to escape, causes the piece to explode. If there’s too much moisture in your greenware, especially moisture inside hollow air pockets within the clay, you run the risk of having your greenware explode.

Why does my pottery keep exploding?

The main reason that pottery explodes in the kiln is residual moisture left in the clay body even when it appears bone dry. Once the kiln reaches 212F, the moisture starts to turn into steam. It expands very rapidly and the pottery shatters to accommodate the steam.