A counter question to the guy who posted a similar question few hours ago, cause most of the answers weren't helpful for someone like me, who doesn't have much money😅.

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[–] 2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I did this! The clay in my area is usually used for bricks which might explain why working it was a little difficult, cracked fairly easily. But I did manage to make a pinch pot.

Dig hole, get dirt. Mix with water and anything that settles on the bottom within a few seconds or floats on the surface isn't clay. Pour the liquid off the sediment on the bottom and skim off any floating bits. Remove the water, can dig a shallow pit and pour it there, the water drains away leaving the clay behind. Repeat with multiple loads of clay water and then you can scoop it out. To fire the pottery I used piled up charcoal in a BBQ. Worked fairly well.

I think it probably would be better if the clay in my area was a bit more elastic, the slightest pull and it starts to tear which made working it pretty difficult. I think the best option would be forcing it into a mould or pressing against something. A possible idea to try is to put leaves over something so it doesn't stick and then use that as a form to work from. Could even use previously fired ceramics. Such as making a tiny pot, then leaves over the base and form a larger pot around its base. Repeat to make larger pots.

If the clay was more elastic it would probably help. But so hard to work it as the slightest movement results in tears when its free standing and still wet.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago (1 child)

    I studied the alchemical process of Abu Bakr al-Razi to make my local clay more workable.

    Also, improving the refining process does wonders. It could be that your local soil is rich in clay but that clay isn't very good. You can refine it further once you get enough of it, until you get a quality that is very close to store-bought clay.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago

    How do you further refine it? I went with letting the sand/silt/stones settle out and then poured the clay slurry off and then over time remove the water.

    If that can be improved I still have a bucket of it somewhere so I could try further refining it. The quantity I have is fairly large compared to what you would need to make a small pot.

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