I have been looking to develop my own clay recipe by mixing a commercial clay with inclusions, namely Askam Grog (shale) and Cumbria Oak shavings. The process is mapped in the first four pictures below on the top row. Clay and materials are weighed out in incremental percentages to find the correct consistency. Too much included material causes the clay body to be short and unworkable.
Top (l-r) Picture 1, 2, 3, 4. Middle (l-r) Picture 5, 6, 7, 8. Bottom (l-r) Picture 9, 10, 11, 12.
Raku and Vulcan Course Black Body - Raw (picture 5), Bisque (picture 6) Glaze (picture 11)
Raku body with shale inclusions - Raw (picture 7), Bisque (picture 8)
Raku, Vulcan Black & Shale body with Wood shaving - Raw (picture 9), Bisque (picture 10)
All test pieces - Glaze firing 1280C (picture 12)
My favourite recipe is 50% raku, 40% vulcan black and 10% shale. For every 100 grams of clay, no more than 20 grams of wood shavings give the best results.
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