M332 Red Clay
M332 Red Clay
SKU:M332
*Priced per 20kg box.
Description
Mid-temperature, sandy, plastic, semi-vitreous, warm medium brown, native throwing body. M332 is made from seven different native clay materials and it is generally used for two reasons: its appealing warm red fired color at cone 5-6 and its combination of a sandy texture and high plasticity. M332 is attractive when used with glazes that absorb and highlight body iron and with ware that leaves some bare patches of clay showing. M332 has exceptionally high dry strength.
Process Properties
M332 has a highly plastic base with a sand complement to add texture. While it throws very well and generates sufficient slip, it can be 'grabby' during throwing with care to make sure pressure surfaces are not well lubricated. Once you learn how to throw it you will be amazed at what it can do.
Cautions: Because of the sand content it can develop splits during construction or throwing if water is allowed to sit on the surface at stress points (i.e. the outer belly of a thrown vase). In addition, when pulling handles, you must develop techniques to minimize splitting. It is best to keep sponging of leather hard or dry ware to a minimum as this tends to remove fine particles at the surface and expose the coarser ones (a problem on the lips of functional ware. M332 needs to be dried with care to avoid cracking. Turn open shapes over as soon as they will support themselves and cover ware with cloth and plastic (not just plastic) to even out any gradients in water content.