The Easiest Way to make Plaster Reclaim Bats // clay reclaim system

Reclaiming clay? Make these plaster reclaim bats! I have made reclaim bats for years and hundred of different ways. This system is the easiest way to work with plaster to make reclaim bats. I will tell you everything you need to know-- what plaster to buy, what mold to use, all about releasing agents, all the way through drying and maintaining your reclaim bat. So let's get into it!
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0:00 - the plan
0:35 - the 5 tools you need
4:10 - what plaster to buy
5:20 - step 1: prep the mold
6:40 - step 2: mix the plaster
8:40 - the plaster to water ratio
11:20 - step 3: how to pour the plaster with few air bubbles
13:45 - step 4: remove the plaster from the mold & final touches
15:40 - my drying recommendations
16:15 - the easiest way to clean up plaster
18:05 - link to next video: How to Reclaim Clay

[@martazalewska7878]

To avoid clums you put plaster into water, not the other way round. & you let it sit for a minute to soak completely. Not a cceramist but sculptor ;)

[@danielajohnson177]

I used to work as a mold maker and I remember the same thing. Also, we used to add plaster in the center slowly until the tip of the plaster came out of the water - it seemed to work as a way to measure how much plaster to use :)

[@2eyeson2b]

Another sculptor here to agree with comments suggesting shaking handfuls of plaster into the water to avoid lumps. Also, if you pour the mixed plaster down a flat stick into the mold you'll minimize the bubbles. You shouldn't need a mold release in those plastic containers. My favorite release agent is Pam but I originally used Castor Oil mixed with alcohol and sprayed. Your videos are very well done. Haven't checked out your pottery but you're a natural at teaching. Thanks a bunch.

[@amykingruggaber5584]

Softening and rounding the edges is SUPER important! I cut my hand HORRIBLY on the edge of a plaster bat I made. That edge, when dry, can be incredibly sharp.

[@hannahbetzel]

I’m a painter taking a ceramics class currently and am finding so many helpful tools that cross over between the two mediums! I’ve been exploring making paint from pigments in my yard and a plaster bat will really help with settling and drying pigments after running them through water. I was using coffee filters laid out flat on screens in the sun before and really didn’t care for the waste that created. So excited to make a plaster bat to see how it goes!

[@martinakrumalova6270]

Hello Maya :) I just did the same, but with a bit smaller box and I didn´t use any oil and it worked too. :) Thank you for sharing all your steps. I love to watch your videos. :)

[@MartinBannister]

I think it's also called plaster of paris. You can use sugar soap as a release. I was taught to add the plaster to the water and didn't have issues with lumps. 😊 (Love your videos btw)

[@neffk]

gypsum based plaster, right? Sets up fast and gets hot. The release agent used for fiberglass molds is wax based.

[@thevagabondonwheels4918]

Actually, I believe it is recommended to not use plaster of Paris if you can avoid it. In the U.S., just look for what is called "Pottery Plaster", which is a bit harder. However, for the slabs she is making POP is probably just fine also. Pottery plaster is available for about $15-$20 USD per 50-lb bag, which would be enough to make four of the slabs she makes in this video with a little left over (50 lbs = 22 kg).

[@marinad21]

Ok, this worked beautifully. Thank you so much! I was really struggling to find what was the correct ratio of plaster to water and then I remembered I had seen this video of yours. I mixed up the same amount you did and used dish soap as a mold release. I've been letting the bat dry next to the heater for about 10 days now and I'll probably try it out this weekend for the first time. I'm really excited about being able to reclaim easily (it's a nightmare to do it without a bat, at least for me). Anywho, just wanted to share my experience. Thanks again from a fellow potter in Argentina. :)

[@TSIRKLAND]

I would be slightly cautious of using dish soap as a release; it has the potential to get into the plaster, and then into the clay. Something wax-based might be better, or oil-based; something organic. Honestly, if your box is, like, Rubbermaid or something flexible like that, you probably don't really need a strong release agent, or any at all. The plaster should probably just slide right out of the flexible plastic container. Hope it all worked out for you!

[@NessieFromTheLoch]

When pouring resin one trick to avoid air bubbles is to pour along the side of the vessel. It's more messy but it helps a lot. I feel like that should work with plaster aswell!

[@libbysmithstudio]

In the USA, we call it pottery plaster. Also, i have never put a release on my bins. The plaster will just pop out when flipped upside down. Love your videos!❤

[@iamhuld]

Thank you so much, I'm just sitting here waiting for my plaster to set enough to get out of the mold now. I'm processing clay from my garden to use for pit firing, and the plaster bat is really going to help me get it dry enough to use.

[@heatherhughes7467]

Love ur clear videos! I've found putting water in the box and adding the plaster to the water means u don't get any lumps... also doing the mixing in the box/mold means saving having to use a bucket and the air bubbles u get from having to pour it into the box... I've never used a release agent n the batt just comes out if, like u say, its a flexible box! Just my experience n of course there's tons of different ways to do everything related to pottery. I really like how clear u are and how down to earth. Thank u

[@PotterytothePeople]

interesting! thanks for sharing. You may have found an even easier way! 👏👏

[@ninacuneo]

Thank you!! That was super clear and helpful!!

[@ashra9905]

Thank you so much. I asked my instructor and he never answered my question. This was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

[@PotterytothePeople]

its super easy! you can do it!

[@lorihry6236]

Love your work, thanks so much for sharing.

[@leslieg8219]

Thank you for all your tips.

[@Natalieleu]

OMG Thank you for this video. I didn't know how to go about making plaster bats for my reclaimed clay. In my mind it was a major project. Now I see it's not so difficult. Thank you for sharing your process.

[@Tiny_Island_Designs]

To smooth the surface of bubbles before the plaster sets up spray it with some rubbing alcohol. It's like magic. I just pour some into a spray container to do this.

[@kaychandler7681]

Just rewatched to (finally!) make my reclaim board today. Great instruction to follow. Best wishes from the UK xx

[@thevagabondonwheels4918]

I think if I were making several of these slabs using that mold, I would just cut the upper two thirds of the bin off so I could more easily pour from a lower height and, since you probably won't ever use the bin for anything else, it will take up less room in storage as well. Great video though, thanks!

[@kappagrapes]

I'm so delighted that "wiggle the box" is an important step in this process. Wiggle wiggle! You are making the worst batch of Jello!

[@hannahbetzel]

I used a very thin coat of olive oil recently with great results! Love your clean up methods with plaster, btw. Very helpful information. Thank you for sharing!

[@lyli1969]

Thanks so much! That was super easy to follow and super clear instructions :)

[@bethhoagphysio]

This is awesome! I actually just mixed the water and plaster directly in the bin (sprinkled plaster in with my hands and there were minimal small Clumps to break down) and it worked great! Thank you… can’t wait to use it in 2 weeks once it’s dry

[@apcoronado]

Soooo helpful! Thank you.

[@peterszabo3171]

I was successful without any releasing agent at all. And I used universal plaster (which claims to be modeling plaster as well). Great video!

[@kristinalashkay8188]

Amazing!! Thanks so much for this, it was incredibly helpful and well explained :) You're great behind the camera, I love your videos

[@CookbooksonRepeat]

Nice tutorial! In America, the player you want to get is called pottery plaster. I made some bats using this method last summer and it worked great!!

[@PotterytothePeople]

pottery plaster! good to know :)

[@anthonywicklum8555]

I just love your videos

[@ReGGiE1287]

Great video again, thank you! It's funny you could hear the bubbles when you poored water on the plaster :p

[@tiaratwins6559]

Danke! I have just started making pottery and I feel bad about all the little pieces I cut off my work. Between this video and your great one on reclaiming for small studios, I will soon be guilt-free. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. HUGS

[@PotterytothePeople]

Yes, that’s what I love to hear!! Once you get your flow with it, you cant imagine ever throwing clay away again! 😄

[@pinkmuffin9842]

I really appreciate that you add the German words. It is surprisingly difficult to find accurate translations for these specific things, so it is really handy :D

[@carolhayward2414]

Thank you so much

[@jonelliott4985]

Ok get as a tip hun I traditionally work with plaster in Victorian casting and ornate wall vortices ok traditionally we use tallow as a release agent on our moulds however modern use we use WD40 spray it in the mould wipe it with a paper towel you don't want it to be drippy just a fine wiping of it on the mould this will enable it to be released at a later point once your casting plaster is set... also when u mould spatter dash the plaster in when it's half full and not fully set lay in some Hessian and a few thin wooden maths then pour the second lot in ...this will just help to give the mould extra strength and rigidity basically it won't snap as easily it gives it a little extra strength another tip is you can actually mix diner glass strands in the plaster and not have to use wood laths and no you don't need a machine it starts to set the moment you mix it typically you add your plaster to water ice cold water slowly in till the plaster has absorbed the water literally u want it so it has a small amount of water on top maybe one or two mils on top of your plaster let it fully absorb tapp the sides so any air will be released then mix by hand till it's a consistency of cream then pour as close to the surface as poss so you don't get bubbles once it's set take it out let it dry to the touch then lay it in a bath of water for 48 hours it helps to harden it the reaction will still continue In the water then take it out and let it dry in the air for a day or so trust me on this it sounds daft but it's true the same with concrete if you use concrete you will see they will let it set ten soak it in water and cover it with plastic this is to cure the concrete it's all to do with the chemical reaction that happens first stage is exothermic there is a secondary process that occurs during curation which is whilst it is submerged in water this will also prevent cracking from the heat or humidity of the environment ... also once you have set the bat if it's to be used for clay you may want to lacquer the surface so it doesn't get water ingress that will cause black mould spores to grow inside the plaster or you can wax it with bees wax so the surface absorbs the wax then wipe it clean this will prevent water ingress from your clay if you want to dry out your clay a little better to lay it on a cloth that will absorb the water or set it on a sloped rack to drain it ...

[@qqLela]

Hey! I was curious if you've ever tried to replicate ancient pottery? There is some really beautiful celtic pottery that had been found in Heuneburg. The process of finding wild clay in your local area has always been fascinating to me.

[@adedaelami2528]

Oke thank you for sharing job

[@HeidiVerniers]

great tutorial again. For a releasing agent, I heard of people using just soap you do the dishes with...

[@PotterytothePeople]

nice! love an easy alternative that folks will already have on hand 🙌

[@hayleybennett2568]

Love this! I’ve been seeing a lot of potters talk about making these often. Do these need to be replaced often or do they last indefinitely? Thanks!

[@TSIRKLAND]

For small quantities of plaster, I've always mixed by hand. For larger quantities- like what is seen here- an electric drill mixer attachment is great. Speeds up the process, and is thorough and clean and smooth. Clean the mixer afterwards, of course. (It's not frosting; don't be tempted to lick it!) ;) I've always heard many artists who work with plaster *insist* that one *must* sift the plaster dust into the water container slowly, and let it soak in, to avoid lumps. I've never been that patient. Put water and plaster in a container, and mix thoroughly. As long as you mix thoroughly, there is no magic to it, it's mixed! Thorough mixing will smooth out any lumps, whether you sift in or dump in, just mix it well. It's never done me wrong, that way. Find the technique that works best for you, I guess.

[@tobiasrankin9606]

😂 Chunkage! Thanks for really clear tutorial.

[@sabinekeil7584]

Thank you! Very helpful and took out the fear factor, LOL.

[@PotterytothePeople]

glad to hear! its not hard, promise :)

[@Mel-dl4rp]

Thanks for your video. I totally did and it worked. Is there a certain way the slab needs to be stored?

[@camillafriis2127]

This video is such a help! Thanks a bunch for sharing your knowledge😍

[@hm862]

Hi Maya - thank you so much for all of your cool and informative videos! I am trying to make a plaster bat, but my studio/teacher here in Jordan only has bags with Gypsum Plaster - can I use that? I tried to make one, and even after a week it still seems moist.

[@Kraaketaer]

Thanks for another super useful video! Using those plastic bins as molds is really smart too! Maybe a bit much to ask (or maybe you've done so in a later video that I haven't seen), but would you be willing to sacrifice a bit of clay to show what happens if you get plaster mixed in with it? Made me super curious!

[@lorihaney8296]

Plaster chips in clay will cause air pockets or bubble that will not allow air to escape therefore causing a hole in your casting or sculpture.

[@tuchiramirez5038]

Great class Maya, thank you! ... problem, I bought plaster of Paris from the hardware store, marked for art projects. I made my bat, but the plaster is not white, it's a light beige. Would it be a problem? Thank you for in advance your advice ☺. Tuchi Ramirez

[@TheInfoworks]

Go on Mia, tell us what happened when you used building plaster, please, cheers

[@HandyPaladin]

I've made my batt (thanks for the excellent guidance). I have some wood ash that is very wet (like mud). I've drained excess water off, but now I want to dry it on the batt. Is it just a matter of spreading it on and ensuring air can circulate beneath?

[@TrudioStudio]

I was taught to add the plaster to the water (not the other way) and let it soak for a few minutes before mixing. It really helps with preventing any lumps 😊 Also I’m really jealous of your storage container for your plaster! Where did you get that? (Asking as a fellow German citizen 😉)

[@PotterytothePeople]

it’s a dog food storage container I bought from amazon. Its great- I’m gonna buy more for my other glaze materials :) If you want the link send me an email [e-mail] 😄

[@denisenoble4010]

Mia hi, thanks for the no fuss way to make a plaster bat, just one question, does it matter if like you, you added water to plaster, as I've seen others saying add plaster to water and keep adding plaster till you get an island which means no more plaster needed. What's your thoughts on this thanks again😊

[@macyyracheta5827]

Would I be able to reform clay by placing the slip/ dry pieces mixture on a piece of wood with duck canvas?

[@Pherine1]

How do you keep your studio so clean and tidy, mine is chaos and I hate it, can you give us any tips ?

[@jeffersonarchibald4437]

What are the dimensions of the bottom of that box? Thanks

[@nikoliniolnc]

❤hi there you are so good you are explaining everything with detail. May i ask you somethin? I m looking for a small good size kiln for home use. I am a low vision person .. other arts crafts make it difficault to me i start some clay lessons but in my area i can find someone to bake my staff. Weird cups im thinking and colorful plates, for some extra money. Do you have any suggestions?? Thank you in advanced, nicholas from cyprus 🇨🇾🌺❌🎩🇨🇾🌻

[@amyduda24]

I just made 2 large bats and 1 small one! I didn’t use or need the releasing agent - as long as the container flairs out a bit on top, it slides right out when tipping over. For me anyway!

[@PotterytothePeople]

nice! yeah I think it depends on the smoothness of your container :)

[@melissarosespencer]

Can I put the water used for cleaning the plaster dust etc down the drain?

[@jaseczka]

How do I know how much plaster do I need for my box size? If using 5kg plaster and 4l water, what is the resulting volume of the plaster bat?

[@lexyonajulin5200]

How do you decide how thick to make the plaster board?

[@iamdabananaking]

I have a question. My bat keeps leaving residue on my clay when I wedge. Should I be worried, and if so, what should I do?

[@hmarouli]

Is there a reason why you use plaster to make reclaim bats? Is there any other material you can use? (e.g. wood, concrete)

[@TarunaRamnani-i8b]

I have two questions : do you use these boards for wedging, I noticed you also made a fabric one. Wanted to check which one you recommend. Second question: can I use CGC Structo-Lite Basecoat Plaster ? I’m not getting luck with pottery plaster near me and with shipping cost it is becoming very expensive

[@stephaniebrown2242]

❤

[@alphonsinelepitre1992]

Definitly wear a respirator as plaster is toxic 😮 thank yoi for sharing tips

[@Unicorn.engineering]

Thanks for the nice video again! ❤I was wondering if you could try to burst the bubbles with a muscle hammer by pressing it against the table or the side of the container. I really need to try that one out. 😂 Br, Unicorn engineering

[@PotterytothePeople]

That’s brilliant! I dont see why it wouldn’t work 😂

[@Zeldur]

How do you keep your back and your hands healthy? I always went into shrimp mode and curved my back when working with clay. Plus, my hands would dry out like crazy

[@PotterytothePeople]

it’s hard for sure! I have pre-existing back problems so I have to be careful. I dont usually sit at the wheel for more than an hour, and I make sure to elevate my work to eye level while I’m handbuilding (you’ll see me using turntables a lot to so this). Stretching helps a lot and I’m working on strengthening my back. For dry hand, get a killer lotion and keep it in your studio.

[@abbyetherton27]

forbidden milk :)

[@jimnicholson5500]

I'm curious about the ratio you suggested for water/plater (4/5 or 8/10). The instruction for the No. 1 plaster bag that I purchased give a 7/10 ratio. I've tried and failed at making a plaster bat 2 times. Is there a reason why you are using more water to plaster than what the instructions say?

[@shuvalassaf]

The more water you use, the better the plaster will be able to absorb water from the wet clay, the downside is the plaster will also be more fragile. I use much more water than plaster for my bats...

[@belindawearne2643]

I found this ratio to be too much water also, but just sponged off the excess water from the surface after the plaster had set for 15 - 20 mins. This also simultaneously smoothed the surface.

[@herbertlaughlin2644]

Crisco?

[@alexindigo995]

Was that 5kg of plaster?

[@isabellazenkl3830]

wait whats this for? confused

[@tobinlouise]

water went to the top of my plaster while it was drying 😬 should I remake it? I followed your ratio but must've done something else wrong

[@AlexandraPJchannel]

I just did the same thing - looks like at 7:32 she said 5liters water to 5kg plaster, but she meant 4liters water to 5kg plaster

[@amyduda24]

I noticed my bats are getting mold - how to you clean that?

[@PotterytothePeople]

Just wipe it off with a sponge and let the bat dry. Mold can only grow when it’s wet.

[@amandahodgin9316]

Fyi… 1 litre of water has a mass of 1kg.

[@pritinarang1379]

I mixed a slab of plaster for recycling clay but i wouldnt dry it has been drying since a week now it is not seeming to dry at all

[@dildoit]

it takes time. Patience.

[@dildoit]

As she mentions at least 2 weeks

[@dildoit]

And her mix is a really thin one= more drying time, softer plasterbat.

[@HmmmmmLemmeThinkNo]

Ten-part mould?! 🥺

[@emilycole927]

What is wrong with using normal building plaster?

[@PotterytothePeople]

it’s not formulated to create such thick slabs. Most stuff is meant to only cover like 5mm thick.

[@emilycole927]

@@PotterytothePeople ohh ok great thank you for your reply :)

[@THEHORSELOVER235]

Why not use concrete

[@sussiemikkelsen1764]

Thank you for your great teaching 🙏 Please use a mask to protect your lungs.

[@davoodehajiraj]

Wtf am I watching at Sunday morning I need to get a life

[@neffk]

At 8:57, there's talk about the supposed greatness of the metric system. For the record, a meter is 1/10,000,000th of the distance between the North Pole and the Equator. Arbitrary, right? Worse, it was based on a French survey and assumptions. It's more arbitrary than the German foot or the English foot. If you look at traditional systems of measurement, they often have units that are related to the length of the finger, width of the hand, length of the foot and stride, the distance you could walk in a day, and the amount of work that a man can do in a day or season. The metric system does not have a convenient inch and it's annoying to say "500 grams" when you want "ein pfund" of something. Metric is fine but it's over-sold and hyped to the point of annoyance. Metric is said to be better because it has an emphasis on decimals and prefixes for every 3 orders of magnitude. Machinists in the USA have been using the decimal inch for a century. We speak in "thousandths" and "millionths" (or microinches). Carpenter's squares are frequently marked out in tenths of an inch (although eighths and sixteenths are preferred). So the main advantage of metric is.... what? If a unit system really is better, why the need for 2 centuries of shilling? If it were so important , why is it that the Metric System only takes root during times of political upheval? Complaining about traditional units and advocating Metric is like complaining that French and Germans are backward because their country doesn't accept English as the official language.