Test tile glaze firing

There was no difference between once fired tiles and twice fired tiles.

Test tiles fired

All the tiles survived and look good. The differences in colour is less marked now they have been fired. The clays could all be once fired with the glaze, but the structure of the plate (weak because it is flat) makes me wary of doing that, even though I have no problems doing so with the locally dug Easter Kincaple clay.

Glamis Road Allotment, Kirkcaldy

We were keen to get some clay from an allotment, because allotments represent many things positive about contemporary food culture. We were also keen to get some clay from Kirkcaldy, because of the potteries that used to exist here. We got permission to come to the new Glamis Road Allotment and met the tenants of Plot 3 and Plot 12 who allowed us to dig deep holes in their soil and take away a bucket of clay.

Making a plate from Pittormie clay

This clay was always going to be the most difficult to use.

Making a plate with Pillars of Hercules clay

The process always starts with wedging the clay. With these new-to-me clays, I try to avoid over stretching and I compress the surface with a rubber kidney.

Test tiles into kiln

The test tiles go in the kiln. You can see the lead glaze (brown) and the borax glaze (white). Below this shelf are unglazed tiles too.

Dried test tiles

The variety of the unfired colours of these clays is lovely.

Another Clentrie clay plate

I try to make another Clentrie clay plate... Cracks appear in this too. The texture is wonderful, though.

Plate making with Clentrie clay

I had great hopes for this clay. It is lovely and plastic and there was a healthy amount of sand to it. Scoll down to see what happens...

Making test tiles

Test tiles were made of each clay. I made a stamp which had a 10cm raised line on it, so we could check the shrinkage of the clay after drying and firing. One set of tiles were to be raw glazed (once fired), and another sample biscuit fired, glazed and glaze fired. Two glazes were being tested, a borax glaze and a lead glaze.

Wedging Pittormie (1) clay

This clay is difficult, sticky and very short.

Sieving clay from Reekies Garage

This clay is fantastic. I could tell right from digging it, it was going to be good. The only things to be sieved out of it were the sort of stones you get in a tarmacadamed road.

Sieving Crail beach clay

Clay drying

Plate making with Easter Kincaple clay

Wedging

Breaking up and slaking more dried clay

Breaking up and slaking dried clay

I have found it easier to break up the clay into smaller lumps to help the slaking down process - semi wet lumps of clay are difficult to pass through the sieve. 

Making a plate

Clay drying on plaster bat

Test plates out of kiln

These plates came out of the kiln. You can see the plaster moulds behind the plates and get an idea of the shrinkage involved. They were made with Valentines red earthenware clay, the next stage

Clay drying and slopping out

Clay drying and settling

Sieving and drying out clay

Reekie's Garage, Cupar

Crail Beach

Testing out the plate moulds

This is the first time trying to use plate moulds. Here I am using Valentine's clay bought from Alisdair Kettles, who is based in Milnathort.

Slaking and drying

This clay is now dry and ready...

Clay drying

This clay is now ready to get wedged up. 

Clay drying

Drying and bagging clay

Drying out clay

Drying out clay