Ball clays occur naturally as sediments or deposits containing very fine minerals.
Different types of clay for ceramics.
They contain a large percentage of kaolinite and quartz with around 10 25 mica.
Mixing clay yourself offers a couple of advantages.
The maturity temperature workability and color of these 3 categories can vary based on what is added.
The other advantage of mixing your own is that you can use custom clay body recipes and modify them as desired.
While there are thousands of clay bodies available for purchase the 3 basics types are porcelain stoneware and earthenware.
Ball clays are the most plastic clays and contain very limited mineral impurities.
Each of these different clays is composed of different types and amounts of minerals that determine the characteristics of resulting pottery.
Moist clay weighs a lot more than dry clay and this is reflected in shipping costs.
Others use treadles like the foot pumps seen on old sewing machines.
There are many different types of potter s wheels in use.
There can be regional variations in the properties of raw materials used for the production of pottery and these can lead to wares that are unique in character to a locality.
Some are powered by hands or feet which spin the platter on which the clay sits.
The first is economic.
Ceramic materials are everywhere and in many cases need a high quality clay for their production that is well suited to their intended use.
The three most commonly used clay bodies are earthenware clay bodies mid fire stoneware clay bodies and high fire stoneware clay bodies.
All three are available commercially in moist ready to use form.