Ceramics quiz

stages of clay

1- slip

2- plastic

3- leather-hard

4- bone dry

5- bisqueware

6- glazeware

what is clay

a mix of naturally occurring materials made primarily of fine grained minerals

what causes the different colors to occur in clay

impurities

slip- stage one is

25% clay and 75% water

• liquid clay

• glue of the pottery world

• 
  

plastic- stage 2

50% water and 50% clay

• soft pliable clay

• clay can be easily pinched wedge, rolled and thrown on the wheel

• the stage you receive clay in

stage 3- leather-hard

75% clay, 25% water

• best stage to carve and add designs

• ideal stage when connecting slabs together

• clay will hold its on shape

stage 4- bone dry

also knows as greenware

• 100% clay

• clay is no longer cool to touch

• 100% dry

• you can’t add or subtract

• clay is read

stage 5- bisqueware

clay that has been fired once

• fired clay is no longer recyclable

• clays body changes and is ready for painting or glaze once fired

stage 6: glazeware

• pottery that has glazed applied to it has bee fired 2x

• glaze is the shinning coating seen on pottery pieces

• made of silica and minerals

• most of them are food safe

what is wedging

when clay is repeatedly kneaded hereby distributing the moisture evenly while eliminating hard spots

how is clay reclaimed

by breaking down clay in the stages leading to bone-dry and putting in water

when can clay not be reclaimed

after it has been fired. however bone dry clay should not be thrown away

what does it mean to fire clay

the process of applying sustained heat to clay in order to change clay into permanent ceramics or pottery

what is a kiln

a large oven that clay is fired in

types of kiln

• outdoor wood fire

• gas kiln

• electric kiln

• trash can

• open pit

• fire pit

• 
  

the required temperature needed in the firing process is

2000F

what are some ways to tell if a piece is bone dry

looks light and feels warm

how do you avoid blow ups in the kiln

• avoid putting wet clay

• avoid trapping bubbles in the clay

• avoid drastic temperatures

• avoid making walls thicker than an inch. ( goal thickness is about 1/4)