How to Choose the Right Clay.
Over the past 45 years, we've worked closely with the pottery community to fine-tune our clays using the best ingredients.
Through this, we’ve identified seven key factors to consider when selecting your clay:
1. Firing range of your kiln
The firing temperature of your kiln is crucial, as it determines the types of clays you can use. Lower temperature kilns suit Earthenware, while higher temperatures can accommodate Stoneware and Porcelain. The glaze you use also depends on the firing range.
2. Intended application
The type of work, whether thrown, hand-built, sculpted, or modelled affects your clay choice, as does the final use of the piece, whether it's functional, ornamental, or for indoor/outdoor use.
3. Size of your work
Larger pieces often require more heavily grogged clays for strength, while smaller works benefit from more plasticity.
4. Desired texture
The clay’s texture impacts the final feel and look of your piece. No grog offers a smooth finish, fine grog provides strength, and coarser grog creates a rougher texture with added durability.
5. Fired colour
From terracotta to porcelain and black clays, colour varies with temperature, making it an important consideration when choosing your clay. Within each product you can download a technical date sheet that will display the colour variances between firing temperatures.
6. Glaze compatibility
Glaze application can be technical, so it's essential to test compatibility with your chosen clay, considering your kiln's temperature.
7. Samples and testing
Testing is vital to determine the perfect clay for your needs. We highly recommend buying our 1kg clays to experiment and find the best fit without the cost commitment.