Store Bought Clays Fired Outdoors - It's Messy

[@jamesbangerter4753]

I love that the glasses here are to signal you are doing SCIENCE

[@danielcaldwell9029]

I’m from South western Pa. I too recreate the mon Culture pottery. I’ve sold to a museum in West Virginia. I use the very same clay that the natives used. I’m so intrigued with their pottery as well as the Mississippi culture pottery. I’ve recreated the head pots to perfection. I’ve been watching you for a while now. Your work and production recreating southwestern pottery is outstanding. Thank you for the amazing information. Your enthusiasm is inspiring. I’m trying to do it your way. The painting is difficult for me in my beginning attempts. Keep doing such a good thing.

[@DonegreaghConnemaras]

Excellent educational & experimental archaeological video, Thanks Andy !!

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@GrowingLove-t3x]

Your videos are always so entertaining! Very underrated channel. Thank you for linking me to this one.

[@mrpalindrome3067]

What Andy sees. Speckled Buff: D What I see. Speckled Buff : D That speckled buff is just so happy to be included.

[@AncientPottery]

LOL, I was pretty disappointed in Speckled Buff in the end.

[@mrpalindrome3067]

@@AncientPottery I was thinking about that in general. I wouldn't be surprised if the manganese used for the speckle causes even more structural issues in the clay that are exacerbated by lower firing temps. As manganese oxidizes it expands out pretty harshly. I think the stuff on it's own it it starts oxidizing at 350C and gets to a high oxidization state at like 550C. I also know that it gets used in brick making and they fire around that 1000-1300C range. So I'd assume you'd need something like 900C to get it to meld with the clay ceramic proper. Besides all that, they like to use it in bricks because manganese doesn't take up or release as much water. But I don't know clay from eden and it's all conjecture. Been using your videos and some other folks to learn since this old way of working tells me a heck of a lot more than watching someone show me their work on a wheel.

[@blueviolets2022]

Thank you!! I was wondering how the Hobby Lobby clay would work!!

[@lisagriger5261]

Thank you very much! I have a piece I never got a chance to fire in my pottery class, so I'm going to try it.

[@QuailCanyonAnthropolgy]

Great video! Great information! Thanks again, Andy! Won't be long and you will be at 20,000 subscribers. Your consistence, and over all passion for the art.... That is the formula for success.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Mark, that is the goal here. Working hard for it.

[@alyxlessthan3]

This was a very informative test. You ended up with less breakage than I thought you would get. I think it was a very successful test, considering most of your bowls held together. Thanks for doing test like these for us. Not everyone has the option or the motivation to dig and process their own clays, yet some people still have the desire to try their hand and hand building pottery. Hopefully this video will help them make informed decisions should they purchase commercial clay.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, it is a very common question that I get. So now at least I have an answer. I was also surprised that I didn’t break more but that goes to another point I was making in this video, that if you are careful to heat up and cool down slowly you can help these clays survive better.

[@6bonjour]

A useful vid, thank you. It was a lot of work for a 10 minute video.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes it was, thanks Wes. Hopefully this will be a resource people can use for a long time to answer that age old question “what clay can I use to make primitive pottery”?

[@Javaman92]

I find it relaxing watching you do this. Spring will be here soon and I will be able to play with some dirt myself. I'm looking forward to it.

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

"Dirt Rocks." One day I'm going to design a t-shirt that says that. Lol

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@ericschmuecker348]

5:57 - 6:09 sounds fantastic! Exciting stuff.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@janetsmith9380]

how hot does your fire get??? i just love your respect for the process of primitive and i love your videos. i appreciate it very much. Thank you!

[@AncientPottery]

I don't remember how hot the fire in this video was but usually my fires get between about 750 and 850 C

[@amymclain6102]

Thank you Andy! I truly enjoy your videos and always learn from you. Appreciated the comedic effect😄

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Amy! Glad to help.

[@jspyrogram]

Thanks!

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@james87106]

Thanks for the review, you might also like our New Mexico Clay Manzano Clay.

[@AncientPottery]

Are you from NM Clay? I would love to know when the pukis will be back in stock. Also thanks for the tip, I’ll have to give that a try.

[@granmabern5283]

What a beautifully done video! Thankyou 😊

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you so much!

[@blancawyatt3092]

Thank you for the nice video. it will help me alot since I'm a beginner. and I love all the bowls that you made. when you took them out of the fire it make me hungry for a yummy beef soup with lots of veggies

[@AncientPottery]

Those were nice big bowls that would hold a lot of beef soup. Thanks for watching.

[@davidogle9247]

Awesome demonstration. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and tests!!!

[@AncientPottery]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching

[@LeilaAtaya]

Such a good demonstration - thank you 😊

[@AncientPottery]

glad you liked it thanks

[@marydelmege6056]

Super informative. Thanks, Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

My pleasure!

[@chumsole3463]

Andy mate, you inspired me to dig up some clay in the backyard, and though it was a little rushed it went pretty good, i learned to slow my own fire inside to craft the shape of things... my clay may have not been processed enough but in the end i got 4 dish things and then...I found a "cone 6 speckled clay" at the thrift store for about half the cost of normal... so I got it... I had my first firing in the back yards fire pit a few days ago, which is just a standard outdoor above ground fire pit, and even in the strange cold weather of southern Ontario...the clay fired fine and worked to my knowledge.. they all ring nicely, and a few have some cracking around the rim, which doesn't effect much. 10 little cups/ dishes for succulent plants? I am happy overall and will continue to use it up until its gone, with trial and error as my teachers...but, you are a pretty good one too! You inspire people to just go for it and try! Thanks for all you do!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks for sharing your story. This is exactly the kind of thing that I am about, helping to encourage people to just go try it.

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

I had a hairbrained idea a few years ago to make some plates and bowls for medieval reenactment. I know nothing about pottery. Bought some x-15 and learned it sucks to work with and explodes.

[@AncientPottery]

Oops. Well now you know, knead some sand into it first.

[@reginacarroll8149]

Looks great!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks!

[@gilauth6791]

Great! Really enjoy your channel. Finely reach my pension where I'll take and make time to explore developed and hopefully acquired new skill.Literally living on top of 80 plus feet of blue clay (Champlain sea southerners Quebec) Just hope that somehow there ways to transform it in useful pottery.You know Some thing to keep me out of trouble at nearly 75 you never know😉

[@AncientPottery]

Sounds like a great plan and now you have some free time presumably.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

I got some AMACO Low Fire Moist Non-Toxic Earthenware Clay, 50 lb, Brown Stone No. 29 and fired one pot in my wood stove, which cracked. maybe the method was bad, as it's hard to do anything while heating the house too. would a fine "fill" sand be better than a coarser "masonry sand"? I'm thinking of sawdust with kindling on top in an oil drum, and putting the stuff on a steel grate upside down, just looking to be safe. figuring on pre heating a little with the oven but not real hot, maybe 300f so they do not shock being taken outside.

[@AncientPottery]

That sounds good. Finer sand will result in smoother pottery. I wonder why it cracked, not enough sand added perhaps?

[@coopart1]

Great comparison video! Just a side note: speckled buff is a cone 6 clay. 2230 f . And is lively in a glazed pot in a modern kiln environment . Now I’m glad to know not to try it with my primitive pottery! But that that red one 🧐

[@AncientPottery]

It does go to show though that even a cone 6 clay can make good pottery at lower temps. Yeah the redstone really surprised me.

[@coopart1]

@@AncientPottery yes ! I agree. And as always I enjoy your educational videos. Thanks for your efforts

[@ThinkAboutIt-2x]

This video was very helpful. But I when checking prices on line for commercial clay ran into something unusual. When I searched much of what came up was clay for health use, face masks, etc. They sell boxes of broken Mexican pottery that ?you could grind to gradual or powder? & re-moisten. They didn't say but assumed you knew. I assumed at first they meant for face mask but.. Since I searched just clay I had results from any department. They did not say & it was on etsy. I assumed these were unfired for use. Then there is the 100% clay pellets sold for pet litter or cat litter. I know these are odd sources but they are inexpensive. I plan next trip to hardware to buy a 50lb bag of dry clay powder. We got another cold front so when I can get back to garden I will dig up the clay I found tilling garden & test it.

[@AncientPottery]

Clay is used for all kinds of things. You can't just search for "clay", you need to search for "pottery clay" to refine your search to the right kind of material. Cat litter is usually made from bentonite clay which is not suitable for forming pottery.

[@shexdensmore]

Would be interesting to see if there's any noticeable differences between wood fuel choices. Like you used mesquite wood. What would the outcome be with seasoned ash, oak, Osage orange and locust wood?

[@AncientPottery]

In my experience every wood burns a little different, but I think as long as it is clean burning and makes good coals this should be quite doable like this. Try to keep it all the same species so it all burns to coals at roughly the same rate.

[@zippytippie453]

I use Speckled Buff for my native pots, but I fire in a kiln. I do however have some raku clay and glazes that I’m going to do in a outside firing just as a tester. Have you ever tried raku clay in a primitive firing? Did it go over ok?

[@AncientPottery]

No I have not tried raku clay, I should make a video of that too. Thanks for the idea.

[@AncientPottery]

By the way, I hate the texture of that speckled buff. It’s like plastic or rubber.

[@zippytippie453]

@@AncientPottery I’ll have to send you a pic on Instagram.

[@EpiCai]

yup, second that. Raku clay would be the most similar to tempered wild clay! :)

[@dalelusk2151]

Are this will be food safe after I seal them natural? Thanks 🤔

[@AncientPottery]

Food safe is a complicated subject. They can safely be eaten off of but you need to be careful as they are porous so they need to be sterilized. See this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYTTmpt3d5aFZpY

[@highdesertsukari]

Is volcanic ash a tempering agent?

[@AncientPottery]

Volcanic ash makes a great temper because it is small in size, has sharp edges and will not react to high temperatures.

[@Kavemankolten]

Can you do an in depth about how you fire your pottery? I know the basics but my pots keep exploding

[@Kavemankolten]

Only thing I can guess is to take more time letting the pots heat up

[@AncientPottery]

I have a ton of videos about different firing processes. Check out this playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLxjk09ZJzrlsyEo-ickFHnMDwQBT1HP5b Best advice I can give you real quick is pre-heat your pots and use plenty of temper in your clay body.

[@bje2920]

Nice work do you have any Links for the different clays that you bought?

[@AncientPottery]

No but I should. I will try to add those to the dooblydoo tonight.

[@bje2920]

@@AncientPottery OK thank you I made you a clay paint brush for you with deer hair I will send it to you soon

[@StitchAround]

Wow, deer hair brush! I’d love to see how to make that and how it works for you! We are in upstate New York and we’re avid hunters! I’m really enjoying your videos Andy and thanks for the links as that’s likely how I’ll start my adventure!

[@bje2920]

@@StitchAround kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqqcZ3WLYraGm68 check out my KZbin channel I paint a lot of my pottery with deer fox and black Bare and fox paint brushes I made

[@christophermauchline2586]

Great video! Two things I'd like to know. How did you calculate your 20% temper when starting with wet clay? And what was the cost of each of these clays? Again thanks for this video!!!!

[@AncientPottery]

You’re welcome. The clays were all give to me by some students so I didn’t any except the Hobby Lobby clay. I said I was going to add 20% but when I went to add it I realized that there was no way to do that accurately. The clay was wet and my sand was dry so it would not be accurate to measure by weight. In the end I just eyballed it and I would guess I was somewhat less that 20% judging by the grittiness of the clays.

[@christophermauchline2586]

@@AncientPottery One way I read online was to estimate water as 20% of the weight. So to temper/grog at 20% you'd weigh out 20% by weight of temper of 80% of the the weight of the moist clay. My concern is that not all tempers weigh the same and clay can vary in the amount of liquid content.

[@christophermauchline2586]

Did some online research. Ignored Speckled Buff as seems useless for outdoor firing. Hobby Lobby is $19.99 for 25 lbs or just shy of $0.80 per lb. Redstone is the cheapest at $0.66 per lb and is effectively even cheaper as it is shipped dry, but minimum quantity is 50 lbs. The sculpture clay is $0.79 per lb, but drops to $0.71at 50 lb. However none of this takes into account the cost of shipping, which in my case I can avoid with the Hobby Lobby clay.

[@verdigrissirgidrev4152]

is there any advantage to using temper as coarse as that? I want to use a wheel so I plan on using fine, sieved temper for my wild clay so it doesn't tear up my fingers.

[@AncientPottery]

No, you can use grog or diatomaceous earth or anything fine. The gritty texture is good for hand building.

[@naturebehindglass6512]

Is grog the same as temper? Greetings from Germany

[@AncientPottery]

Hello from Arizona. Temper is defined as any non-plastic material added to the clay body. Grog is temper that is made from fired and ground ceramic. So all grog is temper but not all temper is grog.

[@naturebehindglass6512]

Thank you for clarifying. At the moment I buy clay, I use some with 40% very fine grog. Last time I fired almost everything broke, I used a clay containing only 25%. So the 40% should fare better I hope. The other problem in Germany is getting the stuff dry enough. Humidity is rarely below 60% even inside...

[@cjgaming5544]

Can we fire small pots on gas stove

[@AncientPottery]

No, a stove would never get hot enough.

[@690Lighthouse]

what sand do you use?

[@AncientPottery]

I use sand I collect from a local stream

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

I watched it first.

[@AncientPottery]

Good job!

[@brucebellinger9783]

Why are you wearing safety glass when working with clay? Are that afraid of life? or are you just being a neutered male?

[@AncientPottery]

When I went to grab my scale out of the cupboard to weigh my clay I saw those safety glasses and thought they would be funny and kind of dorky looking. I guess either I was already dorky looking enough or something because you're the first person to comment on that.

[@brucebellinger9783]

@@AncientPottery You have an interesting subject and I enjoy the learning aspect but, if I were you, I'd eschew the childish humor. Just present the matter in an adult fashion.Remember, your audience is not wholly attended by 12 years olds.

[@AncientPottery]

@@brucebellinger9783 number one rule, be true to yourself. I will not be someone I am not. If you don’t like it, there are plenty other channels out there.

[@james87106]

Puki's are back in stock. nmclay.com/puki

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks James, this is really great news. I hear from people all the time who want to buy pukis.