Expert: Sam Kelly - 12/29/2008

Question
I am re-entering the potters wheel world with a new purchase of a wheel.  As I get back into it I am having some failed pots.  This clay that I used for the failed pots is then becoming slip.  What can I eventually do with all this slip? Is there anyway I can throw it again on the wheel? No question is a dumb one right.

Answer
Hi Adam, yes you can re claim it and use it again, just not straight away. I am guessing you do not have a pug mill so all you need to do is let it dry out until its the consistency of wheel clay and wedge it up again. The trick is to let it sit for a while in a plastic bag/bucket sealed up for about 4 weeks, this lets all the molecules settle down to rest.
When you are on the wheel have a bucket beside you, throw the discarded clay into it, keep a little water in it to keep it wet. A good practice is to have a wet towel handy to leave over the top of the bucket.
Keep all the really sloppy clay/slip that is produced when throwing and put it in the bucket as well, this is important as it is the fine particles that need to be reintroduced back into the lumpy discarded bits.
Two ways of drying if its sloppy is to make a plaster bowl shape and pour it in and let the plaster absorb the water out of it, the other way is to pour it into a pillow slip,case and hang it in a tree or on the clothes line.

Samn