WedgeKnittingSlabCeramicGrogMoldBone Dry
bone dry is when your pot is dried and ready for the kiln slab is a huge chunk of clay ceramic is when its out of the kiln and has th e propper glaze
slab - is a term used for a hunk of clay that has been flattened or rolled out. wedge - is like kneading dough. but you just do it with the wet clay. it helps to get rid of air bubbles before you make your piece. mold - can be used for numerous things. you can make a mold of something, or you can mold/shape the clay. its a toss up.
Wedge-is the circular motion used to kneed the clay. The object is to remove all the air bubbles from the clay that will damage your work. Unlike kneeding dough, you are doning it to remove the air. See link: www.goshen.edu/marvinpb/throw/preparation.html for some images. Knitting: I have never heard this term in relation to clay. It is possible to take strips of two different color clays and knit them together to form a knitted pattern. Slab: A slab is a rolled out piece of clay, usually used for hand building. This can be done with a rolling pin, or a slab roller. It is similar to rolling out cookie dough but you leave it about 1/4 thick so it doesn't crack when you mold it. Ceramic: The term covers inorganic non-metallic materials which are formed by the action of heat. Grog: Grog is used in pottery and sculpture to add a gritty, rustic texture called tooth; it also reduces shrinkage and aids even drying. This prevents defects such as cracking, crow feet patterning, and lamination. The coarse particles open the green clay body to allow gases to escape. Clays with low grog feel very smooth. It the clay has a lot of grog it feels very sandy and is often rougher on your hands when you work with the clay. Mold-a mold is any form that you use to mold your clay. In true ceramics it is generally a hollowed out form that liquid clay is poured into and then once dry the mold is opened to reveal a 3d form. In hand building or wheel thrown pottery, this can be a plate or any other object that you put a slab on and then form to the shape of the mold. Bone Dry-Is the final stage of dryness of the clay. Up until the time that the piece is bone dry it is still cold (moisture still inside) to the touch, and you can leave a mark with your fingernail with the clay. Once it is bone dry it is more brittle, it has almost an ashy appearance and is signaling that all the moisture has been removed and it is ready to be fired.
