Using a big dustbin as a big mixing bowl has been an experience.
First port of call is to turn the solid clay into a slip so that I can evenly incorporate the different clays and inclusions into the clay body. The clay is torn into little pieces and covered with a layer of water to soften overnight (picture 1). A large industrial mixer is used to break down the clay into a smooth consistency before adding shale, paper fibres and wood shavings into the mix (picture 2 & 3).
My first attempt at mixing the recipe was unsatisfactory as the different clays were not distributed evenly so going forward I have made sure I spend a significant amount of time mixing the slip at the initial stage for a better result.
Once all the ingredients are incorporated the mixture is placed on a plaster bat to remove most of the wet moisture before wedging and bagging the clay up (picture 4). Biggest learning point is that this is not a quick process, time is needed at each stage to ensure a consistent produce.
Pictures 1 - 4 (l-r)
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