Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills
Re: native pottery part 2
iowabow:
Dont forget to get shells. Burn them hot in the fire crush to powder and add to clay. 15-20% shell. When you rehydrate the clay use creek water. This primitive hobby has really built up my upper body. I have been carrying 60# of flint all summer but the clay forms to your back nice. Also no quick sand during dry weather so heavy loads are easy. I try to drink lots of water during my trips this makes it real easy.
iowabow:
Sam called today and ask me if I wanted to take him on a rock run. He wants to start knappin so I figured that would be a great chance to dig more clay before the fall rains come. When we arrived at the deposit we found that a beaver had dammed the creek and the water was 4 inches higher. Where Isaac and I are standing is the clay deposit. I packed another 75#s out and Sam carried out a pack of nice flint. So I now have 150#s of clay and 20#s of mussels. Now I need to process it and cook the mussels. Also leroy sent me a text and told me that he had 5# of mussel he got from the Mississippi. Leroy and Sam are guys we helped build bows.
iowabow:
It has taken some time here but I am back on the pottery project now that I am waiting for arrow shafts to dry. Isaac helped me patty the clay so it will dry. Once dry it will be rehydrated and processed. If you dont dry it first it will not slump into a slury. A slury is a watery clay mixture. Watering down the clay alows the undisirable rocks and small pebbles to settle to the bottom so we can pour the clay off the top. So 75 # has been set out. The backpark is full of another 75#.
JW_Halverson:
Why can't you just keep adding water to the clay until it "slumps"? I'm not clear on that point.
iowabow:
--- Quote from: JW_Halverson on August 11, 2012, 06:48:06 pm ---Why can't you just keep adding water to the clay until it "slumps"? I'm not clear on that point.
--- End quote ---
Water holds clay together when you dry it out those bonds break. When lots of water is added it creates multi bonds and there is space. This is why clay is used in pond banks. Once wet and dried to moist putty like consistency it is hard to dilute.
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