Who knew that switching from Seattle Sea Mix 5 Stoneware to Plainsman M370 Porcelain could be so drastic! Porcelain is so silky and smooth that I am considering making a lovely facial mask out of it! LOL. It is way more plastic and durable BUT will it hold up to the strength I need for hand-building? Time will tell and I have asked for feedback from the experts as I never realized that one clay could differ so much from another.
I was always too afraid to switch clays because the Sea Mix was what I have been using since day one. I finally ran out of clay from a local pottery supply store that is no longer in business so I had to make a change. I choose Plainsman because it is a Canadian company and I always try to support the local economy when and where I can as well being local (Alberta, BC) the price was better. I am also hoping I am doing my part in cutting down on green house emissions since the clay does not have to travel as far and at 40 - 50 pounds a box, it is heavy!
For the last month I was fretting about my glaze disaster and now I am moving on to fretting about my choice in clay. Eventually I will have everything worked out and be on my merry way but every time I learn a little bit the more I realize I have sooooo much more to learn.......
Lisa..Good eve.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for going Canadian..:)
FYI: Larry who manages Plainsman Pottery Supply in Edmonton is very helpful as well. (that is where I get my supplies)
I think you will continue to like M370 - that is mostly what I use, firing to cone 6/7. I also use M340 as it does have a bit of fine,fine grog in it, but I do prefer M370 -like you said, it is smmmoooooth. :) I do handbuild with it.. I like the smoothness when making leaves and coils, for example, because you can 'pull' it into long narrow pieces and shapes.Slabs do take a while to set up, but worth the wait. Most of the work you see on my blog is with M370 and it does okay at cone7 which is what a lot of my glazes 'like'.:)
Have fun with it. Not that I am an expert, but if I can help at all, send me a note.
Thanks for the feedback, I was a little worried about hand-building as that is pretty much all I do.
ReplyDeleteWhat about joining handles and such. I used magic water (water plus sodium silicate, soda ash and cider vinegar) but is slip better for M370?