How to Make Clay From Dirt

This is how I make clay from dirt. Making pottery clay from local native clay deposits is sometimes called wild clay. I wanted to show you how easy it is to make really nice pottery clay from clay deposits that are very likely to be much closer than you think.
You can download an easy-to-follow cheat sheet on this process on my site here thepotterywheel.com/make-clay...

[@michellemooney1460]

Beautiful pots. I also hand-built using wild clay I have collected from a couple of locations on family land and friends land. I am a newbie potter. Would u mind telling what kind of glaze u use for the low fire temp? There is just something for me about using the clay I process. Love it!

[@ThePotteryWheel]

Hi Michelle, yes, of course, I used Mayco foundations on these. The colours are Lavender (FN-012), Antique White (FN-014) and Teal Blue (FN-042). Hope that helps :)

[@michellemooney1460]

@The Pottery Wheel yes ty so much. All the pottery videos r always mid to high fire and not many for low fire glazes so being new to glazing its hard to find pieces to see how low fire glazes look on pots. That helps very much. I will look into the foundations line.

[@valerieray4728]

😅

[@sandraleenerts6805]

We forget why earth and dirt and water matter. You remind me.Thank you.

[@Itried20takennames]

I have seen a few videos on this topic…and this one was clearest and showed the best technique (imo…never done this so no expert).

[@C-M-E]

Just for anyone wondering--short of highly volcanic soil--All earthen dirt has clay in it, it's just a matter of concentration (or in this case, final yield) of how much clay is in your prospective soil. If you want specifics, dirt is primarily eroded components of whatever is in your area, so you will get more concentrated, usable clay yields if your area was mountainous at one historical point, or in the wash basin of rivers/plains/what have you. I use a three bucket method just because that makes it slightly easier not having to clean one between steps, but I start with a couple shovels of regular back yard dirt, trying to remove topical grass/weeds/detritus from the first bucket as you go, get your hands in their and mash all the soil between your fingers to get as much in suspension as possible. Let it set awhile (an hour or so while you prepare further buckets makes the wait time negligible) and the top layer of water will separate with your clay and soil combo beneath where you can suction or skim off the clear portion, then dump the rest through a large hole/slat initial strainer to capture rocks/twigs (and if you're in the States, probably a lot of calcified limestone). I went shopping after doing this a few times with make-do stuff laying around and found strainers for frying foods for a few bucks that are essentially large gauge wire welded together does a great job at stage one. As in the video, progressively smaller screens/meshes will get you down to usable clay, but I stop one stage earlier where the clay and sand are about the only things left in the mix; usually this is after two further filtering stages. Earthenware clay that has a bit of loamy sand will resist high heat firing much better and end up vitrifying more completely if you don't want to bother going uber scientific with adding fractional mixes of additional materials to get really, Really high performing, high fire clay bodies. Personally, I'm after the earthen clay more as a binder and add my own fillers for various needs like ratios of calcined alumina, silicon carbide and such to get Goof Proof, hard-wearing vessels that will take an absurd amount of misuse that end up being extremely cheap to get versus specialty clays that are pre-mixed and at the whim of availability or being out of stock when you run out. Also remember that whenever your mix transfers containers, you're inevitably losing final yield in that transfer and should try to minimize the later stages to keep as much of your final product as possible. Skipping the pillowcase or fine mesh drip-dry portion and going straight to pouring your slop into a plaster basin will be a HUGE gain on your final yield, as will limiting how many buckets you pass it through. Comparing my first and second versions of this versus 7th and 8th, I went from final yields of 3.2lbs from a 5 gallon bucket to 8.78 and 14.45lbs from the same 5 gallon bucket! That's nearly half a block of mostly free clay for just my time that I'd be wasting on something stupid anyway. I've tried the tool method trying to be neat and clean, but this is a dirty process (albeit fun and Kid Friendly if you need helpers!) that is going to end with mush on your clothes, your shoes and your skin, so just accept it, dress appropriately, and have fun getting dirty. 😁 Add: Forgot to mention, if you make your own plaster basin, doing so with an expendable mold is a big help. For the size basin I made, I didn't have a free plastic container at the time that I didn't mind abusing to get the plaster mold out of, so I sealed a box with a trash bag and sealed the joints of the box with joint compound (just in case the thin bag leaked) as I had an old batch that needed to go anyway. That part isn't necessary if you have thicker trash bags, but mine are _cheeeeeap_ . If your box isn't all that large dimensionally, cut it apart to get the largest footprint you can (use a few boxes and reinforce with good tape as you go) for your mold, then pour in mixed plaster as your directions suggest and you'll end up with a very large clay basin indeed. Just be aware that you should probably do this somewhere convenient and not plan to move it afterward, as it will be Very Heavy. An elevated table outside that can support the weight will save your back a lot of aching the day after and much further down the road! If you want to leave it outside but under a cover, mixing in a little portland cement (free of aggregates if you don't plan on moving it makes mixing easier) will add a little environmental resistance but also strips some of the wicking action from your final product, so be very thrifty when deciding. Also bear in mind that a cover tarp is a wonderful thing to have over this to not only keep weather off, but helps control the rate of evaporation if you happen to live somewhere that gets Hades hot like I do. 😉

[@ThePotteryWheel]

thanks for the detailed info :)

[@cocoandrobin]

Brilliant instructions. Thank you for doing this video.

[@argirismouroufas3854]

Bravo! Very smart and easy job. Every body I think can understund you my dear. Aris from Sparta of Greece

[@simonspivey1804]

I've recycled clay similarly. I hang the pillow case with a belt overnight, then put down scrap plywood, a folded old towel, place the clay on that, and another folded towel on top and a final piece of plywood. Like a sandwich. The towels draw out the water, and I swap them out occasionally, hanging to dry. Over a few days, I'll add weight on top and when it's firm enough to wedge, turn the pillow case inside out. Very few air bubbles or clay left in the cloth. I'm hoping to take it to this level and make some clay from local soil.

[@iridios6127]

Use bricks instead of towels.😉

[@yourunclesam6780]

Very,very interesting technique. I was looking for long time how make right clay.Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.

[@amjadbaig7377]

Very nice 👌 Can I use in a tandoor

[@mihaiilie8808]

Next time dry verry well the clay as a first step after collecting. If its bone dry( and in small pieces preferably/up to 4-10 square cm) and you put it in water,it breaks down by itself completely in about 15 minutes.

[@questioner113]

Thank you for this very interesting video! I 've just discovered your channel and subscribed How do decide what temperature you should fire the clay to?

[@familycornell8866]

you are a great inspiration. I will be out looking for clay this weekend. Thanks so much for this great instructional video.

[@ThePotteryWheel]

Good luck with your clay search... let me know if you find some :)

[@danielwdavies4992]

Really great ❤

[@jacquiejc6622]

Such patience❤

[@sarahkurkowski9070]

Do you have to add anything to be able to bake it? Can you bake this in a conventional oven?

[@veronicabalfourpaul2288]

Did this clay not need grog? I loved the resulting pots!

[@ThePotteryWheel]

Hi Veronica, no I didn't add any grog. The last sieve that I put it through was 60 mesh, so not that tiny. There was still quite a bit of sand and grit in it.

[@joyceradesca408]

Thanks so much, it is interesting I will do it 👌 Bye ☺☺🙋‍♀️

[@kezif]

is it legal to take dirt near public rivers and etc?

[@abiegreyvenstein5427]

Will the clay crack when drying?

[@sandraleenerts6805]

As I was searching about, I found you are willing (?) to sell your site for &17,500. Honestly, I hope you well!!! I'd do it! but I am admirer, who longs...wishes my bank account equaled my admiration for this KZbin offering. You have been a marvel of understanding as to understand ing clay. I am a Luddite. Be that as it may be, wish you the best! You have taught me things I did not know I needed to know.

[@Afarsekk]

😮

[@marie-helenefrancoise8588]

❤