Clay to be used for handbuilding at home.?

Question

I really have gotten into handbuilding, especially coiling, and I want to get clay for at home, but I do not have a kiln. What type of clay can I use that does not need to be fired, but is durable, and can be used as say, a flower pot. Where can I get this clay. Any info about clay for handbuilding at home would be awesome

Answer 1

Part of this would depend on the size of things you want to make, and what you mean by "durable".

Polymer clays are great, but can get expensive for making larger things in the same way one that would use earth clay (...for larger things, we usually "cover" other items or other materials with the plain or decorative polymer clay, bake in a home oven, then either remove the "form" or leave it in as a permanent armature.... just one example would be "covering" or embellishing a terracotta flower pot: http://www.pbase.com/joanie/image/31883039
few polymer vessels on one page:
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1416609&uid=488109
Jacqueline Gikow also has a polymer book that's almost exclusively vessels, slab work, etc.:
http://home.nyc.rr.com/ateliergikow/Evryday_dreams/pc_book.html ).

We do make all kinds of boxes, bowls, and things (medium size to small) though with polymer clay (including pinch pots, sculpts, "houses," etc.), in a number of ways.
http://glassattic.com/polymer/vessels.htm

Polymer clays are baked in a home oven at about 275 degrees F for 15-45 minutes (depending on thickness, brand, etc.).
Some polymer clay brands are stronger than others though if you want something that won't break (in the U.S., strong polymer clays include Premo, FimoClassic, Kato Polyclay, and Cernit... Sculpey, SuperSculpey, Sculpey III, and FimoSoft are less strong). They can be purchased at hobby and craft stores, and cheaper online.

Air-dry clays which don't have to be heated at all could be possibilties, but they'd have to be sealed extremely well to be used around water. There's stuff like Celluclay or Creative Paperclay, as well as "Mexican Pottery clay" which I'm not too familiar with, but it comes in a large box and may be close to what you want.

For all kinds of info on the various brands of polymer clay, as well as some info and brands of other kinds of "clay," look on this page:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/Characteristics.htm

You might want to look into something called hypertufa if you want to make large things....fun to work with too.
It's made by mixing vermiculite, Portland cement, and water together (other things can be used or included too). After shaping when dry, it looks like old, rugged stone (or even smooth concrete), but it's much lighter in weight. It's also fairly easy to work with and can be hand-shaped or molded, etc., into many small to large shapes to create all kinds of things... can even be "carved" afterward.
If you want more info about it, look on this page:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm
(... click on *Hypertufa* at the bottom of the list...)


HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 2

You can use air dry clay and even polymer clay. They can be baked in your oven and are hard and durable. I'm into hand building too. My bf made me a coil extruder from a caulking gun!

Answer 3

you should use air dry clay or perhaps polymer clay. they're regularly baked on your oven and are confusing and sturdy. i'm into hand construction too. My bf made me a coil extruder from a caulking gun!

Answer 4

These are a couple of brands that I use Sculpy and FIMO that are sold at Hobbie Lobby and almost any craft strore- they are soft and workable and you can make everytrhing with them and bake in a regular oven just follow the directions on the package !

Answer 5

dude you know you can get pre fired clay right just search the web and you'll find it