Why Clay Bodies Matter (And Why We Don’t Mix Them)
In a communal ceramics studio, a little clay chaos can cause a lot of trouble. You might not notice it when you’re at the wheel, but the moment it hits the kiln — or the glaze bucket — things can go sideways.
Here’s why we ask everyone to stick to one clay body at a time:
1. Different Clays, Different Behaviours
Each clay body has its own shrinkage rate, firing temperature, and absorption level. Mixing them — even just trimming white clay over dark — risks cracks, warping, and weird glaze reactions.
2. Glaze Fit is a Real Thing
Glazes are formulated to match the expansion rate of a specific clay. If you glaze the wrong clay body — or combine clays in one piece — you may get crawling, shivering, or glaze bombs in the kiln.
3. Kiln Contamination
If two clay bodies vitrify at different temperatures, one may melt or overfire while the other’s just getting started. That puts kiln shelves — and your neighbour’s work — at risk.
4. Cross-Contamination Sneaks Up
Sharing a wedging table, sponges, or reclaim bucket? You may unknowingly mix clay bodies. That’s why we label reclaim bins clearly and clean up carefully between uses.
5. Respect the Studio Flow
Consistency keeps the studio firing schedule safe and predictable. It also helps us troubleshoot when something goes wrong — instead of playing “Whose clay did this?”
So What Should You Do?
Stick to the clay body you’ve selected
Don’t mix bodies in one piece unless you really know what you’re doing
Clean up shared spaces thoroughly
Ask before switching clays — especially if you’re using the studio’s equipment
We’re not trying to be strict — just smooth. When everyone respects the clay system, we all get better results (and fewer surprises on unloading day).
