The three most commonly used clay bodies are earthenware clay bodies mid fire stoneware clay bodies and high fire stoneware clay bodies.
Different types of clay for ceramics.
Ceramic materials are everywhere and in many cases need a high quality clay for their production that is well suited to their intended use.
Ball clays are the most plastic clays and contain very limited mineral impurities.
When it comes to pottery or ceramics porcelain is known to be the most regal of all clay types.
All three are available commercially in moist ready to use form.
Mixing clay yourself offers a couple of advantages.
They contain a large percentage of kaolinite and quartz with around 10 25 mica.
There are many different types of potter s wheels in use.
Ball clays occur naturally as sediments or deposits containing very fine minerals.
The other advantage of mixing your own is that you can use custom clay body recipes and modify them as desired.
Moist clay weighs a lot more than dry clay and this is reflected in shipping costs.
Each of these different clays is composed of different types and amounts of minerals that determine the characteristics of resulting pottery.
The maturity temperature workability and color of these 3 categories can vary based on what is added.
The first is economic.
Others use treadles like the foot pumps seen on old sewing machines.
These porcelains are not the true porcelains but i still find them to be nice clays to throw with.
While there are thousands of clay bodies available for purchase the 3 basics types are porcelain stoneware and earthenware.