Yixing Clay: Sourcing Raw Materials

[wyardley]

If you haven't already, I'd suggest watching the various youtube videos that show how Yixing pots are constructed.

[futurebird]

I made a teaboat today (I have a day off, so I'm doing crafts!)

The clay was so dry I had to pulverize it witha hammer then sift it and reconstitute it. It will be a long time before I take this to the local kiln to fire... it might crack.... I'm not all that experienced.

This clay is filled with sand. But I think I can learn to work with it.

[wyardley]

You actually want to let it sit and dry for a while before firing.

You also probably will want to burnish it (slice of a plastic Coke bottle is said to work well if you don't have the buffalo horn tool). I think you want to let it dry for a couple days, then burnish, then let it dry some more.

[futurebird]

ah.. thanks. I used the round end of knitting needle and it's much improved.