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What is the best clay for beginner pottery throwing?

I have recently acquired a pottery wheel (an old fashioned kick wheel) and have already thrown a few pieces on it. I have not yet had them fired. I used Amaco talc free (x-15) clay to do this, but I am curious as to if there is a better clay for throwing dinnerware and possibly cookware such as pie plates. Earthenware seems to be a good option because it fires at a lower cone than stoneware, but is stoneware a better choice? Any help would be much appreciated.

The best thing to learn with is stoneware – it is stronger because it has grog (the small hard pieces that give it a bit of texture, like sand). This is both stronger and more forgiving for a new potter. Earthenware is a good second choice, but it is not as strong.

You should also know the higher the cone to which you fire, the stronger the piece will be in the end. You really want a cone 10 clay for anything functional, plates, bowls, etc.

Figure out where you are going to get your work fired before you buy any more clay. Check to see what types of firings they do there – what cone. This may limit your choices of clay.

Also, some places want you to buy the clay there that you are going to fire there or at least approve the kind of clay you use to go into their kiln. The wrong kinds can cause disasters in the kiln to your work and others’ work as well. Best to be careful. Again, this may limit your choices.

FYI – You can always fire a higher cone clay (say cone 10) to anything less, but you can not fire, say, a cone 5 clay any higher than that or it will literally melt.

Laguna and Amaco are both good sources for clay.

I hope this helps you. HAVE FUN!

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