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RandyHand β Re-use the clay!
Published: 2013-11-02 23:17:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 974; Favourites: 15; Downloads: 0
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Description
It's a boring picture but it shows what I do with my clay after I pull it off of a finished/molded piece.Often my clay has chunks of styrafoam and plaster etc. that is too hard to pick out of so much clay.
I put a big pan on a single burner on medium heat. Throw the dirty clay in and let it melt to a liquid state.
Then I pour it through a strainer in to a plastic paint pan that is held in place by the aluminum holder.
When it's completely cool, I just pull the clay out and it's ready to re-use.
It's nice to keep this from going in to the landfills.
Also meant to say that it helps to wear safety glasses, gloves and a long sleeved shirt and long pants. The hot clay can splatter sometimes.
Be very careful!
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Comments: 22
Thanks for sharing Randy!This is what I do with my clay.
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Sounds ideal, probably would be best if more people did this.
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It really would save on filling up the landfills.
I've had friends tell me that they trashed a monument sized bunch of clay......sighhhhh.
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Would save them money too.
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Sure would.
I think a lot of times it's the inconvenience of even doing it.
I find it kind of relaxing. Especially if I can sculpt or do other things while it's melting.
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That's the key right there, finding a happy balance.
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Thanks for sharing this Randy! Ashamed to say I've thrown out a fair bit of Chavant over the years. I'd pick out as much as I could but it would reach a point where I would spend more time doing that than actually sculpting. Will try this next time. Better pick up one those single burners to use outside... probably not a good idea doing this sort of thing in the kitchen
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You bet Jamie!
It really has been nice to re-use my clay.
Especially the batch that I had to order on my last commission.
I think I had over 1500 lbs. and it would have been a shame not to re-use that.
It's nice too, because you can work on other things while the clay is melting in the pot. It's not like you have to wait
around for it to melt.
It does give off a little smell so it's nice to have ventilation...not good for kitchen's
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Workspace photos are my favourite. Thanks for sharing!
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You bet!
I like seeing work spaces too.
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I was wondering about that...thanks for sharing. Will you show pics of your workspace?
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You bet!
I tried to copy and paste some pics from my Deviant Site but they won't let me.
Go to my Large Sculpture section of my gallery and you can see shots of both sides of my gallery.
Please excuse the mess.
Thanks for looking!
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running it though a strainer! what a great idea
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It's really a slick way to clean the clay. I did forget to mention to wear clothes that you don't mind trashing.
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this works for oil clay?
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Yep, that's the only thing I melt and re-use like this.
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so if you your using water based clay for a division wall,
that just ends up as waste and tossed out?
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I never use water based clay for a division wall.
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always shims...
I guess your stuff is to three dimensional for thatΒ
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