What do you say about clay?

1. Clay has good plasticity.

 Plasticity is the ability of clay to hold its shape after being
squeezed
2. Clay has good chemistry
*Wet plastic clay has water molecules between the clay
particles
* Water evaporates out of clay leaving it hard, small and
dry. This is caused by the clay particles now being closer
together.
* A chemical change occurs when clay is fired in the kiln
(1100C/2000F) making the clay strong and hard to
decompose.

3. Safety first
* Dry clay produces a fine silica dust which floats in the air and
can cause lung problems.

4. Clay handling safety procedures

* place newspaper on your working area
* work on a firm surface to keep clay stable
* minimize clay in air and on clothes
* slowly roll newspaper when cleaning up
* never brush clay with a broom
* use damp paper towels to clean all clay from the tables and
floors
* Then use damp sponges to wipe down any fine dust from
tables and floors
*do not eat or drink while using clay
* Open windows at the end of class for humid air flow
5. Handle clay with care!
* Oils and salts on your hands cause cracks in your clay
* Uneven drying also causes clay to crack
Thin small parts dry quickly, thick parts dry slowly

What can you do to minimize cracking?

 Handle clay only in your fingers
 Handle clay as little as possible
 Keep clay by covering it with damp paper towels and
keeping it in a plastic bag until you need to work with it.
 Work quickly and put away any pieces not handling in that
moment.
 Control drying by covering small parts with damp paper
towel

What can be done to keep clay wet and plastic over night?
 Cover with damp paper towel
 Seal in 2 air tight plastic bags
 Also remember too much water causes clay to collapse

6. Connecting clay
* Score & slip- scratching both surfaces and paste on the clay
water mixture called slip.
* Push & Mush- pushing the clay together in a twisting motion
to avoid air bubbles.
* Sealing the seam-scrapping the clay across the seam between
the two pieces
* Pinch pot- a small pot made by pinching the walls to the
thickness of a thumb
* Score- to roughen a surface
Slip- watered down clay, the consistency of mayo “clay glue”
** Remember air bubbles= Explosive clay.

7. Hurray for clay!

Clay has been used by people all over the world for 1000’s of
years for decorative and functional purposes
Tools and utensils, pinch pots, clay bowls, dishes, vases, flower
pots and other vessels
Beads
Sculpture: Netsuki sculptures, gargoyles.