Clay
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Bloating in Pottery Clay – 5 Reasons Clay Bloats
Recently I had some of my pottery come out of the glaze fire with bloating in the clay. So, I went on a fact-finding mission to identify the cause and find a solution to this defect. I’m happy to say I’ve managed to fix the problem and I wanted to share what I’d learned about…
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How to Store Pottery Clay
Using clay that’s in good condition makes pottery making a lot easier. To keep it in good shape it’s important to know how to store pottery clay. Here are some essential tips on storing clay, so it’s in tip-top condition. You can store pottery clay either in a dry state or a moist state. If…
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Does Pottery Clay Go Bad? 5 Tips to Keep it Fresh
If you have bought some pottery clay you may be wondering whether it will go bad and if it has an expiration date. Well, the answer to that question is good news. No, pottery clay does not go bad, in fact if you store it well, it can last indefinitely. Clay can harden, or go…
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How to Make Clay from Dirt – Perfect Natural Clay Creations
Buying clay from a pottery supplier is easy, but learning to make clay from dirt is incredibly satisfying. If you have ever been curious about how to find and process your own wild clay, this article is for you. How to Make Clay from Dirt For ages, I thought that you could only harvest natural…
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The 8 Stages of Clay – An Amazing Journey from Dirt to Art
Clay is a natural resource that is mined from the earth and processed. Once processed it can be made into useful objects and beautiful things. Clay goes on an amazing journey from being dirt in the ground to pottery on your table. Here are the 8 incredible stages of clay… Raw clay is mined from…
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Is Stoneware Oven Safe? – Using Ceramics in the Oven
Stoneware is a very durable ceramic material and lots of kitchenware and dinnerware are made out of it. It’s great for prepping and serving food. But if you like to bake or roast, you may well be wondering if stoneware is oven safe too. Most stoneware dishes are oven safe. In fact, stoneware is often…
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Is Stoneware Microwave Safe? Or is it Too Hot to Handle?
Before you heat something in the microwave, it’s always a good idea to check if the dish is microwave safe. But what about stoneware? Stoneware is one of the most commonly used ceramic materials for kitchen and dinnerware. But is stoneware microwave safe? The short answer is ‘yes’, commercially made stoneware that has a ‘microwave…
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What is Stoneware? A Complete Guide to Stoneware Pottery
If you are starting out making pottery, or if you want to buy some ceramic dinnerware, you have probably heard the term ‘stoneware’. But what is stoneware and what are the advantages of using it? As a potter, I use stoneware clay every day, so I thought I’d write a helpful guide covering its best…
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Is Pottery Dishwasher Safe? Washing Handmade Ceramics
It seems to me that everything tastes better when you eat or drink from handmade ceramics. But how do you look after it and is pottery dishwasher safe? In this guide, I’ll be looking at some of the dos and don’ts of washing your pottery. But first, to quickly answer the main question about dishwasher…
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Food Safe Clay – What Clay to Use for Food and Drink
If you want to make pottery that you can eat off or drink from, you need to use food safe clay. The problem is that it can be confusing because there are a lot of different types and brands of clay available to purchase. This article looks at what types of clay are food safe…
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How Long Does Silica Dust Stay in the Air? Pottery Issues
Silica dust is a real concern for lots of potters. But just how long does silica dust stay in the air, and how concerned should you be?
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Is Polish Pottery Oven Safe? – Can it Take the Heat?
Ovens are now part and parcel of every household’s kitchen for faster preparation of various dishes. The biggest concern when using an oven is pondering if your ceramics are oven safe. Polish pottery is no exception to this. And if you own some pieces, you have probably wondered if Polish pottery is oven safe. Polish…