Making Plates with Mouldy Clay

Do you remember those mouldy plates I trimmed earlier this year? Well, here's the conclusion to that film. This time, I show the throwing, trimming, bisque firing, glazing, reduction firing and the final sanding! I even have a small treat off one, like anyone needs to be shown how to use a plate, right? It was for my own enjoyment really. Thanks for watching!
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Timecodes:
0:00 - Throwing the plates with mouldy clay
2:21 - Trimming the plates
7:05 - How I 'fix' mouldy clay using bleach
7:29 - Loading my electric kiln for a bisque firing
8:11 - Waxing the plates
9:05 - Glazing the plates
10:15 - Tidying up the glazed plates
11:56 - Packing the gas kiln for a reduction firing
12:20 - Reduction firing to 1290ºC
13:29 - Unpacking the kiln
14:32 - Sanding the plates bottoms
15:19 - Using the plate and talking about the pots I use
15:50 - The finished plates
It's worth noting! That you won't get the same results as I do if you're firing in oxidation. The reduction firing really helps with this process.
*I throw using both a Rohde HMT 500 & 600 potter's wheel and fire using Rohde kilns too, the electric is a TE-200 and the gas kiln is a KG-340.
____
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[@qeidren3215]

I used to work in a large tile factory, and at one point, management tried using clay with a very high organics content (including mold). In addition to the firing issues, about 40% of staff came down with eye infections and minor respiratory complaints as the dust from the raw matrial permeated the air in the processing plant. It's interesting to see how this clay behaves on a smaller scale in a wetter format.

[@tonymengela3575]

im sensing made up story here any organics and mold would be just ash in seconds in the kiln. science debunks bs

[@qeidren3215]

@tonymengela3575 The KILN did reduce the organics and mold to ash. Although the carbon content and extra gasses struggling to pass through the glaze caused uneven shrinkage in the fired body marked by a dark staining (visible when you cracked them open) which we called 'black core'. Clay processing was an entirely different story. Clay is mixed with an organic binder, water, and a couple other additives I knew nothing about as it wasn't my area, and then run through a spray drier. Heated and atomised. It is then stored in 40 - 60-ton batches in 6 storey tall silos to age for a minimum of two days at 4-6% moisture. The processed clay we pressed resembled river sand in some respects. It was the people who worked in processing and anyone who had to take unfired waste to storage on the regular that came down with problems. Myself included.

[@lissaxitray8110]

Cool

[@Clarence_13x]

I worked at a place where we do the same stuff with feces.

[@Clarence_13x]

I always have pink eye.

[@colinmoen3833]

Safety Tip - some nasty molds like black mold will release all of their spores into the air as a survival mechanism when they come into contact with bleach, so for maximum safety I would recommend applying your bleach spray outside, so the air in your studio remains spore-free!

[@eev14]

To be fair; black mold isn't actually dangerous in most circumstances to most people, you also wouldn't be likely to find black mold in a studio like this. There are many different fungi and they are not all harmful (some even helpful), if it's not an uncommon thing to work with moldy clay I think mold in clay is unlikely to be dangerous.

[@Appophust]

You don't know anything about black mold. Please stop.

[@jaykoerner]

"Black mold" isn't really any different then any other mold....at least according to the CDC(I would link but can't because yt will delete the comment), and molds in general only effect some peoplem others are basically immune

[@Appophust]

By the way, black mold spores aren't what's bad. It's the toxic secondary metabolites. Basically their urine and feces. And the only way to get poisoned by them is to eat tons of black mold. The people we keep hearing about (in advertisements from paint companies by the way) are most likely allergic to the spores or some type of protein in the mold. This is an EXTREMELY SMALL amount of people. And these people would most likely have the same exact issue with ALL mushrooms and fungi.

[@Appophust]

Another thing. A large amount of the human population can become allergic to a number of otherwise edible mushrooms and fungi simply by breathing in the spores on a regular basis. My friend in Sudbury, Massachusetts farms gourmet mushrooms. His favorites are oyster and blue oyster. This happens to be one of the species that produces allergic reactions through repeated exposure. He can no longer work with them without a respirator due to the aforementioned repeated exposure.

[@MulletDestructur]

I was today years old when I learned that clay can mold!

[@lewistaylor8262]

I had absolutely no interest in pottery; and in a single video I have been utterly enraptured by this fantastically precise process. So much love and care with each stage with clearly practiced hands - I'm gonna start hunting for some special plates now...

[@DianeH2038]

he's one of the very best working today, IMO.

[@a-man2246]

Aging clays is a well described process especially among indigenous potters. The proteins excreted by the fungi as well as the bacterial biofilm greatly improves the plasticity of clay bodies

[@GadBoDag]

I wonder what happens if you intentionally mix protein into the clay

[@AL-fl4jk]

@@GadBoDagthis has been done lots too, including egg whites and cow blood especially for high wear items like floor tiles

[@GadBoDag]

@@AL-fl4jk whoa, that's cool!

[@jessarsenstudios]

I love how plastic my clay becomes when it starts to mold. My collage professor actually told me that in a specific country (i cant remember what one) its a right of passage when a beginner potter becomes a resident potter they are given a bag of clay that is years molded. I wish i had more details because i find it very interesting.

[@Sky-._]

That is very interesting. I wonder if you could intentionally seed it with a specific type of mold or yeast, and if that would change it's properties?

[@Smajtastic]

Much like Cheese!@@Sky-._

[@elisabethbenders-hyde5286]

It has always been my understanding that the mold in the clay means it has aged and makes it more plastic. Japanese potters used to bury their clay for years before using it. No doubt the clay developed mold in the process which was deemed a good thing. I welcome the smell of moldy clay, a little swampy perhaps, but it means the clay will be easier to use. However, clay that is too wet is a problem, but easily solved.

[@devanbrowne8706]

Isn't clay buried to begin with?

[@TheMurlocKeeper]

@@devanbrowne8706 - Well, yes...kinda, but not in the filtered, refined state that it is made into for working.

[@MostlyCivilEngineer]

As for the beeswax issue, some people in the woodworking world dedicate a crockpot/slow cooker to making wood finish from beeswax and an oil (usually linseed oil). I imagine the same method would work for your glaze resist. You have to turn it on a few hours ahead of when you need the melted wax. Worth a shot if you miss it enough.

[@AM-xo7lr]

Or even a dedicated beautician's wax melter, which will melt the wax and hold it at just the right temperature to remain liquid without overheating it. This is what I use. Easily obtained from the internet and the perfect size.

[@codename495]

Wax warmer plates for potpourri would work well too. Fill a jar with the wax and keep it on all day.

[@karenmusketnuss2737]

If you check out encaustic paint techniques you will find flat electric griddles with small metal pots containing various waxes in them, (Encaustic is painting with beeswax, pigments and damar resin for hardening. )

[@xxportalxx.]

Interesting, that's the same mix used for tinning clothes, amazing how effective it is as a general protectant huh?

[@megangoodhart]

I have a therapeutic wax melter for paraffin that was quite cheap and keeps it liquid but not hot enough to burn you.

[@josephroxursox]

Wow, I clicked this video because the mold thing intrigued me. Wound up watching the whole thing because your process is so satisfying. Then I got to the reveal after the kiln and only then did I realize just how beautiful your work is.. Never thought I would find simple plates to be so beautiful lol, great work!

[@Algorhythm027]

In software engineering there is the term 'dogfooding' derived from the phrase "eating your own dog food". The idea is that when you're creating some software tool for others to use, you should use it in its own development process if possible, both to prove its worth as a tool and to alert you to possible pitfalls or rough edges in the user experience. Since you make a lot of functional ware, do you find that using your own pots helps you to improve the design of future items? Particularly for the minor ergonomic niggles that only rear their heads after extended use, like 'does this ornamental feature make the mug hard to clean?' or 'This glaze scratches easily and loses it's shine after prolonged use'.

[@roger0929]

The problem with self-testing is bias. A programmer expects everyone to use it the way they do. This is the main reason why so much software is crap and counter-intuitive. This is also the fatal flaw with AI. It doesn't exist in the real world just in it's own little digital bubble. That's why it ALWAYS spits out crap.

[@MeepChangeling]

@@roger0929 Translation: I refuse to learn how to use software, so much so that I can't even communicate what I want to an AI well enough to get good results. I then blatantly ignore everyone who finds software easy to use, and gets good results from AI because this is contrary to my personal experience and therefore never happens.

[@znefas]

I'm not a potter, but I've watched tons of your videos and I never get bored of hearing you say the same stuff you've said again and again in other videos, so really, thanks for what you're doing!

[@John_Durrant]

I don't believe there is anything more satisfying than watching an artist work. Such skill and precision inspire envy in me.

[@artbysamc]

I love this video - you have such a calming, relaxing voice over and explain very well what you're doing even for a layperson like me with no pottery knowledge whatsoever. I love your work, too! Beautiful shapes.

[@vzeimen]

I have been a potter for 10 years and I learn more from your videos than you can even imagine. All the little tricks that you use to get your perfect pots and perfect surfaces are invaluable. Most of these don't take more time but more thought during the process. Thanks for your beautiful work in video, voice over and artistically.

[@tangobuenosaires]

Awesome work. You are doing what I once thought I'd do... I am living a nice life now, but clay somehow remains on my heart. Thanks for such a beautiful work. I really enjoy all your videos. Xoxo from Argentina,✌️🇦🇷

[@shalinastilley446]

I'm in awe of your work. Thank you for making these videos. I'm a beginner, so they're very helpful.

[@Alex_0Z]

love how the glaze lays on these plates and brakes on the edge

[@sanfordgfogg]

Such a simple but wonderful effect with the depth, color, and effects with the crackle glazes. I could stare at that richness endlessly! Thank you.

[@dogsrule22206]

So beautiful--swoon 🥰

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you!

[@Bethman]

I completely agree about using other people’s work in your home. I like your comparison to only listening to your own music.

[@froogezeiche4551]

I just started out with pottery and I think your videos are really insightful. I've been working on my craft for 4 weeks straight and today i got my first batch of pots back from the furnace. I struggle with mental health issues and pottery is such a beatiful outlet for me personally. Thank you for your hard work and sharing your knowledge!!

[@KateCarew]

Your hands are so deft! These are simply gorgeous! You make it look so easy, I could week knowing my lumpy bumpy pieces and how long it took to produce them 😂🙏🏻😂 Edit Just checked your shop Sold out! Great for you Bummer for me I love your iron glazed pieces Classic, timeless and simple beautiful Also, I’d never seen your work, but a mere three minutes in I thought “wonder if he’s studied in Japan?” The respect for the craft, the precision…🙏🏻

[@RyanPardoe]

I don’t comment enough on your videos, but every single one of them is such a pleasure to watch. You make some truly beautiful, simple, modern stoneware. Keep up the good work!

[@DaveHojo]

I love using the clay body as part of the visual elements. In the case of bottles, I often use glaze as accents on the outside, leaving the raw body as the main field of color.

[@kalleguld]

This is the first pottery video I've watched, and I must say you do a fantastic job. Your plates came out beautiful, and your video is great. I really like your explanations - it's easy to follow, even for a novice, and at the same time it's clear that the craft takes a lot of time to master.

[@Lilith-bw9pq]

These plates are so elegant.✨ I'm obsessed ❤

[@ramonbril]

Your working method is so precise and yet so thought through. (they often contrast, precision and strategy don't combine easily) I'm oft inspired!

[@sigridkoning9126]

WoW when you open the oven. It’s like a beautiful treasury 🤗

[@awaredeshmukh3202]

I didn't know I could watch such a peaceful video for 17 straight minutes without being distracted or noticing the time. Normally I spend every video I watch reading the comments. But here I was just rapt with attention.

[@davidsancho3100]

our best saturday watching! thank you best regards katherin and David

[@BacktoEarthPottery]

Reclaim is always tricky to deal with. I never really rely on it, but usually treat those pots as "extra" ones just in case something goes wrong with the reclaim batch. Your results were great 😁

[@NotTooStraight]

Wow I never knew the process was so tedious. True craftsmanship

[@lesliew3343]

Love watching you work. It's always inspirational. Thanks, Florian!

[@michael-k.]

Watching people work with clay is such a stress reliever

[@astronyu]

i'm obsessed with how you described the exposed clay bottom. to have the process itself be physically visible on your final creation... so so cool

[@AntoineThisdale]

Beautiful. I love the crackled marble effect.

[@EvesScaleModels]

I so feel like pottery is something i could really get into its sooo beautiful

[@8schopra]

That extra glaze for perfect concave finish is 👌🏻😍

[@StephenBoyd21]

Just so lovely plates.

[@Dirtbaghippy]

Holy sh*t those look amazing. As soon as I saw the pattern on the glaze my jaw dropped.

[@theunknown4834]

Can the trimmings of the mouldy clay cause other clay to mould too if left together? (i.e. from washing of tools)

[@WhiteStoneCottagePottery]

I think that’s the purpose of adding the bleach - to kill the mold before reclaiming it again. I’m never sure how much to use.

[@faunivore9485]

Yes, it can. Mold spores from the trimmings will contaminate clay they come in contact with

[@hecatastrophe]

​@@faunivore9485i'm really confused as to what in the clay allows it to mould?

[@roger0929]

@@hecatastrophe Mold is a fungus. It needs moisture, air and a food source to grow. Clay provides two of those.

[@ninib9439]

@@hecatastrophemoisture, mildly basic environment, also, anaerobic environment.

[@mikepetersen7319]

They turned out beautiful.

[@user-sh9gb3ou9x]

Thanks Mr F I enjoy watching your work.

[@rohanlg790]

They look amazing !!!!!

[@F0XD1E]

The crackle finish and slight color variation is very nice

[@AMcDub0708]

Those are SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@gnarbeljo8980]

Absolutely beautiful plates. I love reduction glazes, crackle glazes, crystaline glazes when the form and glaze work as beautifully together as these plates. Lovely. Mold is fine if you have great ventilation or throw outdoors in summer, but you definately don't want that dust in your respiratory system. It's only decades later the result ruins your life, so limit your work with mouldy clay and clean surfaces and tools when still wet to limit dust. Be safe!❤

[@holohero]

oh, these are positively *gorgeous*, excellent glaze choice.

[@user-ox3vy3fz5i]

this is wonderful. Thank you for your videos)

[@chrishoo2]

These plates are absolutely gorgeous!

[@orangerightgold7512]

Moldy clay is the best, excellent texture to work with.

[@deisebrsoares]

How beautiful, a masterpiece ❤

[@DianeH2038]

you are such an amazing artist. thank you for this video!

[@emmabroughton2039]

They are so beautiful.

[@geocyo8835]

yo. that finished product is so motherfucking beautiful.

[@gragaloth6237]

Really digging the experimentation you've been doing!

[@NateRidgway-gl5vq]

I cant wait for this new exciting upload

[@credenza1]

I love the smell of mouldy clay. It reminds me of some funky French wines.

[@LaChoocharina]

Hypnotic!

[@potteryokc]

Absolutely beautiful

[@morefiction3264]

Those are beautiful.

[@TomoyoTatar]

They are beautiful ❤ I love the crackling

[@piccalillipit9211]

*JUST WOW* I think they are absolutely gorgeous...!!!

[@bryanbradford2742]

Awesome!!

[@zaibcom]

Beautiful

[@Amanda---]

That's not your Grandma's Kiln. What a beautiful work of art this video is Never mind your pieces. 😇🫶💯🐰🦋💙

[@acalavidyaraja]

So beautiful.

[@paintingandceramicartstudio.]

I love Pottery

[@danielcloster3942]

I would love a set like this so unique

[@IslaKariese]

I can only imagine how expensive clay can get, so wanting to use as much of it as possible is perfectly understandable. Still, making anything out of moldy clay was the last thing I expected, especially since you said that you have to withstand the smell while throwing and trimming them. It is fascinating though that the heat so clearly kills the mold as the clay becomes ceramic, and by the end the plates are just as sanitary as anything else

[@gouldmears2071]

So cool looking.

[@navienslavement]

Those prices are hysterical

[@chrisp7548]

Great video!!

[@dr.lexwinter8604]

"It doesn't have a flange to catch liquid." Yeah? Grab the flattest plate in your kitchen, and then grab the biggest cup you have. Fill the cup with water. Then pour it onto the plate. Bet the plate holds more than your mug. :P The amount of times I've had people get weird because I drank water from a plate from the dish rack I'd just washed rather than getting a cup out the cupboard, it is really counter intuitive to see, but plates hold an absurd amount of water! Just don't try making tea or coffee in them. >_> On them?

[@kevinskudalski5838]

This has inspired me. I made some rather large platters the other day using these steps. Thank you for the information, and inspiration!😀

[@saffiervanderhoef2547]

very inspiring

[@HannahQueenOfAir]

i love yorkshire sculpture park woo

[@Peron1-MC]

the glace never seize to be super satisfying :) beautiful work

[@Spectrarian]

goegeous!!!

[@subcatboy]

what a nice video these look amazing, they look like you are staring out a portal from inside a crystal

[@melaniebuckley1772]

As usual, my favourite pieces are the green glazed plates, as I always love the contrast between that and the stoneware underneath where the glaze breaks. A couple of questions. With the pots that don’t survive the firing and have to be smashed, can you reuse that in any way? Also you mentioned you don’t have to take any precautions with the mould but is there anything that you do have to take certain precautions with?

[@kevinraub645]

I'm not a potter, but I hear they can be crushed / ground into grog, binder to firm up future pieces.

[@lancemillward2462]

the clay body in japanese tea bowls helps the glaze to mottle in the interior over time. these spots and blooms are appreciated by lovers of the tea ceremony.

[@meatdress8111]

great video

[@yuhsieh3106]

thank you

[@Heyght]

I might get hooked on this

[@clarabisson7299]

such a very good video

[@NoneStar]

Nice work!

[@bradbailey5807]

Your technical skills are flawless. I'd like to have seen a thinner foot and a glazed foot interior. Best Regards

[@JetcannonM]

very cool

[@katmusswoodwind]

I love these. And I wondered whether you used your own work in your every day life... but as a musician I definitely hear you about consuming my own craft. It's cool to listen to someone else doing the work innit haha 😂 Thank you for your videos - they're a great way to calm down after a long, hard day. In fact I long to throw a pot or two, and I have dropped a bit of a hint to my boyfriend that I'd love to do something like it for my 40th birthday 🎉 (5 years from now haha!)

[@MisTvIecHstyLeZ]

beautiful in every way. scientific, artistic, poetic, wonderful video. well done! i completely forgot that i actually came here to find out why someone would use moldy clay.. but i found out :D

[@ChiseledDiamond]

Well, youtube has reccomended me yet another channel that i will consume in its entirety video by video until i am addicted to it, i have never been interested in pottery in my life.

[@kalaniwilkins2585]

This isn’t asmr but damn this could totally be an asmr that puts me to sleep softly

[@loveandlight4875]

Hi Flooring, thank you for this great videos. I love all your educational videos but I have one question what type of glaze did you use for these beautiful plate ?

[@bendrui]

I have two Pfaltzgraff salad plates, in 'Serenity Sage Green', that I bought at a charity shop. You've come close to replicating them!

[@Hum255]

Wow. I hadn’t realized mold was so bad. I was told in my classes the more mold the better throwability. The more you know.

[@cararosievods8864]

sometimes messy glaze is a style choice, here you talk about how excess glaze can make it look less professional but lately what I've seen is people obsess over the look of those layered goopy glazed pottery, especially with mugs, where the glazes interact and are defiantly not even on the surface.

[@The-Anathema]

I didn't even know clay could grow mold. I learned something today.

[@feynthefallen]

I already have too much earthenware as it is, because my mother bought a lot, but If I wasn't so swamped in it, I'd definitely inquire about getting some of those.

[@LA6NPA]

I like this vid a lot! Not sure about the point of using moldy clay (other than not wasting clay because it's become moldy), but those plates look amazing! I really, really like the glaze! It reminds me of hammerite paint, which is definitely one of my favourite finishes for metal, both for the somewhat nostalgic look, but also for it's durability. Of course, up close it looks a lot more flaky, but I really like it!