Processing of natural clay dried manually is usually done for the amount of clay material is limited only to a clay test process. Testing was conducted to obtain information about the condition of the clay materials that include plasticity, shrinkage, fuel temperature, color burn, and porosity. Treatment with this technique is only performed for one or a mixture of several types of natural clay is clay that can be used directly as Earthenware and stoneware clay.
If a mixture of several types of clay, the formula should be recorded to facilitate the weighing process. Mixing clay material (Earthenware with Earthenware, Stoneware with stoneware, Stoneware and Earthenware with) do to get quality clay bodies that meet the requirements for use.
Processing
The processing of dry clay is done through the following steps.
1. Drying
Jemurlah clay materials, preferably in the form of small chunks, it is intended to clay is fast becoming dry evenly so that simplify the process of pulverization.
2. Comminution
Tumbuklah clay material already dried into powder using a mortar and pestle pestle or another. Comminution in order to get granular material clay so fine as flour can escape from the filter with mesh that has been determined.
3. Filtering
Strain clay using a 50 mesh sieve or if dikendaki more smooth again can use filter with size 70, 80 to 100. Tumbuklah granules clay materials that do not qualify sieve is then filtered again.
4. Weighing
Weigh clay although only one type of soil clay, it is necessary to determine the amount of water that needs to be added to the ground material the clay.
5. Mixing
Mix the clay material already weighed with water as much as 30% -40% of total dry clay. Increase water little by little while a squeezing, so water content in the clay enough and ready to diuli.
6. Pengulian
Ulilah clay mixture in order to become a plastic clay, homogeneous, free from dirt, and free of air bubbles. then form the be dots balls / chunks clay, then enter into a plastic bag meeting in order to awake moisture.
7. Storage
Peramlah clay plstis such, should be placed in the tub with a lid so that moisture in the clay plastic bags is maintained. Curing time for less than 7 days. In This process occurs process fermentation of the elements contains organic, so that the clay becomes more plastic.
