Clay Terms To Know

Clay

•a natural substance that is wet and feels like dough

Pottery

•The art of clay

Leather Hard Clay

•A stage in between extremely wet clay and hard clay; feels like leather

Slip

•A combination of water and clay; feels like mud; acts as a glue

Fired

•The process of “cooking” the clay in the kiln; takes all of the moisture out of the clay

Kiln

•A machine that heats up clay and takes all moisture out of the clay

Greenware

•(bone dry) when the clay is completely dry and ready to be fired

Bisqueware

•When the clay has been fired once; has the color of bisque (pinkish white); is ready to be glazed

Glaze

•A mixture of chemicals that is used to “paint” the clay; can look glossy or matte

Pugmill

•A machine that mixes old clay with water to produce new clay

Reclaim

•To recycle or re-use

Extruder

•A device that creates “cookie” cutter cut outs out of the clay

Slab Table

•A device that rolls out long even strips of clay

Clay Tools to Know

• Needle Tool• Elephant Ear Sponge• Fettling Knife• Loop Tool• Wood Tool• Wire Cutter• Rib Tool