If you’re like me, recycling/reclaiming clay is always a hassle. However, I like to reuse all that clay that, if reclaimed, can save a lot of money and its also really great for the environment.

reclaimed clay, recycled clay,
Trimmings from thrown pots

I generally save all bits and pieces of clay, slip, and throwing slop. I place it in a big rubber storage container out behind my pottery studio. I let it sit there until I’m ready for some heavy work, then scoop up the clay and put it in doubled bags that I have saved from purchased clay. It’s a mix of low fire white, white raku, and a brown cone 6 clay that I generally throw with. When it’s placed in the bags, it’s a big mix of those clays. It’s great for hand building, but not good for anything functional, as it is super groggy from the raku clay.

recycled clay, reclaimed clay, hand building
All of these pieces were made from reclaimed/recycled clay.

Sometimes I leave it in the bags too long and it becomes a big lump of very hard, rock-like clay. When it is like this, I wrap it in a sopping wet towel and put it in water-tight bags and wait a few days. After a few days, the clay reabsorbs the moisture and is ready to use.

Instead of wedging this clay, (lazy me) I simply use it as is. The following video shows how I slab roll this clay.

The video also shows how I use a LP record, cut in half, to make a wonderful tool for smoothing and compressing the clay.

Hopefully, this is helpful to you and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Happy potting to you!