Easiest-Ever Trick to Rehydrate or Make A Hard or Stiff Block of Clay More Plastic!

[@suzirubin8981]

I grew up in neighboring West Chester, so familiar with your school. I am now retired and living in CA, and returning to my first love in high school... pottery. I have seen many of your videos and they have been so useful to me. Whether you know it or not, you are making a difference in so many lives, including many who are not even your students. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with the rest of us!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Awww- thank you so much for the kind words!!! 🥰

[@maciejsimm2342]

this was very helpful. I picked up pottery as a "pandemic learner" (meaning via youtubes, not so much in person) and never realized all the clay I use is usually a bit too dry. What I have been doing so far is when the clay is borderline usable just a bit dry, when I'm done throwing one piece, I'll have my hands covered in slip. I'll use my judgement and sometimes wipe one hand off, but the remaining slip gets worked into the new lump. This has been a game changer as I feel like I can now do the things to clay (pulling, centering) that I could only observe others do. I can't wait to try soaking a whole bag since that will be a lot less laborious!

[@littlesammyf7380]

Great timing, I’ve been given a bag of very firm stoneware clay. Hope you and Mrs Valentine are well

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Lol! Thanks, Sammy! She got a kick out of this! ;)

[@carolrthomas1360]

Thanks for all the video lessons; they help me so much. There was pottery explored in my highschool but i never got the clay centered. Now I am retired from both teaching and nursing and found a space to do clay work at home. I appreciate your many topics. Thanks so much!

[@leoroe8954]

The people at Standard Clay in Carnegie, PA showed me how to do this. They suggested using hot water to pour inside and to surrounded the bag. It works great.

[@HyperSculptor]

Excellent, thank you. I used to reydrate clay the hard way: letting it dry completely, breaking it into small chunks and throwing in water, then mixing it with a paint mixer, then pouring the soft mud on plaster blocks, then (exhausting to even write it down lol) rolling and working it back to proper plasticity. Usually a full day job, slept well the following night. Your method seems great, will try next week.

[@AlpacaRenee]

Thank you SO much! Someone gifted me 18 boxes of Labuan that has partially dried out. I can slice it, but definitely to hard to throw. This is a wonderful trick to know!

[@TeressaJ1960]

Thank you so much for posting this! I was about to throw away 2 huge blocks that had dried out!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Glad I could help! Just make sure the bags don't have holes! :)

[@sharonguzman-pl4pv]

Very helpful. We bought more clay than I can use in the timeframe and even in boxes the clay is hard to handle on the wheel when I prep it into balls. Which in turn is much harder on my wrists and especially shoulders. So this video is wonderfully helpful. Thank you for putting it together.

[@marbargrabit]

I teach ceramics (and 8 other subjects, lol, cry a little) in Michigan. Thank you for making your videos accessible. They are great!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

I am very happy to!!! I taught elementary art for 8 years- and totally get having to be "jack of all art trades"!! I'm darned lucky to teach my passion of working in clay- and I'm happy that these videos can help others!!!

[@kristinefox926]

Thank you for sharing your expertise. I always learn something from your videos!

[@CookbooksonRepeat]

Karan, you have an answer for EVERYTHING! Thank you SO much. ❤️

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

You're so welcome!

[@debranickles4617]

Shut the front door! This is so brilliant and simple! How have I lived all these pottery years and never came across this method! Thanks so much!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Debra- I KNOW, RIGHT??!! I wish I knew that when I started 30+ years ago!!!!

[@juliadreher7498]

Thank you so much for your videos. I teach pottery in the UK and will definitely be trying this method as reclaiming/managing clay in the studio is becoming more and more tome consuming! Please do keep the video tips coming. Incredibly informative!

[@amandatorres4838]

OMG this actually works! Thank you so much, I was about to give up on this block of old clay but its been about 15 hours and I can already feel it getting softer from the surface. Let's hope this works out, I'm so excited!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Glad I could help!

[@lynnt5859]

Check your bag for holes or you could get a bag of slip. Learned that one the hard way.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Oh, Lynn- thank you so much for posting this! I can't believe I forgot to mention that! I added it into the video description now! :)

[@jenniferjohnson4913]

Because there are so often tiny holes in the original bag, we always double bag with ziplocks.

[@puck34fan]

Just learned the hard way to check for holes in the bag. Now for a tutorial to dry out a bag of “slip”. 🥺😩😫

[@WeeBGB]

LOLOL! Not that that's a bad thing! :D

[@MidnightsunAtFoto]

Haha Me too 🙌🏻

[@bossdog1480]

Good tip about submersing the bag in a bucket of water to force the water into the clay. I'll use that on my hard block of raku. 😊😊

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Just be sure to check your bag to make sure it doesn’t have holes!

[@barbaragilson6740]

Great idea thanks. I have actually used this method . Works great!

[@songofsitra]

Karen you are a legend, thank you for this information. I have been doing this the hard way. :)

[@LilDirt12]

Awesome! Thank you. Much less messy method.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

You're welcome! It was a game changer for me!!! Just make sure the bag doesn’t have holes!

[@marykidd5666]

Wow! What a good idea! Thanks

[@christophersoprano-sculptor]

Thank you so much for sharing this technique.

[@catherinea8311]

Thank you for posting this video, 💡moment., extremely helpful!!!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Wonderful- just make sure your bag doesn’t have holes!!! 😉

[@andromedastern8812]

Perfect timing for this video! Just three minutes ago I diskussed with my husband, that all refreshing and recycling tipps I already know are too time-expensive for my work as an OT. Now I see this and I laughthed and screamt threw the compleet house to him "i got it!" Tomorrow will be big-bucked-shopping-day for Work 😅😎 Thx so much for this! Greets from Germany PS: did my first mug and some with patients. They look wonderful ❤️ thx to you

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

LOL! That is AWESOME!!! The day I learned this- I felt the same way!!! I wish I would have learned it 30 years ago! ;)

[@dhooboclassichome8149]

Thank you! In fact, I benefited from you Thank you so much ❤

[@susanh986]

Thanks for saying what to do if you over-rehydrate! Great video, thank you. Do you cover rehydrating glazes somewhere?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Hi Susan, I haven't at this point, but if you have dry glazes, you can often add water and let them sit and rehydrate over a few days!

[@amandathompson8473]

Thanks so much! This was really helpful.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Glad it was helpful! I forgot to emphasize in the video - make sure your bag doesn't have a hole! :)

[@josephdupont]

The number of moles of beryllium (B) that can be released from a pound of dry clay under ideal conditions depends on the specific composition of the clay and the method used to extract the beryllium. Clay is a complex mixture of minerals and organic materials, and the presence of beryllium in clay can vary widely depending on its geological origin. To determine the amount of beryllium that can be released from a pound of dry clay, a chemical analysis of the clay would typically be required. This analysis would involve techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, or other analytical methods to determine the beryllium content of the clay. Once the beryllium content of the clay is known, it would be possible to calculate the number of moles of beryllium in a pound of dry clay using the molar mass of beryllium. Beryllium has a molar mass of approximately 9 grams per mole. Without specific information about the beryllium content of the clay, it is not possible to provide an exact answer to this question. However, it's important to note that beryllium is a toxic element, and proper safety precautions should be taken when working with materials that may contain beryllium.

[@saquenmedelatinoamerica1203]

aight mr chat gpt

[@mezmur6614]

Thank you so much

[@StuffUCanMake]

Thank you so much for the tutorial.

[@WeeBGB]

Thank you! SO EASY! :)

[@rbt7273]

Thanks for explaining why the clay needs to go into a bucket of water.

[@noelia6803]

great tip, thank you!!!

[@margaretbearden7273]

Thank you for the tips! Can they use it out of the bag or will it need to be wedged?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

I would wedge each lump before using to make sure the moisture is consistent!

[@altermann1ify]

Can you keep reusing this clay to sculpt as long as it's wetted and kept air tight?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Yes- clay is usable endlessly until it is fired!

[@scify6278]

hi Karan. I started making a model with polymer clay four days ago. Because I knew I would be busy I just kept water spraying it, as I still want to finish it. But some of it is getting harder, and I need to reshape parts of it. 'It's a 'Gryphon' and I kind of need to re-mould, or 'rather' -reshape the wings and still add talons etc. When I was making it originally I used a fork to engrave ruffled feather patterns, but fear it may be not 'malable' enough to carry on :( . Do you have any tips that can help me preserve or soften the clay to carry on with my project. I really hope you can help as I kind of started making it by accident and it kind of shaped itself in my hands 'which makes no sense'. But as I have not done clay since I was 11 years old (Now 48). I don't think I can replicate the original work.....Please, is there ANY way I can keep it soft enough as when i first started crafting it???????? I really really want to finish it. I feel it was meant to be, but I have just been sidelined with 'life' things. Please help.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

As far as I understand, I don’t think polymer clay is water-based. So I don’t think adding water helps to keep it moist? Last time I did polymer clay was probably over 20 years ago and I just remember softening up the block in a little food chopper that I had dedicated to using for nothing but polymer clay. So, maybe a tad bit of warmth and kneading it? But I really don’t know what to tell you about the part already made. Sorry I can’t be of more help, it’s so absolutely different from actual clay that’s dug from the Earth.

[@scify6278]

No probs, thank you anyway :)@@KaransPotsAndGlass

[@josephdupont]

According to the side system KZbin and AI there's small amounts of heat that are generated when the clay absorbs water. I'm just trying to find out how much it is. They use these thermal couple. These solid states are thermal couples and they actually are able to generate heat from the amount of not heat electricity from the amount of heat that is generated by the absorption of water. As it rehydrates, I don't know the total specifics of it. But it's it's probably hard to recognize This effect.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

lol- well, I've been doing clay for nearly 40 years, and have never noticed anything...

[@chroniclesofcalm904]

Thank you!! I thought I’d have to throw it out.

[@heberlopez4942]

Very helpful thanks :)

[@hannahclark5277]

Does this trick work if the clay is bone dry?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Yes!!!! It just may take a few more days!!!

[@_chary990]

woo! thank you!

[@spencerchan9233]

Can I leave some air in the bag?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

If you make sure the water level is over the block, just let the air squeeze out! You want the water pressure surrounding it all around!

[@josephdupont]

I was told that if you put water in dry clay, it gets warm as it gets. Wet is that true

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

No! That does apply to plaster however!

[@Crusader1984]

Adding that much water doesn’t it cause mold eventually?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Clay will sometimes mold- but I have never noticed that method causing it. The idea is just to add enough water for it to regain the plasticity. If you overshoot the amount, you can dry it back out again to the right consistency. Anaerobic bacteria is the biggest culprit for smelly and moldy seeming clay. As soon as it gets exposed to air, it generally dies.

[@thehallhive9425]

The water gets through the entire block?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

yes- depending on how much you used, and how long it sits! :)

[@igotbit9454]

Buckets. Welcome to my life lol

[@susieculley145]

Hydrostatic pressure

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

THANK YOU!!! I’ve been trying to think of that term for YEARS!!! 😂

[@vincentm8459]

Thank you so much

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

You’re so welcome! 😊