Bronya Schmoyer That's *awesome*!!! I'll check mine sooner the next time I do it. sweet!

I also have red clay that I dont want to mix in the pugmill. This is a great way to do so.

Hahaha. I just realized that you dumped a cup of water into an untested bag at the end there. I hope it worked out well.

After it happened the second time I thought I'd better include it in the video because other people might have the same problem. Hahah! That was such a mess!

Awesome! I'm so glad you found the video. This definitely works!

I wish I had found this video a few ago. I had 2 (#25) bags of bone dry clay that I could’ve rehydrated. I know I’ll remember this if it happens again.

How did it work out?

I never thought of it either until Florence told me about it, and I'm an engineer too!

I'm so happy that you found this. When my friend Florence told me about it I thought every potter needs this info!

I'm happy to help!

It works perfectly for me, and this requires almost no labor compared to other methods. No poking, prodding, or cutting - just pour in some water & drop it in a bucket. :)

Debbie, I'm glad this helped! I hope yours quickly softens up to a lovely working consistency.

Thank you Fusion Music! I figure we can all use more laughter in our lives. I honestly had a comedy of errors in trying to film this. :)

kastelina I was happy when Florence told me about this technique that I had to share it. It's by far the easiest way! No need to drill holes or anything. Just add a cup of water & drop the bag in a bucket for a few days. I have a rock hard 25lb block of clay rehydrating right now actually.

This is by far the easiest method I have ever used including some of the other recommendations people have posted and the one I showed in my first rehydrating clay video. It doesn't get much easier than pouring in a cup of water and dropping it in a bucket for a week or two, right?

EvolutionStoneware does the clay need to be bone dry or can you do this with super stuff clay too? Thanks for making this video!!!

That's a really good idea! I like it.

Tarynn Tvo did this work out for you?

Thanks Mona! 😊

You're welcome. I hope it helps! :)

Thanks Kathi! :) Glad to have you on board.

Janice I'm happy to help. :) I wish I had known about this technique years ago, too!

Janice Another way to reclaim bone dry clay is to break the clay up into small chunks. Please wear a quality dust mask for this process! (Repeated exposure to dust that contains silica can cause respiratory problems, namely Silicosis of the lungs) No bigger than about the size of a large marble, about the diameter of a quarter. It's work, especially if your dry clay is a 25 pound block. The smaller the better but it doesn't have to be perfect. Next, put it all in a tub or bucket large enough to add water to it and fill it up to just cover all the dry clay. Tip: make sure ALL of the clay is BONE dry. This is very important! This process is called "slaking". Leave it covered for 24-48 hours. I use a jiffy mixer in a strong hand held drill to mix the slaked clay. This will make a nice slurry. There are a number of different ways to bring the rehydrated clay down to a good working consistency. I'll just share what I do. I scoop the thick slurry out and place it on a 3" slab of pottery plaster and make it no more then about 2 1/2" thick. I cover it with 3 sheets of newspaper. The plaster will and the newspaper will draw out the excess water. (If you have another slab of plaster, you could place one on top. Clay sandwich!) Check it periodically. Replace the newspaper with dry sheets. When it is "dry" enough and not sticky, wedge it and use it! I do this with all my dry trimmings and what ever other clay that I have that has dried out. Of course, this whole process can be done much easier with a very expensive pug mill. I don't have one....yet. Google: how to reclaim dry clay. You will find ample info on this process. Happy potting! 😀

TheRakuman Yes, I have a pug mill which is a huge blessing. I find it much easier and safer to use this bucket method, but you can absolutely reclaim clay in the way you described. There are so many approaches!

+Eric Wolff how did it go?

I'm wondering how it went too Eric. I'd think that John Gould's suggestion of making holes in the block would speed it up, but I like the "submerged bag" trick.

Eric Wolff mummy dry...bone dry clay, will slake if you do this. If you notice, she is rehydrating too hard but moist clay. About a cup of water will do the trick awesome!

Rakuman this works with bone dry clay. Only use 1 cup of water to 25lbs. The blcok of clay wicks the water in, and the pressure of the water in the bucket on all sides of the clay forces it into the block quickly.

Thank you Elissette!

you welcome

sorry my english is so bad.

Yes, my dog has to approve all my studio activities to make sure I'm doing them right - at least that's what she thinks! :) I love my dogs very much.

oh thats so nice.

I think your best bet would be to put a small chunk of it inside a small bowl made from cone 6 or cone 10 clay & send it through a corresponding firing. If it melts down in the bowl you'll know it's low fire clay. Hopefully that made sense. Low fire clay will liquify & run even at cone 6. Don't ask me how I know.... 🙃

Thanks Louise! Yes 1 cup (8 oz) water to 25 pounds dry clay. you can always add a splash more water after a few days if needed, but that's what usually works.

Got some heavy duty bags..... now where's that water lol

It's tap water. Go ahead and use tap water.

If the bag has a hole, believe me the bag manages to fill up with excess water around the clay once in the bucket. Then your clay turns to total mush in a hurry.. It has happened to me more than once. You also must at least clip the top of the bag to the side of the bucket above water level. If it goes below water level it will take on water inside. I also know this from experience LOL! The water finds every way in.

I have a video called Pottery: Throwing Pendants Off the Hump here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/irWTrbqXndaRZGw.html that you might enjoy. This shows making beads or pendants on the pottery wheel. Hope it helps!

thanks

Mold generally won't hurt clay & will fire out without a trace. But you'll have to evaluate whether or not it's okay for your health to be exposed to the mold.

Hello! It should be okay for porcelain. I recommend checking the clay every day or every other day. It may not take more than 3 days to be workable, and it's probably best not to let it get too soggy.

It is possible to dig clay out of the ground. It is often found along river banks. You may be able to research your area. If you want to fire clay in a kiln to harden it you're beat to use commercially prepared clay to start with.

I would do the same thing. I don't use paper clay, but I think this method would work.

My kilns all happen to be Skutt brand. The larger ones are model 1027, & the smaller one is 181 (this model is no longer made & has been replaced with a different model number).

Yes, should be fine. 👍

@@EvolutionStoneware Aww... you answered! Its a 6 year old video! Thanks a bunch for the response, and the info!

Yes it will work with clay that still has some moisture. You can reduce the amount of water you add to it a bit, & it'll probably be ready faster than bone dry clay. This is super easy. It'll work for your clay. 🙂

@@EvolutionStoneware Thanks. I'll try this after lunch. 😘 Wil respond how this works.

Hello! 8 oz to 25 pounds of dry clay is a good ratio. I used this method again 2 days ago with about 10 pounds of clay, and it was soft in a little over 1 day! I find it's tempting to use more water, but it's better to start around 8 oz per 25 pounds because it's a lot of work to deal with overly mushy clay if you use too much water. I hope this helps! I still use this method, and it works wonderfully! Be sure to check your bag for holes!

It dries out over time or there might be a hole in the bag. Basically the dryer it is, the harder it is.

Thanks

i'm here for the doggo

Let it air dry and wedge it like crazy once it is firm enough. Porcelain can be problematic when reconstituted, but stoneware clay should be okay.

This is what I've been doing and teaching my students. Works great when it's a new bag and hard to throw. Especially for beginners.

Ronald Barton you are totally right... the best way to do it :D

+Ronald Barton What if you use a drill to make holes in the rock hard block? That should work too right

if its rock hard you can drill it right? I guess you'd need an extended bit tho.

Stephen b there is no need to drill. You are just doing extra work if you do. Add 1 cup of water, & drop the bag in a bucket of water for a week. Done. :)

Judi Calhoun it should work with versa clay. I've only used this method with mid to high fire clays, but I think it will work for just fine for versa clay.

Thank you!

I am trying this process. I purchased Zip-lock 2.5 gallon bags and still I tied it up with a wire.

Sounds like a good approach! I'm kind of embarrassed how often I've used leaky bags. 😅 I actually used a bag with a hole in it again last month without realizing it.

Yep! Hard to believe, but trust me that's all you'll need.